Bonners Ferry Local Guide including all of Boundary County Idaho

Kootenai Medical Center might have to hang up a No Vacancy sign

Wednesday, March 14, 2007; KHQ

The Coeur d'Alene hospital has had to turn away some potential patients because every bed is filled. Spokeswoman Lisa Brown says that last night, every bed was filled -- even those in the psychiatric ward. The overcrowding meant that hospital officials had to quickly come up with a plan to transport emergency patients to Spokane hospitals if they could not be treated and released. But that's not as easy as it sounds -- some Spokane hospitals and others in the region are also nearing capacity. Officials with Sacred Heart Medical Center say the intensive care and cardiac care units are full, and there are only a few critical care beds available at Holy Family Hospital in Spokane. Christine Varela says neither Deaconess Medical Center nor Valley Hospital and Medical Center have room for critical care patients. - Full Story