PHD – 50 Years Of Milestones
Directors
Larry Belmont 1971-1998 / First Director
Kay Kindig 1999-2001
Jeanne Bock 2001-2010
Lora Whalen 2010-2021
Don Duffy 2021-Present
Timeline
1970
Idaho’s seven public health districts were established by Idaho Legislature.
1971
North Idaho region officially designated the Panhandle Health District.
1972
PHD’s Environmental Health program assists with the closure of 39 open burning dumps within the Panhandle Health District.
1973
New Family Planning grant, expanding clinic to Boundary County.
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PHD’s Environmental Health program begins water quality monitoring of the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer.
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Baghouse fire occurred at the Bunker Hill Lead Smelter, causing the largest lead poisoning event in US history.
1974
Panhandle Health District teams up with the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare, the CDC, and ATSDR to begin community wide blood lead testing and monitoring.
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Image: Clark Fork Dump
1975
PHD adds Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) services.
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Image: Greensferry & I90
1977
PHD responds to Measles Outbreak
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Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection Rules – Sewage Management established.
1983
Bunker Hill “Box” placed on the EPA’s National Priorities List.
1984
The Board of Health went on record to support mandating car seats for children.
1985
Board endorsed Governor’s proclamation that State employees wear seat belts in district vehicles.
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PHD implements the Lead Health Intervention Program.
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Board approved no-smoking policy in district buildings and vehicles.
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Image: Newspaper article on Health District efforts to educate realtors on the aquifer
1986
Proclaimed week of May 5th to be Family Immunization Week.
1987
Board accepted the Senior Home Companion Program (Senior Companions)
1989
Yard Remediation Program began in the “Box”.
1990
Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer Protection Rules – Critical Materials Program established.
1992
Board authorized PHD to become the managing agency for the ICP in Shoshone Co.
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PHD implements Women’s Health Clinic services.
1994
PHD goes computerized and tosses the typewriters!
1995
PHD responds to Pertussis Outbreak.
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Image: Smelterville
1996
Tobacco Prevention program started.
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Image: Kellogg
1997
The Board formed the Environmental Task force to evaluate PHD’s environmental programs.
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PHD responds to another Pertussis Outbreak, Over the first 2 months 203 cases confirmed.
1998
Larry Belmont, PHD’s first Director of PHD retires in January 1998 after 27 years.
2000
Y2K prompts PHD to form committee with representatives in each county to plan and work with partners on issues that might come up. All clinic schedules were pre-printed two weeks in advance just in case the computers crashed when the clock struck midnight in 2000!
2002
Idaho adds Public Health Preparedness Program to each health district in response to the 9/11 terrorist incident.
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Blood Lead Remedial Action Objective is achieved in the “Box”. Meaning 95% or more of the children living in the Box have blood lead levels less than 10 µg/dl and that less than 1% have blood lead levels greater than 15 µg/dl.
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Superfund Site boundary extended to cover the “Basin”.
2004
PHD Home Health program receives 5-star accreditation from Avatar International.
2004-2008
Eliminated residential direct sewage discharges in Burke Canyon.
2005
Idaho Public Health Preparedness programs receive Public Health Ready Recognition.
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Image: Burke Canyon
2006
Moved into new Hayden Headquarters Public Health Facility.
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Image: PHD Hayden Office
2009
May 2009 – First case of H1N1 in Kootenai County
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October 2009 – Vaccine is available, mass vaccination clinics started
2011
Facilitated development of sewer to Heyburn State Park Float homes.
2012
Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) program initiated in Kootenai and Shoshone counties.
2013
Mary Clarke, PHD Home Health RN, awarded Idaho Home Care and Hospice Nurse of the Year.
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Image: CMR Inspection
2015
Diabetes Prevention Program started.
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Images: Dental Clinic hosted by PHD in Hayden & Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer
2016
NFP expanded into Bonner County.
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Prescription Drug Overdose Program started.
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Images: Ribbon Cutting in Bonner County & Blood Lead Testing
2018
NFP expanded into Boundary and Benewah Counties.
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Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Program started.
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PHD adds Parents As Teachers program.
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Image: Kellogg
2019
PHAB National Accreditation awarded.
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PHD adds Parents Leading Active Youth (PLAY) program.
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PHD Home Health program awarded Medicare 5-Star recognition.
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Image: PHD staff attend an All District Staff Meeting and provide service projects to the community
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Prescription Drug Overdose Program awarded $1 million grant.
2020
March 2020 – Idaho confirms first case of COVID-19
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Image: Ribbon Cutting for the PHD Sandpoint building
2021
National Guard deployed to assist health districts and hospitals in Idaho in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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PHD continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic that has now continued for two years. PHD continues to provide data, case investigation, call center, testing, vaccines, and collaboration with community partners.
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Image: PHD hosts vaccine clinics at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds with assistance from the National Guard and Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers
