MultiCare Health System – Inland NW

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 health questions answered by a gynecology expert 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.

While walking and biking are ideal ways to get to school, they aren’t always feasible for families. Read our tips for safely transporting children to school by car and bus.

Getting to school safely, part two: Traveling by car or bus Walking and biking are ideal ways to get to school, but aren't always feasible. Here are tips for safely getting children to school by car and bus.

Back-to-school jitters are a natural form of anxiety for many children, who may feel nervous about new teachers and sad over the loss of summer.

Back-to-school: How to help kids with first-day jitters

The annual running of MultiCare's Bridge to Brunch 5K is Saturday, October 12th and we can't wait to see you there. 🧇🏃

Sign-up now to save on registration, prices increase after August 31st: https://multica.re/3Moht2L

What matters most is not what kind of box, sack or bag you get for your child's school lunch, but what you put inside.

The art of packing a nutritious lunch

Your sexual health is part of your overall health. A MultiCare urologist answers six common sexual health questions.

Your sexual health questions answered by a urologist

Backpacks, check. Pencils, check. Vaccinations … check?

Staying up to date on immunizations helps keep children, school staff and the community safe from potential outbreaks of serious disease. Unvaccinated children are more likely to catch and spread highly contagious illnesses such as whooping cough, measles and polio.

Wondering if your child is overdue for routine vaccinations? We answer common questions, including how to address fear about getting shots.

Your guide to back-to-school immunizations Wondering if your child is overdue for routine vaccinations? We answer common questions, including how to address fear about getting shots.

HIV is now a lifelong condition with which you can live a long, healthy life. But as life expectancy of the much stigmatized disease increases, physicians must now grapple with how to care for HIV at the same time as old age.

MultiCare primary care physician Rachel Safran, who has specialized in HIV care for many years, has seen how care has changed.

“HIV quite honestly it was a death sentence in the 80s and 90s and people didn’t expect to live very long. But now people living with HIV can lead a totally normal life,” she said.

Read more on The Spokesman-Review .

No longer a death sentence, HIV care is changing as patients become elderly Once a death sentence, HIV infection is now a lifelong condition with which you can live a long, healthy life. But as life expectancy of the much stigmatized disease increases, physicians must now grapple with how to care for HIV at the same time as old age.

As a coach or parent, it’s extremely important to know what a concussion is and is not. Learn the latest safe practices on our blog: https://multica.re/3qZUYtN

Baby Jane was born at just 22 weeks, nearly five months early. Andrea Fernald and her husband decided to deliver at MultiCare Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, with a care team that offered their baby a chance at survival.

Six months later, Jane and her family reunited with Jane's care team to celebrate her healthy growth and resilience.

Baby girl born five months early reunites with hospital staff that saved her life SPOKANE, Wash. -- The parents who thought they'd lose their baby girl shortly after her birth are able to snuggle their now healthy six-month-old thanks to a Spokane hospital.

Inaccessible environments and unintentional bias can make it difficult for people with disabilities to access the care they need to lead healthy lives.

Improving health equity for adults with disabilities

Spokane Indians mascot Otto visited MultiCare Rockwood Pediatrics this week. Otto signed some autographs, took pictures, visited a few patients in their exam rooms, and even got his height and weight checked.

Thank you for stopping by, Otto! ⚾

While summer break is still at its peak, many high school graduates are preparing for the transition to college. As teens shop for dorm supplies, decide what to pack and fill out paperwork, there may be one important item missing from their to-do list — managing their health.

What vaccines your college freshman needs Help your college-bound teen stay as healthy as possible by ensuring they're vaccinated against preventable illnesses.

Hours into your day at the lake, you look down to see your arm is already turning red. You quickly apply another layer of sunscreen, but unfortunately it’s too late.

You wake up the next day with bright red skin that’s hot to the touch. At what point do you need to seek professional care, versus simply treating your symptoms and waiting it out? https://multica.re/3A5NOsq

It's World Breastfeeding Week.

While breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for most infants and can reduce the risk of certain health conditions in both mothers and babies, it isn’t always easy.

Common breastfeeding challenges and tips How to feed your baby is a personal choice. Breastfeeding comes with health benefits for both nursing mom and baby, but also challenges.

Once students are back to school, it’s important they have the right bag that won’t slow them down or cause wear and tear on their body.

Using a two-strap school backpack is generally considered the best method for transporting classroom materials. When worn properly, it’s easier on the body than using shoulder packs, briefcases or rolling bags. https://multica.re/3SoqfBt

Whether it’s stomach cramping that wakes you up after an indulgent dinner, nausea hitting like waves after changing medications, or uncomfortable bowel movements that have you repeatedly rushing to the bathroom, digestive problems are some of the most relatable — and miserable — challenges in life.

So, how can you tell when it’s simply short-term discomfort or something more serious?

Should I see a doctor: Stomach problems Stomach pain and nausea come on a spectrum, and bowel habits vary from person to person. So, how can you tell when it's simply short-term discomfort or something more serious?

MiA - Mujeres in Action is Spokane's dedicated resource for domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault (SA) survivors from Latine communities.

