Medical Care

What should I bring to my appointment?

If being seen for an immunization visit, bring your vaccine record. Bring your insurance card. You may also be asked to provide proof of income for some of our programs. If you will be receiving a pap test it is recommended to avoid sex for 48 hours before your appointment.

Will it be a long wait?
Clinics in Hayden and Sandpoint can typically accommodate walk-in or same day appointments. We’ll do our best to help you quickly. Typical waits are 15 minutes to an hour. You can call the clinic in advance to check on wait times and appointment availability.

Who will I see at the Walk-In Clinic?
You’ll see one of our nurses or Nurse Practitioners . They have a great deal of experience and expertise. Each one is committed to individualized care and helping you meet your health goals.

Is it going to be expensive?
Many services, are offered at a sliding fee scale based on your income. If you have medical coverage, check with your health insurance plan for details and co-pay amounts. Clinics accept all insurances, including Medicaid and Medicare. We can work with you on payment plans. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay.

Is my visit confidential?
Absolutely! We cannot share any information about any patient or clinic visit without written permission.

Why is it important to immunize?
Getting your child vaccinated helps protect others in your community—like your neighbor who has cancer and cannot get certain vaccines, or your friend’s newborn baby who is too young to be fully vaccinated. When everyone in a community who can get vaccinated does get vaccinated, it helps to prevent the spread of disease and can slow or stop an outbreak.

Who should get vaccinated and what are the recommended vaccination schedules for children, teens, and adults?
Vaccinations are important for people of all ages. Please call your local health department to review recommended vaccine schedules. One of our knowledgeable nurses can walk you through the process.

What are the risks of not getting vaccinated?
You are at risk for developing a vaccine-preventable disease. You can infect others in the community. Unvaccinated people can infect others who can’t be immunized for medical reasons.

What insurance plans are accepted for vaccinations? If my child does not have Medicaid or any other type of insurance, can he/she still receive immunizations?
We accept all major types of insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare. If your child does not have insurance they can still receive immunizations. The vaccine is provided free of charge, you will only be charged for the administration fee.

What do I need to bring with me to get my child’s immunizations?
Please bring your child’s immunization record.

I will be attending college soon; can the Clinic provide me with a copy of my immunization record?
If you have received immunizations at Panhandle Health District in the past, we can provide you a record. If you have received vaccines in Idaho at another provider, and they are listed in Immunization Reminder Information System (IRIS), we can provide you a record.

I have plans to travel outside the country. Where can I find travel alerts, vaccine requirements and health notices about the country I’m visiting?
You can call Panhandle Health District or visit www.cdc.gov/travel for information.

Who should get flu vaccine?
Everyone six months and older should get a yearly flu shot! Certain populations are at greater risk for serious complications and are especially encouraged to get a flu vaccine, including:

• Adults 65 years and older
• Young children, especially those between 6 months and five years
• Children and adults of any age with certain chronic health conditions or special healthcare needs, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, neurologic conditions, and certain other long-term health conditions
• Pregnant women
• Caregivers and household contacts of children less than 6 months of age as these children are too young to be vaccinated.
• Healthcare professionals and caregivers of people in any of the above groups

Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?
No. Flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. The vaccine is made with flu viruses that have been ‘inactivated’ and are therefore not infectious and cannot cause illness.

Can I get the flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy?
In general, people who have egg allergies can still receive flu vaccine. Studies that have examined the use of flu shots in egg-allergic and non-egg-allergic patients indicate that severe allergic reactions in people with egg allergies are unlikely. Our providers screen for egg allergies before you receive your flu shot.

What can be done to prevent the spread of flu?

• Get a flu vaccine every year.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your sleeve, not your bare hand.
• Use a tissue to wipe your nose, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel or disposable wipes.
• Stay home and away from others while you or your family members are sick.
• Practice good health habits such as getting enough sleep, exercise, stress management, plenty of fluids, and health diet.
• Wear a mask to cover your face in a medical office, if asked.

What are the symptoms of flu?

• Fever
• Cough, which can be severe
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Extreme fatigue (tiredness)
• Headache, which can be severe
• Some people may have vomiting or diarrhea–this is more common in children than in adults

What is Family Planning?
Our Family planning services offer women and men contraception and other birth control options to help families decide when it would be best to have a child.

Do our clinics accept walk-in patients for Family Planning appointments?
Our Clinics in Hayden and Sandpoint can typically accommodate walk-in or same day appointments. We’ll do our best to help you quickly. You can call the clinic in advance to check on wait times and appointment availability.

