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Want a KN95? Pick up a mask at Meridian charter school this week
A group of Meridian high school students who plan to work in health care will be giving out free KN95 masks this week. The Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School’s HOSA Future Health Professionals association will distribute the masks at 1789 E. Heritage Park Lane in Meridian, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. March 2 and […]
Idaho’s ongoing COVID-19 costs: $27.5 million for health care staff, and counting
It may be impossible to put a price tag on the coronavirus pandemic’s cost to Idaho and Idahoans. But reporting by the Idaho Capital Sun found that one small piece of the crisis has cost taxpayers more than $27.5 million. That’s how much the state has paid a federal contractor to bring in extra health […]
In a pandemic, is it price gouging to charge a premium for crisis nurses?
As the delta variant crashed down on Idaho last fall, a hospital staffing shortage turned into a staffing crisis — and gave way to an expensive swap. Hospitals would lose nurses to lucrative, short-term gigs with staffing agencies that offered upwards of $4,600 to $8,000 per week, sometimes with housing allowance on top of the […]
Most of Idaho is rural. Most of Idaho’s nurses are not. A bill aims to fix that.
Update: This bill failed on Feb. 23 in the Senate by a 14-17 vote. The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday advanced legislation to the Senate that would create an incentive for nurses to take jobs in Idaho’s rural areas. Health care facilities have long struggled to fill jobs in Idaho’s remote mountain […]
Today in Idaho hospitals and COVID-19 (updated 2/15): Patients, ERs, ICUs
Editor’s note: The Idaho Capital Sun published this daily update on Idaho hospitals from Aug. 26 through Dec. 20, 2021; and Jan. 24 through Feb. 15, 2022, when Idaho once again fully emerged from crisis standards of care. Idaho Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen on Tuesday announced that the southwestern and south-central regions of […]
Idaho has emerged from its latest bout with crisis standards of care
Idaho Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen announced Tuesday that Idaho hospitals are no longer in a severe crisis, which necessitated a move into crisis standards of care three weeks ago. Jeppesen re-activated the care-rationing protocol on Jan. 24, due to combination of COVID-19 hospitalizations, staffing shortages in hospitals and in long-term care facilities, and […]
House bill would protect doctors, nurses, pharmacists who defy COVID treatment guidelines
A bill in the Idaho Legislature would protect the licenses of doctors, nurses and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense unproven medications for COVID-19. Rep. Gayann DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, presented the legislation Friday to the House Business Committee. The committee voted by a voice vote to introduce the bill. The bill would prohibit licensing boards from taking […]
Idaho Health and Welfare asks the Legislature to shore up public health
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is the largest government agency in the state — with oversight of everything from laboratory testing, to foster child placements, to Medicaid health insurance, to food assistance, to homes for people with disabilities, and much more. Now rounding the corner into the third year of a COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Idaho has about 40 pediatricians for every 100,000 kids. A new venture could help.
Idaho has about 170 pediatric primary care doctors — to care for about 450,000 children. That’s why the state ranks 50th in the U.S. for pediatricians per capita. But amid Idaho’s rapid growth, health care leaders have a plan to recruit and train more health care providers. One major missing piece of the health care […]
Idaho Gov. Brad Little calls up Idaho National Guard to help with COVID. Again.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little has activated the Idaho National Guard for the fourth time to help Idaho health care providers contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, his office announced Monday. The governor activated 75 Idaho National Guardsmen to assist Primary Health Medical Group — one of Idaho’s largest urgent care providers — and the Idaho Department […]
The last M.D. left in the Idaho Legislature will not seek re-election
It’s a pandemic, and the Idaho Legislature is about to lose the only medical doctor left in its chambers. Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, told the Idaho Capital Sun on Jan. 21 that he plans to retire. Wood attended medical school at Tulane University in New Orleans and trained as a physician at major medical centers, […]
Idaho hospitals are in crisis, again. This time, it’s more complicated.
Idaho is once again in a health care crisis. The state’s health and welfare director on Monday announced he re-activated Idaho’s “crisis standards of care” rationing protocol that morning. Saint Alphonsus Health System requested the activation last week, and Idaho Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen convened the Crisis Standards of Care Activation Advisory Committee […]