Connecting Students to Careers, Professionals to Communities, and Communities to Better Health!
Idaho AHECs and WWAMI AHEC Organize Virtual Event for AHEC Scholars Focused on Social Determinants of Health, Specifically Domestic Violence and Poverty
Idaho AHECs and WWAMI AHEC will host a virtual event for our AHEC Scholars focused on social determinants of health, specifically domestic violence and poverty. 

Before March 10th students will watch at least the first episode of the Netflix series “Maid”. On March 10th, documentarian and physician, Patria Boiko, MD, will kick off the first hour of the event with a discussion about the use of media/film to promote awareness of issues such as domestic violence. The second hour of the event will feature a moderated panel that will collectively address though provoking questions, followed by some small group discussion in breakout rooms.

We are thrilled to be able to offer this event in coordination with our partner AHEC centers. To register please click here.
Idaho State University
News & Updates
Students Gain First-Hand Experiences Caring for Athletes at the Idaho High School State Wrestling Championships

Idaho State University College of Education students partnered with Portneuf Medical Center’s Sports Medicine program recently to help provide for the assessment and care of injuries sustained by athletes at the Idaho High School State Wrestling Championships in Holt Arena. Nineteen students from ISU’s Department of Human Performance and Sport Studies took part in the hands-on learning opportunity. Students assisted PMC’s medical staff by managing nosebleeds and other wounds on the mats, and also by helping PMC physicians and athletic trainers to address and manage other wrestling-related injuries. 

Caroline Faure, a Professor of Human Performance and Sport Studies, recruited the students from her Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries class. She feels opportunities like this are invaluable when it comes to student learning. “This was such an incredible opportunity for our students. We learn a lot about the care and prevention of athletic injuries, but with the help of the incredible medical team from Portneuf Medical Center’s Sports Medicine program, our students got to see actual injuries happen, and they had the opportunity to apply some of those skills they learned in the classroom,” she said. 

Faure also applauded PMC staff for the way they embraced mentoring the students professionally. Read More
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
News & Updates
ICOM Hosts Second Annual Community Health Fair

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) hosted its second annual community health fair on Saturday, March 5, at its Meridian-based campus. Participants were able to obtain health education, meet area providers and enjoy an afternoon of wellness.

Organized by ICOM’s Community Outreach Committee and Student Government Association, participants received a complimentary physical exam that included blood pressure and heart rate screenings. Hearing and eye exams were also offered, as well as osteopathic manipulations. Additionally, Two Step CPR (hands-only) training was also offered. Read More
Student Doctors Visit Statehouse for ‘ICOM Day at the Capitol’

Student Doctors at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine connected with Idaho legislators during the College’s third annual “ICOM Day at the Capitol” event on Tuesday, March 1. 

ICOM President, Dr. Tracy Farnsworth, and ICOM Dean, Dr. Thomas Mohr, joined the students at the statehouse. Organized by ICOM’s chapter of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), the group spoke with legislators from around the Gem State about graduate medical education, health care issues, and Idaho’s chronic physician shortage.

Student Doctor Makayla Bussman, President of ICOM SOMA, said this day of advocacy provided participants with a behind-the-scenes look at the state’s legislative process, as well as a platform to discuss important topics with lawmakers. 

“Advocacy Day encouraged and inspired me to be a better advocate and leader for my profession and patients. It was a great reminder that our voices are influential,” Student Doctor Bussman said. “As future physicians, we must stay educated and updated on healthcare legislation and policies to ensure we are best advocating for our patients and peers. I appreciated everyone’s engagement and efforts throughout the day. This made Advocacy Day a huge success.” Read More
Boise State University
News & Updates
Kendrick and Lampignano Present on Radiologic Innovations

Leslie Kendrick, department chair and associate professor from the Department of Radiologic Sciences, presented on “COVID-19 precaution impacts on student clinical access.” This presentation outlined how COVID-19 precautions have impacted medical imaging student access to clinical experiences, the ever changing clinical access requirements, alterations required to ensure student progression, and predicting future considerations based on pandemic trends.  Kendrick discussed methods of meeting student learning needs for graduation and credentialing eligibility despite COVID-19 precautions.
John Lampignano, clinical associate professor from the Department of Radiologic Sciences, presented on “new approaches and methods in radiographic positioning.” This presentation discussed the new radiographic positions and justifications for inclusion in the 10th edition of Lampignano and Kendrick’s “Bontrager’s Radiographic Positioning and Related Anatomy” textbook and educational materials series. Read More


Cappiello and Lee Publish Trial Results for Drug to Benefit Lung Transplant Patients
Jhaymie Cappiello, a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Respiratory Care, and Trevor Lee, a 2018 alum of the Bachelors of Science in Respiratory Care program and current Master of Science in Respiratory Care student, worked with contributors from the Duke University School of Medicine to publish an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association Surgery.

The article, “Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy in Adult Lung Transplant: A Randomized Clinical Trial,” reports on outcomes for 201 lung transplant patients treated with either inhaled nitric oxide or inhaled epoprostenol, a cost saving alternative. This was the largest clinical trial of these agents to date. Read More
Empower Idaho Introduces Crisis Housing Support Program

We are pleased to introduce the Empower Idaho Crisis Housing Support program (EICHS), which rolled out in January 2022. The EICHS program is set up as a pilot designed to help mitigate barriers to housing faced by adults coping with mental illness or substance use disorders, particularly in a crisis situation. This new program provides funding to Idaho’s six rural Crisis Centers to use for housing-related support for their clients after stabilization through a variety of avenues. The following are a few examples of how this funding may be utilized by participating Crisis Centers:

  • Short-term emergency housing for clients who have nowhere to go after they become stable
  • Rent for sober living houses
  • Upcoming rent, or a portion of rent, if a client is unable to due to lost work during a behavioral health crisis
  • Back rent owed by client due to a behavioral health crisis
  • Rental application fees
  • Deposit and/or first and last month’s rent to secure long-term housing for clients who become stable and who are able pay rent, but unable to afford costs associated with securing housing
  • A stabilized client’s continued stay at a Crisis Center if housing (short-term or long-term) is not immediately available in order to offset penalties.

