BCH Welcomes Dr. Ralph Sutherlin, D.O.

Please help us welcome our newest Medical Staff Provider Dr. Ralph Sutherlin, D.O. He will be joining the St. Maries Family Medicine Team August 4th!

Dr. Ralph Sutherlin is Family Medicine Physician whose specialty is promoting and protecting the health and well-being of your entire family! He is Board certified in Occupational and Preventative Medicine, which focuses on the promotion of health in the workplace, including the management of environmental injury, illness, and disability. Dr. Sutherlin and his wife have moved to the St. Maries community from Boise, Idaho and are excited to be a part of the community!

If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sutherlin, please call St. Maries Family Medicine at 208-245-2591.

Benewah Community Hospital COVID-19 Testing Guidelines

If you have came into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, please call the Admitting Front desk at 208-245-5551.  They will ask for your information and you will receive a call back from a Registered Nurse to discuss further action. If you do meet criteria for testing, the RN will inform you of a time to present for testing.

BCH will be testing people from our community who are symptomatic or have had a direct exposure to a COVID positive person. For direct exposures, we want to wait at least 7 days after the exposure to test (If the viral load isn’t high enough, testing too early could result in a false-negative).

We will be referring people who do NOT live in our community to a testing center near them. We have to limit testing to those within our community due to number of test kits on hand, limited PPE as well as available staffing.

As explained in a recent Press Release from Panhandle Health District, Kootenai Health, and Bonner General Health on June 29, 2020 titled “Local Health Leaders Provider COVID-19 Guidance”

COVID-19 cases are spiking throughout our area and we are seeing community transmission in Kootenai, Bonner, and Benewah counties. The virus has not let up and we can’t either. Contract tracing has shown that many of the new cases are a result of social settings where no or very few precautions are being taken. The good news is we know what slows the spread; masking, physical distancing and handwashing work. Recent studies of masking efforts in New York, Wuhan and Italy show that wearing masks in public is the best way to lower community transmission rates when everyone participates.

As more people are exposed to someone with COVID-19, more people are seeking testing. A common misconception is that if you had close contact to a person with COVID-19, then you should immediately be tested. Unfortunately, it’s a lot more complicated than that. If you have had close contact with a positive case, you should begin to self-isolate from the general public and especially high-risk individuals. Stay home other than to seek medical treatment. If you do leave your home, wear a mask to prevent potential spread.

Symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19: • Fever or chills • Cough • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing • Fatigue • Muscle or body aches • Headache • New loss of taste or smell • Sore throat • Congestion or runny nose • Nausea or vomiting • Diarrhea 

For more information regarding COVID-19, visit panhandlehealthdistrict.org/covid-19 or call the Panhandle Health District Hotline Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at 877-415-5225.

Grow Your Own Scholarship Recipients

Community Health Fair

Retirement Party – Dr. Rick Thurston, MD

Join Benewah Community Hospital for a Retirement Party

Honoring Dr. Rick Thurston, MD

When: Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Time: 4pm to 6pm

Where: BCH Main Lobby (College Ave Entrance)

*Light snacks, refreshments, and desserts will be served.

Our Hours Are Changing – Memorial Day Weekend

Our Hours Are Changing – Memorial Day Weekend

Patient Financial Services St. Maries Family Medicine & Specialty Clinic

CLOSED Monday, May 28, 2018

**Will return to normal business hours the following Tuesday, May 29, 2018

 

Remember: For Medical Emergencies please DO NOT wait for care! Call 911 immediately or visit Benewah Community Hospital Emergency Department Open 24/7

2018 Health Fair PRIZE Winners!

Benewah Community Hospital would like to thank the Benewah  Community for their support in this years Health Fair Event.

Each year, BCH invites local health/wellness vendors to participate in the Spring Health event. This year we had 15 vendors participate and BCH was able to offer the annually reduced Laboratory services to members within our community. In addition, BCH is able to give away prizes for each vendors participation.

Below is the list of prize WINNERS!

FitBit Blaze – Dawn Hennings

$100 Chamber Bucks – Pam Secord

$30 Ace Hardware Gift Certificate – Maxine Magers

$30 (208) Bakery & Espresso Gift Certificate – Sharon Spier

 

Thank you to all who supported BCH and we look forward to serving you at next year’s Annual Community Health Fair!

Experts around, 24 hours a day. That’s a big thing!

“Last week I accompanied my 4 year old Grandson to your Emergency Department. Like so many kids in the region he had the Flu and like many parents in the region, his parents were worried that they may not be doing enough. I believe they had been receiving excellent guidance from Dr. Davenport regarding his care but wanted some “hands on” confirmation when his condition seemed to worsen after hours. 

I was so impressed with how smooth their intake and assessment went. It was shift change but your staff handoff’s seemed seamless. All staff (forgive me I don’t recall all names) were sensitive to parents and grandparents and most of all, treated this 4 year old patient in a manner that I believe you would approve of. In the same manner you have treated pediatric patients for many years. Dr. Moullet provided excellent support to the grown-ups in the room while keeping a keen eye on my grandson. His calming style and understandable information were very reassuring to Mom…. And by extension to grandparents as well.  

He is off the couch now and is on to more typical 4 year old activities. I believe the Emergency Department visit helped bolster his parents’ confidence, and left them with the feeling that there are experts around, 24 hours a day. That’s a big thing!

Please share our thanks to the ED Staff. It may have been a very simple visit to them but a very important one to the family. Also, please share with the staff responsible for keeping the Department clean and sparkling – very impressive!”

Kind Regards.

Grandpa

2018 Annual Community Health Fair

Benewah Community Hospital invites the public to join us in our upcoming Annual Health Fair!

Enjoy Some of These Wellness Services!

Local Health/Wellness Vendors

Chair Massages

BetterCare- Preventative Health Promotion

LifeFlight Services

Inspiring Connections

Hospice Services

Costco Foods

DoTerra Essential Oils

Blood Pressure Checks

Skin Checks

Reduced Lab Costs

A1C (Glucose Indicator), Complete Blood Count (CBC), *Lipid Panel (Cholesterol), TSH (Thyroid), PSA (Prostate Screening), *Complete Metrabolic Panel (CMP), Vitamin D, and Testosterone (Males Only)

*Requires Fasting

We’re Introducing A New Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System

Beginning February 19, 2018

We are introducing a new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.

There may be some delays in your appointment time as we are transitioning.

We ask for your patience and flexibility as we update your patient information to ensure accuracy as we continue the transition to our new EMR system.

When you arrive for your appointments, please be prepared to show or bring the following:

  1. Photo identification
  2. All health insurance cards (we do require copies for your chart)
  3. A list of all medications you are currently taking, including vitamins and over the counter medications
  4. Any co-payment amounts you are aware of through your insurance

Thank You For Your Patience!

Benewah Community Hospital, St. Maries Family Medicine, & St. Maries Specialty Clinic