Dr. James P. Winter, MD, RPH, MRO, AACT, FACEP of Coeur d'Alene:

Medical Director / Emergency Physician of the Northwest Specialty Hospital's inaugural Northwest Urgent Care Clinics. Knowing the widening gap between primary care and emergency care, urgent care medicine has become the leading role in episodic urgent and emergent medical care, including under emergency federal rules. Dr. Winter's expertise in emergency and urgent care medicine, including being a contributing author for the first urgent care text, continues to be forward thinker in this arena for quality patient care with affordability. 2010-2019

Dr. Winter has been granted by the DEA a special waiver to participate in the Opiod Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) programs.
The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 (DATA 2000) expands the clinical context of medication-assisted opioid dependency treatment. Qualified physicians are permitted to dispense or prescribe specifically approved Schedule III, IV, and V narcotic medications (medications that have a lower risk for abuse, like buprenorphine) in settings other than an opioid treatment program (OTP) such as a methadone clinic. OTPs provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for people diagnosed with an opioid use disorder. Learn more about OTPs.

National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, Dr. Winter is one of the first Board Certified Physicians to be accepted to the new Dept. of Transportation's National Registry in Idaho and the Inland Northwest. This qualifies Dr. Winter to examine and certify drivers for the National Motor Carrier Safety Administration, under the new rules of 2014. 2013 through 2023.

Medical Review Officer (Board Certified by MROCC) for Federal and Non-Federal Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing. As a MRO, assisting the companies and clients reach knowledgeable and competent drug testing programming and result interpretation is paramount for a healthy workplace, thus reducing injury on the job. Dr. Winter continues to be certified and has been for over 15 years as a MRO.

Consultant - With Dr. Winter's background in pharmacy, toxicology, emergency medicine, EMS and federal drug and alcohol testing - he continues to provide consulting expertise in interpretation of clinical urgent, emergent, and drug related accident and injury - with opinion on the management of such complex challenges, that often, present with unique variation from the routine. 1985 to current

Medical Educator - As medical education continues to be a most important tenant of Dr. Winter's practice, he has continued to have students from high schools, colleges, and graduate programs job shadow his work. At the level of Master's Programs in Nurse Practitioner Education, he continues to accept those that wish to enjoy learning and building an effective patient-practitioner relationship. Dr. Winter has been a mentor for students from the East Coast to the local, including Gonzaga University's Graduate Programs, and Washington State University Programs. 1985 to current

Community - Dr. Winter continues to assist programs such as free sports physicals, to community goals. A strong and healthy community represents a stable living environment. He remains a significant advocate for Emergency Medical Services and expansion of such medical outreach and care.

Dr. Winter was previously affiliated with North Idaho Medical Care Centers, and is qualified as a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO) for Drug-Free Workplace Testing and Programs. Dr. Winter formerly served as the Medical Director of Acute Care Services of NIMCC, a service of Kootenai Medical Center - Kootenai Health and practiced as an Emergency Physician with the healthcare system.

Dr. Winter was re-certified by the Medical Review Officer Certification Council (MROCC), an independent physician-based certifying body which conducts an extensive application process and written examination to identify licensed physicians with the highest professional standards of medical expertise and practical skills necessary to evaluate drug and alcohol test results in public and private sectors of the workplace.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most Fortune 500 corporations and many smaller companies require employee drug and alcohol testing today. Federal law mandates that a qualified MRO must make the final determination of whether a positive laboratory test represents substance abuse. The certified MRO may also act as a valuable resource to protect the company, helping with policies and regulatory issues, as well as providing related services such as drug testing collections, breath alcohol testing services, coordination of laboratory services, laboratory performance testing, and preparation of summary reports for employers. MROCC certification indicates that a physician is well prepared to handle workplace drug and alcohol testing programs and to help mange chemical dependency.

The MROCC Board of Directors represent a multi-specialty partnership among a variety of medical specialty groups - the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the American Academy of Clinical Toxicologists, the American College of Medical Toxicology, the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the College of American Pathologists - as well as the American Medical Association.

Dr. Winter has continued an Associate Medical Directorship for the Washington State Poison Control Center system for the past 20 years, is past Emergency Department Medical Director of Valley Hospital, Spokane, WA and served for almost a dozen years as the Medical Director of EMS-Paramedic Services of Valley Fire Department. He continues to practice Emergency Medicine for a nationally recognized company.

Dr. Winter also continues his consulting firm, EMERGENCY ASSOCIATES & CONSULTING, with emphasis in emergency medicine, urgent care medicine, EMS-prehospital emergency care, toxicology and poisonings, pharmacy practice and law, herbal and alternative medicine problems, and medical legal opinions. He continues to write on various topics. He was honored receiving the Silver Mortar Award, from the National President of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, for 25 years of professional contribution. He has been highlighted at National Meetings, which this year included a national presentation to physicians, nurses, and officers on the epidemic problem of methamphetamine, entitled: "Meth - Still a Cookin."  He has been an invited guest instructor at Harbor View Medical Center for Advanced Trauma, at Washington State University's College of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy's Toxicology Program. Dr. Winter has given professional commencement and inspirational lectures.

Dr. Winter is a contributing author to the inaugural and 2nd editions of the "Handbook of Urgent Care Medicine."  He recently authored a chapter in the new nationally published "Toxicology Handbook for Clinicians."

In 2009-2010, Dr. Winter was honored by the Consumers' Research Council of America as one of a compilation of Top Emergency Medicine Physicians throughout the United States by utilizing a point value system. This method uses a point value for criteria that CRCA deemed valuable in determining Top Emergency Medicine Physicians. The criteria that was used and assessed a point value is as follows: Experience, Training, Education and Continuing Education, Professional Associations, and Board Certification including completing an approved residency program and passing a rigid examination on that specialty. Consumers' Research Council of America, a Washington, D.C. based research organization, provides consumers' information guides for professional services throughout America. It is our purpose to help educate and assist consumers in obtaining the finest professional services. CRCA does not accept fees, donations, sponsorships or advertising from any individuals, professionals, corporations or associations. This policy was enacted to ensure an unbiased selection of top emergency medicine physicians.

Contact:

• Opioid Med-Assisted Treatment/Consultation
  208-626-2949
  OR 208-699-6995
• Urgent Care
  208-262-2600

Consulting emphasis in:

• Emergency medicine
• Urgent care medicine
• Professional medical-pharmacy liability opinion
• Medical Review Officer (MRO)
• Buprenorphine, Suboxone, Subutex
  Opioid Med-Assisted Treatment
• Drug free workplace policy review
• EMS-prehospital emergency care
• Toxicology and poisonings
• Pharmacy practice and law
• Herbal-alternative medicine information
• Teaching and lecture keynote speaker