MultiCare Health System – Inland NW

01/23/2025

Women are more susceptible to iron deficient anemia, often because of periods and pregnancy, but you can prevent and treat low iron levels.

Whether due to menstrual cycles, pregnancy or gaps in nutrition, women are more susceptible to iron deficient anemia — but there are things you can do to prevent and treat it.

01/22/2025

Whether that’s a virtual exercise class in your living room or finding ways to get your heart rate up with bodyweight work, winter is a great time to explore alternative — and most important, safe — ways to stay active.

There are more ways than you might think to keep yourself active all winter long, both inside and outside.

01/20/2025

In June 2024, MultiCare received a $1.5 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to expand access to sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) training. A SANE is a registered or advanced practice nurse who’s trained to provide trauma-informed care to sexual and domestic violence survivors. They’re responsible for conducting tasks that aren’t standard in nursing curriculum.

The three-year federally funded project will add approximately 300 SANE-trained and 15 SANE-certified nurses across the Inland Northwest, Yakima and Puget Sound regions.

In Washington state, an estimated 61 percent of women and 34 percent of men experience sexual violence in their lifetimes. Victims often turn to their local emergency department for immediate help, but most nurses are under-trained when it comes to cari...

01/17/2025

Shaming yourself for eating an extra slice of pizza, “working off” that brownie, skipping meals entirely or making yourself sick after eating — these could all be signs of a concerning relationship with food.

It can be confusing to navigate between societal pressures to look a certain way and misconceptions of what it looks like to struggle with your relationship to food.

You don’t have to do it alone, though, says family medicine provider Jennifer Banks, MSN, ARNP, FNP-C, with MultiCare Rockwood Clinic. Whether it’s your primary care provider, mental health counselor, dietitian, or trusted friend or family member, support is available no matter where you are.

If you’re concerned about your eating habits or those of someone you love, a good first step is understanding what a healthy relationship with food looks like.

01/15/2025

“A glass of wine or a beer with friends or family on the weekends is not going to have as much risk as someone who consumes alcohol on a daily basis, and the risk goes up if you drink more than four ounces of alcohol a day,” said Brett Gourley, MD, an oncologist at the MultiCare Cancer Institute.

Read more from The Spokesman-Review

Even one drink a day carries a substantial cancer risk.

01/14/2025

Congratulations Jennifer Vigil, our Program Manager for Health Equity & Community Impact, for joining Nuestras Raíces Centro Comunitario as their new Board President! Thank you for your dedication to supporting our communities.

01/14/2025

Whether preparing for your own future or supporting aging family members, it’s important to know what to plan for and talk about to ensure not just a healthy life, but a happy one.

Life changes can impact our physical and emotional health at any age, but the impact is especially hard as we get older and feel dependent on others.

01/13/2025

Deana Williams, PhD, MPH, a research investigator at the MultiCare Institute for Research & Innovation, is leading a study that aims to improve the rate of cervical cancer screening among q***r women.

“More than 90 percent of cervical cancers are preventable, but cervical cancer is still a major public health issue in the U.S.,” Williams says. “Current cervical cancer screening initiatives are not meeting the needs of q***r women, and we need to change that.”

Cervical cancer screening saves lives, yet q***r women are significantly less likely than straight women to be up to date on these lifesaving screenings.

01/10/2025

As unpleasant as UTIs are, they are easily treatable. Know the signs of a UTI and what to do about a potential infection.

Read about MultiCare's recommendation on what to do if you suspect you have a UTI and what treatment and prevention might look like.

01/08/2025

Your sexual wellness is part of your overall health. A MultiCare nurse practitioner specializing in gynecologic care answers questions about libido and other sexual health concerns.

Your sexual wellness is part of your overall health. A MultiCare nurse practitioner specializing in gynecologic care answers questions about libido and other sexual and vaginal health concerns.

01/07/2025

You’re driving home from a late dinner with friends when you’re momentarily blinded by the headlights of oncoming traffic. You quickly blink away the bright spots in your vision, but notice that with each passing car it’s getting more difficult to clearly see the road. Then the rain hits, and the glare and bright spots becomes even brighter.

But everyone experiences this, right? Seeing at night can be a challenge regardless of your vision health, but if you’re seeing large starbursts, it may be time to see a provider.

Seeing at night can be a challenge regardless of your vision health. What's normal and when should you talk to your doctor?

01/06/2025

Intuitive eating encourages you to recognize your body’s needs, wants and cues rather than just eating to adhere to dietary guidelines, schedules or society’s views of what’s “good” for you.

Intuitive eating encourages you to listen to your body's wants and needs to fill your stomach rather than meeting strict diet guidelines.

01/03/2025

Partners with Families & Children, (Partners) a Spokane-based nonprofit, serves as a social safety net for children who have experienced — or are suspected of experiencing — abuse and neglect, along with their non-offending caregivers. Partners provides holistic, whole-family services, including the Children’s Advocacy Center, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and life skills development.

Originally founded in 1988 at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital, Partners obtained nonprofit status in 2003 and has since grown into its own space to better meet the needs of the community.

Partners with Families and Children specializes in supporting children who have experienced abuse and neglect and helping build a better future for the whole family.

01/01/2025

With the end of the year in sight, we’re reflecting on the stories from the past 12 months. Here are some of our favorites.

With the end of the year in sight, we're reflecting on the stories from the past 12 months. Read some of our favorites.

01/01/2025

Winter storms are part of life in the Pacific Northwest.

As we all hunker down and brace ourselves for storms to come, read on for tips about how to prepare for power outages, as well as guidance on what to do when the electricity goes out or you lose your heat.

Winter storms are part of life in the Pacific Northwest. Know how to prepare for power outages, as well as what to do when the power goes out or you lose your heat.

12/30/2024

Lots of exercises can be done at home without the need of a gym membership. You can also utilize your own body weight to increase your strength, instead of expensive workout equipment.

Here are some exercises you can do at home or the office, little or no equipment needed.

If you've discovered you're not a fan of the gym, or just looking for alternative ways to stay healthy and active, keep reading. Lots of exercises can be done at home without the need of a gym membership. You can also utilize your own body weight to inc...

12/27/2024

Troy Elonen, an emergency room nurse at MultiCare Deaconess for 14 years, has been playing the accordion for patients and staff every Christmas since his first year at the hospital. The tradition was inspired by his mother, who was both a nurse and a professional accordion player.

Spokane ER nurse Troy Elonen spreads holiday cheer by playing the accordion, a tradition inspired by his late mother, bringing hope to patients and staff alike.

12/27/2024

To ensure regular exams aren’t getting missed, especially for our most at-risk patients, MultiCare Rockwood Clinic developed the Health Maintenance Visit (HMV) for those 65 or older.

“One of the concerns was patients were only coming in when they had a problem and other issues were being missed,” explains John Sestero, MD, internal medicine physician at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic – Moran Prairie.

The HMV appointment takes a more holistic approach, Dr. Sestero explains. It utilizes an in-depth questionnaire to help screen for mental health concerns, memory problems and other issues that can be missed at standard clinic visits, like risk of falling.

As the New Year approaches, remember that annual checkups are just as important as a trip to urgent care when you're sick -- and they deserve a spot on your list of resolutions.