While we recognize that scenarios where housing is not immediately available and instead a hotel is provided for a few days are not long-term solutions, these scenarios give clients the opportunity to decompress post-stabilization, begin or manage their medication, and/or provide time to reconnect with their vital support systems in a safe environment.
Calling All Artists!

You are invited to submit original artwork to be featured in the 2022 Idaho Mental Health Month Art Exhibition! The 2022 Idaho Mental Health Month Art Exhibition is open to all Idahoans who identify as having a relationship with mental health. This event is scheduled for May 21, 2022.
  • All ages welcome
  • All mediums compatible (paint, collage, pencil, poetry, movement, etc.)
  • All skill levels are welcomed and celebrated!
You will have the opportunity to talk about your piece(s), if you are comfortable, during the virtual event. If you would like to participate, please email: ajones@idahofederation.org
Pieces will be accepted until April 30, 2022. For more information please visit: empoweridaho.org/mental-health-month
Division of Public Health Offers Language-Neutral Webinar

  • Remote Interpretation Essentials Language Neutral w/Guest Speaker Aimee Benavides
  • March 10, 2022 12-1pm MT

Through the CDC Health Equity Grant, the Division of Public Health is offering a language-neutral, “Remote Interpretation Essentials” webinar for medical interpreters, supervisors, and language access coordinators. Guest speaker, Aimee Benavides, will share her expertise in remote interpretation during this 1-hour webinar.

Pre-registration is required – space is limited, register now!
New Shortage Areas Identified

New Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) have been established in Blaine County as well as Bonneville County’s Idaho Falls subcounty division. A new Dental Care Health Professional Shortage Area has been established in Blaine County’s Hailey-Bellevue and Ketchum CCD’s.
  • With these new designations all outpatient primary care and dental clinics and organizations are encouraged to learn about the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) as they are now eligible to apply for new site designations that can lead to clinician loan repayment opportunities.
  • Sites are also encouraged to reach out to the Bureau of Rural and Primary Care to learn about state funded resources now available to them!

HRSA Indicates NHSC New Site Application to Open March

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) indicated they will be opening the NHSC New Site application process in March. To prepare an application for the upcoming cycle, sites are encouraged to review the NHSC Site Reference Guide.
  • HRSA expects to be able to have enough funds to provide physician loan repayment to HPSA designations with lower scores than have recently been provided resources. The Idaho Primary Care Office would like to encourage all sites who are not currently designated as NHSC Sites to consider applying.

Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care Sponsors Medical Interpreter Workshops

  • ‘Skills Building for Spanish Speaking Interpreters in Health Care’ will be held virtually March 11, 2022, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MT. This course is designed for bilingual individuals who are fluent in English and Spanish who have completed the pre-requisite courses ‘Basic Training for Interpreters in Health Care’ and ‘Boot Camp for Interpreters in Health Care’. Sponsored by the Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care. Details and registration: Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care
  • ‘Remote Interpretation Essentials’ a language-neutral training, will be held virtually on March 10, 2022, from 12-1pm MT for medical interpreters, supervisors, and language access coordinators. Guest speaker Aimee Benavides will share her expertise in remote interpretation during this 1-hour webinar. Details and registration: Bureau of Rural Health & Primary Care
Earn Up to 14 CME Credits at the Mountain West Transforming Care Conference

Crossroads AHEC, along with several of its partners including the University of Utah, is sponsoring a virtual conference that might be of interest to your medical communities:
Mountain West Transforming Care Conference
  • What; a conference on gender-affirming care, sexual health, and HIV prevention in primary care
  • How; virtual via the conference platform Whova
  • When; March 31 - April 2, 2022, 8am – 1pm MDT each day
For a list of topics, speakers, and instructions on how to register, visit this link. Click here for the conference flyer.
Reminder! The Department of Health and Welfare Established New Idaho Healthcare Directive Registry (IHDR)

The Department of Health and Welfare established a new Idaho Healthcare Directive Registry (IHDR) which went live on October 12, 2021. All existing advance directives were transferred from the Secretary of State to this new system. IHDR is a secure web-based system where Idahoans can safely view, create, store, and share their healthcare advance directive. Idaho healthcare providers can request access to the IHDR to view patient directives 24 hours a day. Additionally, electronic POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) forms can be created online and digitally signed by licensed physicians, advance practice professional nurses, physician assistants, and patients. There is currently no cost to access the IHDR.

New accounts can be created by clicking here or going to the following web address:
https://idaho-acp.vyncahealth.com/patientportal/user/login

For more information, please visit the IHDR website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/ services-programs/birth-marriage-death-records/advance-directives-and-registry-services,
or contact us directly at IHDR@dhw.idaho.gov, or call 208-334-5501
This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U77HP03022, for the WWAMI Area Health Education (WWAMI AHEC) Program Office and its five regional Centers in the total amount of $840,630 for the 2020-2021 fiscal year (with a 1:1 total match of $840,630 from non-federally funded governmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.