A faster way to track foodborne outbreaks statewide
Food Protection Program launches new reporting system that helps keep people from getting sick because it speeds up reporting and investigations
The Food Protection Program in the Bureau of Environmental Health and Communicable Diseases launched its new online foodborne illness questionnaire last month. And it’s already a game-changer for the program!
The new reporting system provides a convenient and consistent option for consumers to log a complaint no matter where they are in the state. In the past, it has been confusing for consumers to know who to contact when they get sick. Complaints in the new system are automatically sent in pdf format to the affected health districts, which allows for faster investigative response times and data collection.
The questionnaire is available at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/community-health/food-safety/foodborne-illness
Happy Halloween, DPH!
Have your voice heard with the 2024 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey
REMINDER: The Idaho Division of Public health is participating in the 2024 PH WINS (Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey). Our current response rate is only 54% - Can we get to 70% by the end of the week? Find your reminder email from debeaumont and take the survey today!
The survey asks questions on key workplace topics such as workplace culture and morale, satisfaction, and training needs, as well as demographic characteristics. To learn more about the survey, including its objectives and benefits, or to explore results from 2017 and 2021, please click here.
If you have any questions about PH WINS, please contact Todd McArthur, DPH Workforce Director, or the de Beaumont Foundation at phwins@debeaumont.org.
Your participation in PH WINS is invaluable. Thank you in advance for taking the time to respond.
Sign up for Rake Up Boise!
The DPH Wellness Committee reminds everyone that Rake Up Boise is coming up at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. DPH’s assigned location off Warm Springs Road is ready and waiting for us to help! We’ve got a good team assembled so far, and there is still room for more. Start off your holiday season with a little service to our community members alongside your fellow DPH teammates. The event is free, and friends and family are welcome to join.
We just ask that you SIGN UP HERE so we can be sure to let you know the details and get a good count of people and tools prior to the event. We hope to see you there!
DPH staff changes
Promotion: Tiffany Robb has been promoted to the position of Chronic Disease Section Manager, effective Nov. 11. She was previously the manager of the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Program in the Bureau of Community Health since July 2021.
Well done!
Congratulations, graduates: Brigitta Gruenberg and Samantha Kirkendall, Environmental Health Program, completed the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice Public Health Management Certificate Program. This was a year-long course with a required capstone project. Brigitta created an environmental health comprehensive accountability and authority plan to outline performance objectives for engaging with public health partners. Samantha focused on a process improvement and workforce evaluation centered on performance goals, improvement areas, gaps, and future workforce expectations.
Published: Dr. Kathryn Turner, chief of the Bureau of Environmental Health and Communicable Disease, co-authored a guest editorial for a collection of articles published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease Volume 21. The collection was published 10/31/2024. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/collections/Advancing-Chronic-Disease-Data.htm
Radon data project: Carolee Cooper, Environmental Health Program, cleaned and merged the last 30 years of radon testing data for Idaho and converted to a format that can be mapped. Visualizing the data improves the programs’ ability to assess the radon testing and results in Idaho. The data can be shared with EPA to update their map for CDC tracking.
Out and about
Supporting safe driving: Karla Nelson, Office of Accreditation and Planning, supported the first Magic Valley workgroup focused on youthful driver safety. The workgroup included local law enforcement, the Minico High School Principal and representatives from St. Luke’s. Opportunities around youth led PSA’s, youth involved road safety audits, mock DUI trials, additional safety training for driver’s education teachers were all discussed. The group will meet again in early December to continue working on their piece of the action plan.
Learning collaborative with MCH and IOH programs: Claudia Coatney will represent the Maternal Child Health Program as part of the Building State Capacity for Integration Learning Collaborative focused on oral health. In addition, the Idaho Oral Health Program was one of five state oral health programs invited to participate in the Building State Capacity for Integration Learning Collaborative led by the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center. The 16-month learning collaborative will begin January 2025 and is aimed at assisting states in assessing and improving capacity for integrating oral health care and prenatal care.
$179,400 awarded in Rural Health Care Access Program
Amy Hirtle and Ann Watkins in the Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care are working on subgrants for the FY25 Rural Health Care Access Program (RHCAP) awardees. $179,400 was awarded to organizations in Idaho to help increase access to primary care for Idahoans in rural and underserved areas. Below is the list of awardees.
Challis Area Health Center, Inc., in Challis was awarded $15,767 to retain a physician assistant.
Pocatello Free Clinic in Pocatello was awarded $35,000 to increase satellite and pop-up clinics in American Falls, Bannock, Bingham, and Power counties.
