Breathing (and hearing) easier in North Idaho: Northwest Ear, Nose, and Throat helps local patients find relief

For many North Idaho residents, finding specialty medical care can mean long drives, long waits, or learning to live with chronic symptoms. That’s one reason Dr. Brandy Tacia says she feels fortunate to serve patients at Northwest Ear, Nose and Throat—part of Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Tacia returned to the region to be close to her family. She is board-certified in Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery by the American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

It’s meaningful, she said, to care for patients who often travel great distances for treatment at Northwest Ear, Nose and Throat.

“They’re so grateful that we’re here to serve them,” she said. 

Dr. Tacia said the clinic team sees the full spectrum of ENT conditions: chronic sinusitis, allergies, hearing loss, sleep apnea, and pediatric issues like enlarged tonsils or chronic infections. But no matter the concern, the diagnostic process begins the same way.

“One of the No. 1 things people feel good about when they come to this clinic is that we’re good listeners,” she said. “Their story helps guide us, so we listen.”

Patients’ own descriptions, she explained, often help her team determine whether they’re dealing with allergies, sinus problems, or something more complex.

The clinic offers standard diagnostic tools such as imaging, scopes and hearing tests.They also have independent audiology and hearing aid services available on-site.

“That’s something the community doesn’t always know,” Dr. Tacia said.

Many people assume frequent sinus infections or chronic congestion are simply part of life in North Idaho. Dr. Tacia wants patients to know they often have more options than they realize.

With chronic sinusitis, she said the focus is on prevention.

“If we can put a plan in place… we can figure out what your body needs,” she said.

For many people, having a clear strategy—using specific nasal sprays, medications, or sinus rinses at the first sign of a cold—can prevent infections and reduce the need for antibiotics. When allergies are the culprit, testing and targeted treatment can help patients “control the symptoms so that we don’t have bad days.”

Even for those who hesitate to use medications, alternatives are available.

“There are some natural options that we give them. We can help them still control their symptoms by using something conservative,” she said.

Hearing loss is another condition patients often put off addressing. But waiting too long can make the problem harder to treat.

“With hearing loss, we tell patients: If you don’t use it, you can lose it,” she said. “Without early intervention, it becomes harder and harder to hear, even with hearing aids.” Dr. Tacia’s advice: Don’t wait until communication becomes a daily struggle.

One of the clinic’s fastest-growing services is Inspire, an implanted device for obstructive sleep apnea that eliminates the need for CPAP masks. FDA-approved in 2017 and insurance-approved in 2019, Inspire has been available at Northwest Ear, Nose, and Throat since late 2021. Demand is high, and so is success.

“We’ve treated almost 260 Inspire patients,” Dr. Tacia said. “We’re 10% over the national average in success rates and usage.”

Inspire works by gently stimulating the airway to keep the tongue from blocking the throat during sleep.

“Most of our patients are just so happy that they’re sleeping without headgear and a mask on their face,” she said.

For Dr. Tacia, the culture of Northwest Specialty Hospital is central to Northwest ENT’s success.

“People work here because they want to work here,” she said. Staff members genuinely enjoy each other, and patients feel that warmth. “Our office is so nice… everyone loves our office staff. They tell us, ‘Your staff is amazing.’”

In a small facility, she added, care feels personal, not anonymous. And treating ENT patients offers something special, the ability to care for people of every age, from infants to seniors. Dr. Tacia has known many of the same patients throughout the nearly 15 years she has been working in the region.

Whatever the diagnosis and treatment, improvement is life-changing for many ENT patients.

“Nobody feels well when their head doesn’t feel well,” she said. “ENT has a lot to offer patients who sometimes think they just have to live like that.”

She recalled treating a teenager who began to cry after a nasal procedure. They were tears of joy, not pain.

“She said she had never felt air in her nose before,” the doctor said.

Sleep apnea patients often share similar gratitude when they finally experience quality sleep. “This is the best gift I’ve ever given myself,” they tell her.

Dr. Tacia encourages anyone diagnosed with sleep apnea and struggling to use a CPAP to call Northwest Ear, Nose, and Throat to schedule an appointment and explore alternative treatment options that may be available to them.

“Nasal breathing is one of the most important things for quality of life,” Dr. Tacia said. “Especially for sleep quality.”

Northwest Ear, Nose and Throat is located at 750 N. Syringa St. Suite 203-a, Post Falls. To schedule an appointment, call (208) 262-2717.