Benewah Medical & Wellness Center

The Benewah Medical and Wellness Center (BMC/WC) is located in Benewah County in the picturesque Panhandle of Idaho on the Coeur d' Alene Indian Reservation less than 35 miles south of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Serving both Native American and non-native patients, the organization allows for the maximum flexibility of patient care activities while still promoting coordination of services. Community Health staff interact with clients in the home or school settings, linking them with appropriate medical, mental health, nutrition, rehabilitation and wellness programs.

BMC/WC has also been creative in addressing the multi-cultural considerations of its diverse communities. Clinic and Wellness Center employees are trained to know about Native American history, customs, and specifically about the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. It is the practice within BMC/WC to create specific opportunities during staff meetings to learn about cultural beliefs and values and how they may relate to illness. This organization recognizes the importance of Native American belief systems and ceremonies and accommodates attendance at Tribal gatherings when appropriate. Patient satisfaction surveys at BMC/WC consistently show a satisfaction rate above 92%.

In 1987, the Coeur d' Alene Tribe began to search for ways to improve the health care services at their small Indian Health Service (IHS) satellite clinic. It was located at the Tribal Headquarters, several miles from the City of Plummer, Idaho . Distance to the closest health care service was a long drive over dangerous curved roads, which were even more dangerous during the winter months. None of the ambulatory care facilities in the four surrounding counties of the Northern Idaho town were providing services to the medically underserved on a sliding fee basis. The only feasible solution was to develop its own health care delivery system.

In 1990, the Tribal Health Authority and Tribal Council decided its new clinic would serve all persons in the community regardless of their ability to pay. The Benewah Medical Center (BMC) opened in 1990 with 14 staff and 800 patients. Beginning in 1994, as a result of funding from the U. S. Dept of Health and Human Services / Bureau of Primary Health Care, BMC has been able to provide services to the medically underserved and indigent population and to offer its services on a sliding fee scale based on an individual’s ability to pay.

In 1998, it opened its 43,000 sq. ft. Wellness Center, which allowed the BMC to expand services to include wellness and prevention. This center includes a full time Physical Therapy Department, Community Health Department and a full-size, 5-lane swimming pool, a therapy pool, hot tub, his/her saunas/steam rooms, basketball and racquetball courts, and aerobics and strength training areas with state-of-the art equipment.

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Benewah Medical and Coeur d'Alene Tribal Wellness Center (BMC/WC) is to provide primary care, holistic healing, preventive care, and wellness promotion to all members of the community as intended by the Creator.

We provide a wide array of service options to the community.

Wellness and prevention programs.