In small towns, such as Walla Walla, Washington, behavioral health care providers can be hard to come by. (Credit: Susan Shain / NWPB) Listen (Runtime 3:49) Read By Rachel Sun […]Read More
Nurses at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston have voted to ratify a new union contract, the hospital announced this month. Read More
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is on the rise throughout Washington state, Oregon and Idaho this year.Read More
Vineyard workers listen to a presentation from Vital Wines, a nonprofit winery that connects them to health care resources. (Credit: Susan Shain / NWPB) Listen (Runtime 4:05) Read On a […]Read More
Washington state is trying to recruit more providers for several roles in behavioral health care Read More
Whitman County Public Health announced there are now 18 confirmed cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, in the student population at Washington State University.Read More
At least five people on the Palouse have been diagnosed with pertussis as of Tuesday. Read More
Flu season is just around the corner, and health officials say now is a great time to get your flu shot.Read More
Gritman Medical Center will now serve more people in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley after taking over a student clinic.Read More
A vial of testosterone enanthate, a drug used in gender-affirming hormone therapy. (Credit: James Ronin / Pixabay) watch Listen (Runtime 3:49) Read Julia Keleher had spent about a decade helping […]Read More
As more people age, health care leaders in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley say they’re preparing for health care needs to increase, particularly in primary and specialty care. NWPB’s Rachel Sun reports.Read More
Staff at the Nez Perce Tribe’s Nimiipuu Health Center were recently honored for their outstanding contributions in health care by the Indian Health Service. NWPB’s Rachel Sun has more. Read More
If you’re under 18 in Idaho, a new state law says you can no longer get any kind of health care outside of emergency treatment without consent from a parent. NWPB’s Rachel Sun reports.Read More
Screenshots of panelists during a press conference on Thursday. Clockwise from top left: Susie Pouliot Keller, chief executive officer of the Idaho Medical Association; Dr. Duncan Harmon, a maternal fetal […]Read More
The nonprofit health care provider, CHAS Health, plans to open an additional clinic in Lewiston, Idaho late next year and expand its services. Read More
Maria Garibay, center, asks Anabella Cardoso, far left, with Esperanza, about social services and health care, while at CAFÉ’s Pachanga & Mercadito resource fair with her son Martin and daughter […]Read More
Researchers at Washington State University found that over 41 percent of American women between the ages of 15 and 49 don’t have access to an abortion provider within a 30-minute drive. Read More
Kaiser Permanente is set to remove its First Fill requirement for large group plans in Washington next year. However, the program will remain in place for some small group plans. Rachel Sun reports.Read More
Many blood banks have dangerously low supplies. Rachel Sun reports.Read More
A retired Clarkston ophthalmologist was facing discipline from the Washington Medical Commission after writing a series of opinion columns sharing contested COVID-19 information. Now, he will be allowed to appeal a decision denying his request for a preliminary injunction. Rachel Sun reports.Read More
Health officials are recommending updated COVID-19 boosters and flu shots for anyone 6 months or older. U.S. residents also can now order more free COVID-19 at-home tests through the postal service at covid.gov/tests. Each household can order a set of four rapid tests.Read More
More gay and bisexual men are now eligible to donate blood. Health reporter Rachel Sun explains that’s thanks to updated screening questions that are used for all patients, regardless of sexuality. Read More
An Idaho woman worried a year ago what might happen to her family if she needed an abortion after the state’s ban took effect. That fear came true. Now, the Caldwell woman is suing.Read More
As wildfires become more prevalent, researchers are looking at how their smoke could affect health outcomes.Read More
How to spot risk factors and how to prevent falls before they happenRead More
A heat warning issued Tuesday through Thursday for areas including Orofino, Riggins, Hells Canyon and the Salmon River means more people will be at risk of heat illness. Here's how you can stay safe and cool.Read More
A team of search and rescue personnel based out of the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management deployed to Hawaii Friday after President Joe Biden ordered federal aid to the state to help areas impacted by devastating wildfires.
