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. Continue 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… Continue Reading 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… Continue Reading Local pharmacists worry for 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… Continue Reading What we learned from COVID: Melyssa Read More
After almost a decade of groundwork, Pullman Regional Hospital will welcome its first three family medicine residents this June. Continue Reading Pullman Regional to welcome first medical residents this springRead 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… Continue Reading New grant to help 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. Continue Reading Washington’s big health plan: insurance for the 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. Continue Reading The case for palliative Read More
Local customers say they didn’t receive notice of the change before enrolling Continue Reading Kaiser Permanente customers discover new requirement to fill prescriptions via mail-orderRead 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. Continue Reading Lewiston inpatient rehabilitation unit to open in late JuneRead 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. Continue Reading ‘The 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… Continue Reading Northwest Abortion Access Fund Read More
Courtesy Walmart Read Walmart Pharmacies will host their first, “Wellness Day” of the year from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14. Customers will be able to receive… Continue Reading Walmart Pharmacies to offer free screenings for Read More
Community care providers that serve people with disabilities across Idaho started receiving funds they had originally expected in July late last month. Continue Reading Community care orgs ‘shored up’ with ARPA funds, but still Read More
Moscow Middle School will close Friday after a third of its 499 students called out sick Tuesday and Wednesday. Continue Reading Moscow Middle School closes after third of students call out sickRead More
Courtesy SAMHSA Listen (Runtime 1:59) Read Since July of this year, people experiencing a mental health crisis have been urged to call 988. When they reach it, an automated message… Continue Reading Providers explain what to expect when calling Read More
Becca Ewing sits in her jogger Wednesday Oct. 19 at East City Park in Moscow. Photo by Rachel Sun Listen (Runtime 4:01) Read Every day, when Lorie Ewing wakes up,… Continue Reading Community care providers ‘in crisis’ waiting Read More
Janet Schroeder puts on protective gear for COVID precaution before heading into a patients room at the Pullman Regional Hospital Emergency Room on Saturday, Sept. 24. Photo courtesy August Frank/the… Continue Reading Pullman Regional ER staff say Read More
From left: John Huckabay; mother Susan Huckabay; sister Kathy Williams; Kathy’s husband, Rich Williams; Scott Green, University of Idaho president; and Jeff Seegmiller, Idaho WWAMI program dean. Courtesy Brad Martin/University… Read More
Despite lower numbers than other age groups, seniors are seeing an increased rate of STIs. Photo courtesy August Frank/The Lewiston Tribune Listen (Runtime 3:21) Read High blood pressure, diabetes and… Continue Reading Killing the mood: Read More
A student walks in front of the University of Idaho Administration Building Friday evening. Photo by Rachel Sun Listen (Runtime 3:29) Read The University of Idaho is facing backlash from… Continue Reading UI Read More
Listen (Runtime 0:56) Read Idaho currently has about 9,000 unfilled health care positions, according to a report by the Idaho Business for Education. In that report, the group published recommendations… Continue Reading Idaho Group Read More
The Idaho state flags hangs in the rotunda of the statehouse in Boise. CREDIT: James Dawson/BSPR Listen (Runtime 0:56) Read A federal judge has blocked part of Idaho’s near-total abortion… Continue Reading Judge Orders Injunction Read More
The Garfield County Hospital District’s main building uses a boiler from an old steam ship for their heating, and swamp coolers as the main form of air conditioning. Staff say… Continue Reading Hospital’s Plan Takes Aim at New Read More
An ambulance pulls out of St. Joseph Regional Medical Center on Friday morning in Lewiston. The hospital, a fixture in Lewiston for more than 100 years, was sold to a… Continue Reading Read More
Kimberly Starr’s son, Tom, died by suicide when he was in high school. Kimberly now does prevention outreach to help others. Listen (Runtime 2:26) Read It is common for people… Continue Reading Mental Health First Aid Should Be As Common As CPRRead More
A new report by the pharmaceutical provider NiceRx ranked Washington and Idaho sixth and seventh respectively for states with the highest prevalence of mental health problems. It ranked each state… Continue Reading Analysis Ranks Read More
An ultrasound machine sits beside an exam table at WISH Medical in Moscow. Photo by Rachel Sun Listen As Idaho — and the nation — approach restricting abortion rights, two… Continue Reading Evaluating The Role Of Religiously Based Sexual Read More
CHAS Staff Say Unhoused Patients Need More Affordable Housing, Mental Health Services Continue Reading CHAS Staff Say Unhoused Patients Need More Affordable Housing, Mental Health ServicesRead More
Matt Forge was named Pullman Regional Hospital’s incoming CEO After more than a year of searching, the Pullman Regional Hospital Board of Commissioners has named Matt Forge the incoming Chief… Continue Reading Pullman Regional Names Incoming CEORead More
Local Health Care Provider Says Rate Of Homeless Patients Increased During Pandemic Continue Reading Local Health Care Provider Says Rate Of Homeless Patients Increased During PandemicRead More
Cornelia Kirchhoff is the assistant director at the Washington State University Psychology Clinic. She’s noticed a significant increase in the number of people seeking ADHD testing in the past year. Continue Reading Long Wait Times, Provider Shortages Read More
A fundraiser is planned to raise needed money for modernization at Pullman Regional Hospital Listen Rachel Sun reports on efforts to raise money to modernize Pullman Regional Hospital / Runtime… Continue Reading Fundraising To Modernize Pullman Read More
Two years after its creation, recommendations by the Idaho Behavioral Health Council are on their way to the Legislature this year. Some of that legislation includes a goal to streamline the civil commitment process, says State Senator David Nelson of Moscow. Read More
Idaho reached record levels of COVID-19 testing positivity at 38.8% last week, said Christine Hahn, state epidemiologist at a press briefing Tuesday. Continue Reading Idaho hits record for COVID-19 positivityRead More
Northwest Public Broadcasting (NWPB) is the recipient of a 2021 Impact Grant from Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Foundation. The grant award supports a new full-time position: a Lewis-Clark Valley Healthcare Reporting… Continue Read More
For those seeking routine health care services in the Palouse and Lewis Clark Valley, affording those services is often out of reach. Continue Reading A Lack Of Affordable Health Care In The Lewis Clark Valley And On The Read More
By Julie Appleby Patients are months away from not having to worry about most surprise medical bills — those extra costs that can amount to hundreds or thousands of dollars… Continue Reading Coming Soon, A Surprise Billing Read More
Those who have savings have to decide if they should dip into their accounts early, potentially eating away at funds they'd earmarked for later. Others are having to calculate how starting to receive their Social Security payments earlier than planned could reduce their checks in the future. Read More
The Trump administration's rule, which goes into effect this month, was made possible in part through the efforts of Cynthia Fisher, the founder and chairman of PatientRightsAdvocate.org. Patients from across the United States have told "stories of being blindsided by outrageous medical bills," Fisher told NPR's Weekend Edition. "This is the win to put affordable into the Read More
Deaths from COVID-19 have jumped nearly 40% this week, and hospitals around the country are straining under their patient load. Here's what happened in the first week after Thanksgiving. Continue Reading Read More
An online survey conducted out of Whitman College found more than half of Washingtonians say they have delayed medical visits this year. The findings underscore widespread concerns about disruptions to health care during the pandemic. Read More
Trump has reversed Obama-era protections that prohibit discrimination in health care based on gender identity. Critics warn the rule could harm a vulnerable group — LGBTQ people — during a pandemic. Continue Reading Transgender Health Read More