I have private insurance. Does a Family Planning visit accept private insurance?
Yes, our Family Planning visits accept all insurances, including Medicaid. Everyone is welcome, regardless of ability to pay.

Can I get my Depo Provera or birth control pills at a Family Planning visit without being a patient?
You must be an established patient to receive any form of birth control. To become a patient requires just a quick visit and assessment with one of our nurses. We will accept an exam or pap done at another clinic for a year past the date it was performed.

What is Title X?
The program is designed to provide contraceptive supplies and information to all who want and need them, with priority given to persons from low-income families. By law, Title X funds may not be used in programs where abortion is a method of family planning. The Title X Family Planning Program is administered by the Office of Population.

What Women’s Health Services are offered?
Women can be seen for annual exams, pelvic exams, pap smears, treatment of abnormal pap smears, breast exams, orders for mammograms, birth control, pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment, and vaginal infections. Also provided are services for women such as blood pressure and thyroid screening and medication, various lab tests, immunizations.

How often do I need to have an exam?
Annual exams are recommended for women. A pelvic exam and pap smear do not need to be performed annually unless there is a problem. Talk to your provider to see what frequency of screening is right for you.

What is a pap smear?
A test to screen for cervical cancer screening is used to find changes in the cells of the cervix that could lead to cancer. Screening with a pap smear can also include testing for human papillomavirus (HPV).

What is a pelvic exam?
As part of a pelvic exam, a provider uses a tool called a speculum to look at the vagina and cervix. The provider also inserts two fingers in the vagina and places their other hand on the outside of the stomach. The exam lets the doctor examine the cervix, uterus, and both side of the lower abdomen where the ovaries and Fallopian tubes are located.

How often do I need a pap smear?
Women aged 21 and older should have a Pap test every 3 years. If human papillomavirus (HPV) testing done with the pap test then screening can be done every 5 years. Testing may need to be done more frequently if pap results are abnormal.

What cancer screenings do you provide?
Cervical cancer screening through a pap smear. Breast cancer screening with a breast exam performed in the clinic by the provider and a mammogram if indicated by age or problem. Orders are given for mammograms to be performed at a local provider.

What causes cervical cancer?
Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection with HPV. HPV is a virus that enters cells and can cause them to change. Some types of HPV have been linked to cervical cancer as well as cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth, and throat. Types of HPV that may cause cancer are known as “high-risk types.”

If I have had a hysterectomy, do I still need cervical cancer screening?
The decision is based on whether your cervix was removed, why the hysterectomy was needed, and whether you have a history of moderate or severe cervical cell changes or cervical cancer. Your provider will discuss what is right for you.

Will I always know if I have an STD?
No. The most common symptom of an STD is no symptom at all. The only way to know if you have an STD is to get tested.
Some men with gonorrhea may have no symptoms at all. In women, the symptoms of gonorrhea are often mild, but most women who are infected have no symptoms. Chlamydia is known as a “silent” disease because about 75% of infected women and about 50% of infected men have no symptoms. The only way to know for sure is to get tested for STDs.

Does my primary care doctor automatically test me for STDs at my annual physical?
Not always. Some doctors conduct a sexual risk assessment on their patients yearly. Often, patients must request to be tested for STDs. It is important to be specific with your doctor about which types of tests you want and your risk behaviors so they can provide appropriate treatment. If you haven’t had an honest conversation with your healthcare provider about your sexual activity then you probably haven’t been tested appropriately.

If I have unprotected sex on a Saturday can I come into the Clinic on Monday and get tested for possible STDs?
Yes, you can. But it is important to realize that it can take weeks from the time of exposure until a test result could show positive for an STD. So, if you did have unprotected sex on Saturday and came into the clinic for testing on Monday, regardless of your test results, it is important to be re-tested , even if you don’t develop symptoms.

Shouldn’t I only get tested when I have a new partner?
The CDC recommends annual testing for STDs and HIV for anyone who is sexually active. If a person engages in higher risk activities such as sex with multiple partners, frequent changes in sex partners, unprotected sex (oral, anal or vaginal) or sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs we recommend testing every three to six months.

Do I have to be seen by a clinician to get some condoms?
No, condoms are always available at the Clinics. Just come in and tell the person sitting at the front desk you would like some condoms. They will provide you with what is available. The CDC recommends that you use a condom each time you have sex.

Is my visit confidential?
Absolutely! We cannot share any information with anyone without your written permission, including parents or guardians. That means we can’t tell your parents, your teachers or your employer that you got tested and we can’t tell them the results.