Kootenai Health trustees met Tuesday to discuss whether the hospital district should transition from being government-owned to a nonprofit organization.
In the Pacific Northwest, only two large hospitals with more than 300 beds are hospital districts: Kootenai Health and Evergreen Health in Kirkland, Wash.
The hospital and health care system is facing a significant financial challenge due to some factors including nursing shortage an the option from public to private.
Hospitals throughout Washington state face financial insecurity as several factors, including low Medicaid reimbursement and labor shortages, are contributing to their economic challenges.