From telehealth to training: North Idaho’s growing health care resources
Caroline Lobsinger
Health is something that’s all too easy to take for granted.
I’ve shared the story before of how a lack of attention on my part led to an unexpected visit to the emergency department at Bonner General Health.
I’d decided to make Thanksgiving dinner a few days late. I’d been at work and had dinner with friends on the actual day, so the turkey breast sat waiting for me.
After tossing it into the oven, I got to work on the rest of the meal. The cranberries were cooling in the refrigerator, the mashed potatoes were all made, and all that was left to do was make the sweet potatoes.
And that’s where things took a hard left. (Pro tip: Make sure your immersion blender is unplugged before you clean it.)
The good news is that the worst of the damage was a deep cut that required stitches. Now, a year or so later, the finger is mostly healed, with just a slight bit of residual numbness at the tip and a faint scar on the back of my middle finger.
The folks at Bonner General couldn’t have been friendlier or more helpful. Compassionate, dedicated and hardworking, they examined my fingers, apologized when more serious emergencies kept them away longer than they felt was acceptable, and made me feel the accident could have happened to anyone.
There are more than 18 million health care workers in the United States — doctors, nurses and first responders, to name a few. They serve on the front lines of our hospitals, nursing homes and clinics, offering a kind word, compassionate care and their expertise when we’re having a not-so-very-good day and end up needing their help.
From telehealth to mental health nonprofits dedicated to helping both family members and those in need of services, an increasing number of options are available. Need to see a specialist? Your local doctor may have you talk to a specialist at a major university or tap into resources from around the country — giving you top-notch care right here at home.
Looking to enter the medical field? North Idaho College offers a number of courses that will give you the skills you need.
“If you’re investing your time and money into an education, you want to be sure it counts,” NIC President Nick Swayne said of the college’s health care-related training courses. “Nearly 100% of our students complete their programs and pass their national exams.”
Indeed, all eight recent graduates of NIC’s Radiography Technology Program passed the national board exam on their first try, surpassing the 2024 national average pass rate of 79%.
The region’s health care facilities and workers deserve our thanks and appreciation. On our worst days, they run to help so that tomorrow will be better.
Dive into this month’s North Idaho Business Journal as we celebrate them and showcase a few of the many reasons why they deserve both.
— Caroline Lobsinger, NIBJ Editor