The 45-person FEMA team is made up of emergency responders and other professionals trained in search and rescue from Pierce and King Read More
A group of Idaho legislators sent a letter to hospitals, requesting data on induced abortion. The request was based on what they say is a discrepancy between reported abortions, and testimony from the Idaho Medical Association.Read More
Providers say education, building trust among communities and building out mobile response teams are top prioritiesRead More
Doctors say end of federal protections affect more than just abortion careRead More
As the United States sees an increase in the number of anti-gay, anti-trans laws, one group of LGBTQ+ people on the Palouse is making its own space for queer joy and community Read More
A retired ophthalmologist, who wrote opinion columns in the Lewiston Tribune regarding COVID-19, was denied a preliminary injunction on charges filed against him by the Washington Medical Commission at a hearing Wednesday. His hearing with the Washington Medical Commission is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 24-26.Read More
Washington is getting a new drug possession and addiction treatment law, after the state legislature approved a final deal during its one-day special session Tuesday. But many lawmakers call it a hard compromise that represents just one step toward tackling the state's drug crisis.Read More
When you go to the doctor, it’s likely they aren’t the first medical professional you'll see in the office. That’s because nurses account for the largest group of health care professionals. During National Nurses Week, health reporter Rachel Sun spoke with current and retired nurses about their careers and perspectives on the future of the profession.Read More
Washington's legislature adjourned its 2023 regular session with a new two-year state budget, alongside dozens of policy changes focused on housing, health care and public safety – and a surprising last-minute bill failure.Read More
Idaho’s leading causes of death as reported in the 2021 Vital Statistics Summary Listen (Runtime 00:48) Read A report announced this week by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare […]Read More
Deborah Beckett sits at a table with her husband Geoff’s prescriptions. Geoff, who is unable to walk due to his Parkinson’s, rests in a bed behind her. Photo by Rachel […]Read More
Photo courtesy of Melyssa Andrews Listen (Runtime 1:23) Read When COVID-19 reached the Inland Northwest, few people could have predicted how profoundly it would change their lives. NWPB’s Rachel Sun […]Read More
After almost a decade of groundwork, Pullman Regional Hospital will welcome its first three family medicine residents this June.Read More
In downtown Tacoma, Rachel Ahrens said she sees drug use and abuse frequently.
“I've personally seen somebody that was just slumped up against the door and looked to be like an overdose,” said Ahrens, who is the building administrator for First United Methodist Church. “I didn't have Narcan at that time, so I wasn't able to administer that. So I had to call 911, for them Read More
When COVID-19 reached the Inland Northwest, few people could have predicted its profound changes. NWPB’s Rachel Sun interviews local residents about how the pandemic changed their mental health, lives and perspective. This is the first in a four-part mini series.Read More
Andrew Adams waters the garden outside the kitchen of his home. (Credit: Kristin Adams) Listen (Runtime 4:10) Read By Lauren Paterson and Rachel Sun For adults with developmental disabilities in […]Read More
WA lawmakers pass housing, firearm bills ahead of cutoff, leave rent control, recycling bills behind
Washington lawmakers are getting back into the swing of working on legislation in committees following a key cutoff deadline. Wednesday marked the final day for legislators to pass bills from the chamber they originated in, meaning most bills that didn't receive a vote on the floor will no longer be considered this session.Read More
Washington state is set to become the first in the nation to extend qualified health and dental plans to all of its residents next year, regardless of immigration status. Read More
For people struggling with chronic illness or multiple diagnoses, managing their care can feel overwhelming. Health reporter Rachel Sun spoke with one palliative care provider about her role in helping patients with too much to manage.Read More
Local customers say they didn’t receive notice of the change before enrollingRead More
When medical students or health care providers enter a simulation at the Center for Native American Health at Washington State University’s Spokane campus, they’re running through a situation that already happened to a Native American patient who faced real-world health consequences.Read More
Construction is underway for a new Acute Rehabilitation Unit at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston, Idaho.Read More
It might not be balmy or strewn with palm trees, but there is one thing the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley has in common with Florida: Seniors account for roughly 20% of its residents.Read More
After the overturn of Roe v. Wade last summer, more people are traveling for abortion care. (Photo via Pixabay.) Listen (Runtime 0:52) Read The costs of support for abortion care […]Read More
