Family planning leads to healthier families

When Panhandle Health District (PHD) needed to hire a new nurse practitioner for its Reproductive Health services earlier this year, Terri McCree answered the call. Terri was born in Sandpoint and recently returned to her home state to practice.

Terri likes the idea of providing services to people who can't otherwise afford medical care. For many in North Idaho, even the basic medical screenings that can save lives, such as pap smears and mammograms, are not available because of the cost.

PHD's Family Planning mission is to provide people with the medical and educational services they need to plan the size of their family and the spacing of their children. Charting the course of their lives can often make the difference between living independent lives and living in poverty.

"The people I see here wouldn't otherwise have these opportunities available," Terri says. "We also screen for breast and cervical cancer. Catching those conditions as early as possible is important."

In addition to reproductive health and women's health checks, PHD's clinical staff provides referrals for mammograms and other services. Local, state and federal funds help support these vital services targeted at keeping people healthy.

"Our goal is to get people in for the services they need," says DeNene Banger, PHD's Family Planning program manager.

Reproductive Health is offered in PHD offices in all five northern counties. The program includes physical exams, breast health information, pap smears, if needed, testing for Chlamydia and gonorrhea, pregnancy tests and birth control supplies. All the services are provided on a sliding fee scale.

For women ready to start a family, PHD provides information on how to maintain their health to help the chances of a healthy pregnancy. PHD's Nurse Family Partnership provides home visiting services to eligible first-time pregnant women who need guidance. The federal WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program at PHD provides good nutrition information and food vouchers to eligible women and their families.

For a Reproductive Health appointment or to ask about other PHD services, call (208) 415-5270. If you have questions, please ask for Gail Turley, program coordinator.

Cynthia Taggart is the public information officer for the Panhandle Health District. She can be reached at [email protected].