A life changing diagnosis or a complex surgery impact patients beyond the walls of our hospital. To help patients navigating some of their most difficult moments, Kootenai Health Foundation donors support the Cancer Patient Support Fund and the Compassionate Care Patient Support Fund.  Donations to our patient support funds assist patients like Marcus, a father living in Sandpoint, with a gas gift card to help him get to and from weekly infusion treatments, or Susan who received support and was able to secure a brace following her surgery.  

The Cancer Patient Support Fund helps provide much needed essentials for Kootenai Clinic Cancer Service’s patients undergoing cancer treatment. This support ranges from nutritional supplements, food and basic living expenses, prescription and co-pay assistance, emergency medications, and even gas vouchers. All funds remain local and benefit area residents seeking care close to home. 

The Compassionate Care Patient Support Fund, established in 2024, helps to alleviate financial worry and burden on eligible patients faced with financial hardship across the care spectrum at Kootenai Health. Patients receive support by offsetting medical expenses with gift cards for gas, groceries, and other costs of living, or assistance covering the costs of medical equipment and prescriptions not covered by insurance.