Coeur d’Alene’s hospital in Plummer renamed Marimn Health

PLUMMER, Idaho – The Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s hospital has a new name that reflects the tribe’s heritage.

Benewah Medical Center is now known as Marimn Health, following a renaming ceremony Tuesday. The name of the affiliated wellness center also reflects the change, and now is know as Marimn Health Wellness Center.

Pronounced mar-ee-min, Marimn is a Coeur d’Alene tribal language word based on the verb “marim,” meaning “to treat.” Marimn translates into the word “medicine,” but it also can be translated as “they treat others,” according to a hospital news release.

“This new name reflects our intrinsic connection to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and honors the culture by promoting the Tribe’s ancient language. Our name has changed, but our calling hasn’t,” Marimn Health’s CEO Helo Hancock said in the release. “We will continue to provide the same award-winning healthcare services to the community that we always have.”

Marimn Health is owned and operated by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. Created in 1990, the medical center was the result of the first partnership between Indian Health Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a tribally-run community health center. The medical and wellness centers serve Native American and non-native patients in Idaho, Washington and Montana, regardless of ability to pay.

“The new name respects the connection with the Tribe and builds on the strong foundation of community healthcare we’ve built over the past three decades. I’m excited about the direction in which Marimn Health is headed,” said ChiefAllan, Coeur d’Alene Tribe chairman.

Marimn Health employs about 200 with an annual budget in excess of $20 million.