3 East Construction Begins
Kootenai Health’s Board of Trustees has voted unanimously to begin construction on the third floor of the east expansion to include an additional inpatient unit within Kootenai Health. This will be the third and final phase of Kootenai Health’s master facility plan that began in 2012. The project is set to begin March 1 and be completed in early 2019.
This expansion will result in an additional 30,000 square feet including 32 private patient rooms with upgraded technology and equipment.
“This expansion is designed to meet the needs of our growing community,” Kootenai Health CEO Jon Ness said. “As Kootenai Health continues to expand the types of care it provides and as more services are available here, more patients are coming to Kootenai Health for care. This includes patients from other regional communities.”
Kootenai Health is currently 85 percent completed with its emergency department and operating room expansion projects. These service expansions have resulted in increased patient volumes and a need for additional patient beds. This project will help improve patient experiences within an updated facility. Once completed, Kootenai Health will have 331 total patient beds.
Once completed, 3 East will be used to care for a variety of patient populations including patients with general medial illness/concerns, and oncology patients. It will also provide space for future program development including neurology, epilepsy, and stroke.
The project is expected to cost $12 million. The project will be paid for as part of Kootenai Health’s capital budget and a portion will come from generous donations to the Kootenai Health Foundation. Kootenai Health has not assessed taxes since 1995 and there are no plans to assess taxes now or in the future.
“Thank you to our community members for their continued patience as we grow to better serve our community,” Ness said.
Quick Facts
Expansion Phase Costs:
- Phase 1 (East wing): $57 million
- Phase 2 (ED, OR, and support services such as pharmacy and central supply): $45 million
- Phase 3 (building out the third floor of the east wing): $12 million
Expansion Square Footage:
- East wing (including the shell space on the third floor: 100,000 square feet
- OR: expanded from 17,350 to 38,811 square feet
- ED: expanded from 16,285 to 23,285 square feet
- Support Services: expanded from 10,610 to 16,065 square feet
- East wing third floor: 30,000 square feet
