Kootenai Health outlines Post Falls Prairie Medical Campus, describes CityLink transit partnership; commissioners raise questions about county grant support

Kootenai Health CEO Jamie Smith and senior staff presented to the Kootenai County Board of Commissioners on May 27 about the hospital system’s organizational structure, community benefits, a planned Post Falls Prairie Medical Campus and an existing transportation partnership with CityLink.

Jamie Smith, CEO of Kootenai Health, described the system’s recent conversion from a hospital district to a private 501(c)(3), citing state law and House Bill 603 as enabling the transition. "Our mission is to provide health care to the citizens of our community. We don't exist for any other reason," Smith said as she explained the organization’s decision and the governance structure under an 11‑member board based in Coeur d'Alene.

Why it matters: Kootenai Health serves a multi-county region and is planning capital investment in Post Falls that county leaders said could affect county residents’ access to care and local infrastructure. Commissioners probed the hospital’s philanthropic, operational and grant relationships with the county, particularly regarding public transit.

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