Patient Information

As we continue to re-assess our internal systems with the sole purpose of providing high quality efficient care, it’s important to communicate key staff changes to keep you up to date. We are pleased to inform you that Dr. John Coburn is now our Dental Director. He was born and raised near Mount Spokane and graduated from Mt. Spokane High School. In 2002 he graduated George Fox University with a B.S. in Chemistry and went on to Oregon Health and Science University where he completed his Doctor of Dental Medicine in dentistry. He has worked in Montana and Coeur d’Alene and for the last three years he has served as Dental Director for the Dirne Community Health Center located in Coeur d’Alene. He is married with three children Preston, Bryton and Archer. His interests include, skiing, hiking, and camping with his family, hunting and fishing. He enjoys reading and is a member of the local dental society.  Many of you recognize Dr. Coburn as he has been a part-time dentist for us for several years. We welcome him in his new official role! As a reminder we are pleased to schedule your dental appointments in advance to assist with your scheduling needs. Please call us at 686-1931 for more information on availability of appointments for you and your family!

Another key staff change is with our Medical Director. Dr. Ross’ last day with BMC/WC will be in late May of this year. We have already established an aggressive plan to search for a new Medical Director which is well underway. We will keep you posted as to our progress. 

 

This month we are sponsoring community meetings to follow up from last years valuable input we received from the community as part of our strategic planning process. Gary Leva and the Health Board will provide an update on the new facility as well as receive comments and input about the progress at BMWC. These meetings are scheduled from 5:30-7:30pm, dinner included, as follows: Thursday, May 17 at the Evan Abraham Long House in DeSmet; Wednesday, May 30^th at the Rose Creek Long House in Worley and Thursday, May 31 at the Wellness Center.  Everyone is invited!

 

The new facility is changing colors! The brick and sandstone colored block is now being installed which is the permanent material for the exterior. All roofing is now completed as well as the upper and lower level interior framing. Extensive work in plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems will continue through the next few months. We are starting to see more subcontractors on the site as the project activity accelerates. The Job Fair in March was very successful and well attended as we had almost all of our major subcontractors present to discuss their labor needs in the upcoming months. We hope to resume site work on the new roads any day weather permitting. The project is within budget and is progressing very well. We are working hard to make up lost days due to the delayed release of funds from our federal grant, but right now we are projecting a late October opening, but there are many pieces that play into that projection. We should have a much better sense of completion mid-summer.  

 

To keep track of the construction progress, remember we have site cameras in two different locations so anyone can view the progress from our website 24/7. Please go to the BMC website, www.bmcwc.com and click on the ‘Future Home of BMC’ link that will take you to the dedicated expansion site or go to: www.expansion.benewahmedicalcenter.com. Once you get to that site, click the ‘Progress’ button and that will take you to the camera links.

 

Please contact us if we can answer any questions or resolve concerns. Thank you for continuing to challenge us to being a top tier tribal healthcare facility!