In 2018, Hanncel Sanchez and five other women created MiA — the first nonprofit in Spokane dedicated to serving DV/SA survivors from Latine communities through culturally responsive, lifesaving services and education from a Latine perspective.

MiA provides support by and for Latine communities Mujeres in Action is Spokane's dedicated resource for domestic violence survivors from Latine communities.

Some describe it as a ringing, whooshing or hissing noise. For others, it sounds like static on a television, an electric zap or a chorus of crickets.

While there is no cure for most cases of tinnitus, there are steps you can take to minimize your perception of the sound and improve your quality of life.

What causes tinnitus and how to find relief Tinnitus -- perceiving phantom sounds like ringing -- can have several causes. Treating the underlying cause can help bring reduce the noise and bring relief.

UPDATE: Our patient care systems are now fully operational, thanks to our teams working diligently to recover from the CrowdStrike technology outage.

Even in small doses, reading is shown to reduce stress, improve sleep and build empathy. This could be because of reading's meditative qualities.

Could reading be your stress reliever?

Many of our computer systems have been affected by the CrowdStrike technology outage. Our team members are working hard to minimize disruption to patient care and system operations, and we are bringing systems back up as quickly as possible.

Our emergency departments and Indigo Urgent Care locations remain open.

Delays are likely for scheduled surgeries and clinic appointments. If you have questions, reach out to the clinic where you are scheduled to receive care.

This spring, juniors and seniors from University High School and juniors from Spokane Valley Tech worked through five hands-on stations, including CPR training, “Stop the Bleed” training and emergency triage, an operating room simulation, a step-by-step vitals review, and behind-the-scenes tour of the hospital.

Career Day is an easy and informative way to show students the many different routes and educational pathways available in the field, such as beginning as a volunteer or COPE Health Scholar; joining the facilities, IT or kitchen teams; or pursuing education to become a nurse or provider.

High schoolers get hands-on health care experience MultiCare Valley Hospital was abuzz with energy this spring as 30 local high school students got their chance to explore the world of health care.

Since 2017, MultiCare Health System has served as the official medical provider for Hoopfest. However, serving as the official medical provider is just one aspect of MultiCare’s partnership with Spokane Hoopfest and Hooptown USA.

We are proud to share that MultiCare and Hooptown USA recently re-upped their partnership through 2029. MultiCare will continue to be the official medical provider for the Hoopfest tournament. The partnership also supports:

🏀 A state-of-the-art basketball complex in Riverfront Park that made its debut at Hoopfest 2022
🏀 Hoopfest’s network of 30-plus public basketball courts
🏀 A Hooptown Hall of Fame at Riverfront Park, which opened in 2022
🏀 Sponsorship of Hooptown Youth League (grades K-6), which will allow for reduced registration fees, scholarships and no-cost options, allowing more kids to engage in activities that keep them healthy and experience the joys and learning opportunities of kids’ sports

Learn more at: https://multica.re/4d6pmFd

Tips and tricks for healthy eating during the winter holidays are common. But healthy eating requires diligence year-round, and summertime brings its own challenges, even for the healthiest of eaters.

How to eat healthy in the summer Your best bet for making healthy food choices going into any situation is to make a plan. Here are some tips and tricks for staying on track.

While the history of PTSD is rooted in combat exposure, it’s a myth that this condition only affects military veterans. There are a variety of traumatic events that can lead to PTSD.

PTSD: How to get help and support a loved one Some people develop PTSD after experiencing trauma. Learn what the signs are, how its treated and how to support loved ones.

From biking scenic trails, to exploring waterways in a kayak, to simply lounging poolside, there’s no shortage of summertime activities to enjoy in the Pacific Northwest. However much we relish the sunshine, hot weather can also pose a danger. https://multica.re/4cJ2knV

“We live in an era of increasing temperatures for increasing days at a time,” says Scott Strongin, MD, MMM, FAAFP, a physician who specializes in urgent care at MultiCare Rockwood Clinic. “It’s important to take precautions in the heat, to recognize the signs of being overheated and to know when to seek medical attention.”

Beat the heat: How to stay safe in hot weather Heat-related illnesses, from heat stroke to heat exhaustion, can happen when a person’s body is unable to cool down. Here's how to avoid it.

Local sponsorships help families hurdle Hoopfest financial barriers SPOKANE, WA -- Many families and players experience financial barriers when Hoopfest returns to Spokane each year.

Marie Brenden, 59, is an ARNP at MultiCare Rockwood Cancer Center has a record for a 270-pound bench press. She's also a grandmother who got a pacemaker in April.

“It’s just lifting weights, but for me, it’s my stress management, because working in a cancer center, it can be sad,” she said. “This is really trivial compared with what my patients go through on a daily basis. They’re inspirational. They have a good sense of humor. It teaches me to appreciate being healthy and to take advantage of it, because you don’t know what’s coming tomorrow.”

Powerlifting nurse practitioner who can bench 270 says her cancer patients inspire her MultiCare cancer center nurse practitioner Marie Brenden, 59, has a record for a 270-pound bench press. She's also a grandmother who got a pacemaker in April.