Health care provider to close Kootenai Heart Clinics in Spokane

Kootenai Heart Clinics announced Thursday it will close its three Spokane locations by the end of August, but it will maintain its services and clients in Coeur d’Alene and outreach facilities throughout North Idaho.

The move comes as the organization tries to reduce “significant operational losses” at its Spokane locations, Kootenai Health CEO Jon Ness said in a news release.

“This was a difficult decision,” Ness said. “Kootenai Heart Clinics is one of the largest and most respected cardiology practices in the Northwest due to its outstanding cardiologists and exceptional staff.”

Kootenai Health has owned Kootenai Heart Clinics since 2012. The closures take effect on Aug. 31.

“Given our current practice model, however, we were unable to overcome the financial challenges,” Ness said. “I fully anticipate these providers will continue to practice in the community under a different business model.”

Heart Clinics Northwest joined Kootenai Health on Jan. 1, 2012. At that time, the practice had 20 cardiologists, with 14 based in Spokane and six in Coeur d’Alene. It now includes 30 physicians, most of whom now work in Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai Health spokeswoman Kim Anderson said.

“For many years now, Providence Sacred Heart has leased space on its campus for Kootenai Heart Clinic’s downtown Spokane practice,” Anderson said in a statement. “With no supporting income from cath lab, electrophysiology, and diagnostic procedures, the Spokane practices lost over $4 million in 2019 alone.”

Patients affected by the change will be able to transition care to their physician’s new practice or to a another practice.

“As soon as each physician’s new practice information is known, it will be provided to their patients,” Anderson said.

The closures will affect about 70 employees, she said.

“Every effort will be made to help employees apply for other open positions within Kootenai Health or secure meaningful employment in another health care setting,” Anderson said. “Each employee’s individual situation is being taken into consideration.”

Kootenai Heart Clinics will continue providing a full range of heart-related treatments in Coeur d’Alene. It will also continue services in clinics in Bonners Ferry, Clarkston, Cottonwood, Grangeville, Lewiston, Moscow, Orofino, Post Falls, Sandpoint and St. Maries.

The decision to close the Spokane locations was made after a steering committee that included physicians, administrators and independent consultants reviewed the situation, Anderson said.

“They determined it was necessary to restructure the program to maintain financial viability,” she said. “Closing the Spokane practice locations while maintaining services in Coeur d’Alene will allow Heart Clinics to grow its depth and breadth of services available in Idaho.”

The changes were in the works prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Anderson said.

“While this is not directly related to COVID-19, the financial pressure it has placed on all health care organizations and providers contributed to the timing of this decision,” she said.