Full Circle Health in Nampa was awarded $23,633 to implement Rx for Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program.
Cascade Medical Center Hospital District in Cascade was awarded $35,000 to retain a primary care physician.
Glenns Ferry Health Center, Inc., doing business as Desert Sage Health Centers in Mountain Home was awarded $35,000 to retain a primary care physician.
Steele Memorial Medical Center in Salmon was awarded $35,000 to recruit and retain primary care physicians.
Idaho now has 14 active J-1 physicians
Alex Prado, Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care, was informed that the last J-1 Visa Waiver applicant of the 2024 program year was approved by the Department of State. Nathan Bugs, M.D., is a hospitalist who practices at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston and started October 7, 2024. With this approval, this brings the total of active J-1 physicians in the state to 14, which is a drastic increase from 2018 and earlier, when there was an average of one J-1 physician a year.
One Department Q&A: Writing for a trade publication
Q: If I am invited to write an article for a medical journal or other trade publication, does that need to be submitted for review through One Department before I can proceed?
A: If you are writing the article in your personal capacity, it does not need to be submitted for One Department review. However, you should work with your supervisor to make sure DPH leadership is aware so they can notify DHW leadership. You should also include a note in the article that says opinions are those of the author and not reflective of DPH or DHW.
Send your One Department questions to Niki Forbing-Orr to be included in a future newsletter.
What is a SMART Objective?
Learning and growth opportunities
☑️ Internal / ✅ External / ⭐ Idaho
☑️ ⭐ DPH October Open House materials | The recording and slides from the DPH Open House for October are available on the DPH SharePoint site. The DPH November Open House is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20. See you there!
☑️ ⭐ New resources and training for DHW computer platforms | Resources include SharePoint, Laserfiche, Gov Delivery, Microsoft, and MS365. Check it out!
☑️ DHW Director’s Bulletins | DHW Director Alex Adams regularly publishes bulletins that lead work and priorities throughout DHW. Three bulletins were published on Sept. 20. All Director’s Bulletins are published on the Director’s Office SharePoint site.
✅ The Indigenous Evaluation Toolkit for Tribal Public Health Programs encourages communities to tell their own stories and reclaim Indigenous ways of knowing as a basis for evaluation, with the goals of enhanced health and wellness through improved programs and services. The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice encourages all individuals, teams, organizations, and communities seeking a greater understanding of Indigenous evaluation and how to advocate for its use to participate in this training. Learn more about the Seven Directions’ Indigenous Evaluation Toolkit Training
✅ Working Together to Build Trust in Public Health Webinar | 10:30 a.m. MT Nov. 18 | In Working Together to Build Trust in Public Health, participants will learn more from experts in the field about how cross-sector partnerships can strengthen confidence in public health and help you navigate new and ongoing political, climate, and social changes. The webinar is free and open to public health professionals and others who would benefit from the topic. Register
✅ Advancing the Syndemic Model | 1-2 p.m. MT Nov. 19 | Syndemics occur when two or more diseases or health conditions cluster and interact within a population because of social and structural factors, leading to an excess burden of disease and continuing health disparities. In this hour-long webinar, syndemic approaches will be defined and various strategies used by local health departments highlighted to address the syndemic. The presenters will also discuss how LHDs can advance syndemic approaches to more effectively address the intersecting epidemics of HIV, STIs, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and overdose. Register today to learn about the syndemic model.
✅ Lessons Learned from the Vaccine Equity Project | Nov. 20 | Join ASTHO and National Community Action Partnership for an in-depth look at insights and strategies gained from the Vaccine Equity Project. Learn how to utilize new tools and resources to address health disparities, including vaccination rates, in different jurisdictions. Hear practical approaches for community engagement and evidence-based interventions to benefit communities and promote health equity. Register now.
✅ Creating Communities to Support Healthy Aging | 1 p.m. Nov. 19 | In the next decade, adults over the age of 65 will exceed the number of children in the U.S. Learn how public health can help create age-friendly communities. This County Health Rankings and Road Maps webinar will discuss the ways we can support policies and systems that encourage adults to participate in their communities across all ages, incomes and abilities. Register
✒️ DHW Voice blog | Articles written by DHW staff are available on the department’s website.
📰 DHW Connection | The department’s newsletter is published on Inside DHW each payday. Read the latest issue!
📰 DHW news releases | News releases are posted on the DHW website. Read the latest.
Send your ideas for newsletter stories, staff news, events, successes and other DPH Newsletter content to Niki.Forbing-Orr@dhw.idaho.gov. The next issue will come out the week of Nov. 27.