D r. William Hazle, psychiatrist and director of the Behavioral Health Unit at Portneuf Medical Center, has provided psychiatric care to patients in Soda Springs, Malad City, and Afton, Wyoming from his Portneuf Medical Center office since July, 2007.
Using the advanced technology and equipment of the Cooperative  Telehealth Network operated by The Hospital Cooperative, Dr. Hazle and his patients each sit before a video camera and monitor, and converse in real time even though they could be more than 100 miles apart. The Cooperative Telehealth Network is one of many like it across the country that bridge barriers to health care in rural areas posed by distance and the lack of medical specialists close by.
| Dr. William Hazle talks to Sherie Alvari, licensed social worker at Caribou Memorial Hospital in Soda Springs via the Cooperative Telehealth Network in his office at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello. |
On March 3rd, Dr. Hazle conducted his 100th patient consultation via the telehealth network. The Steele-Reese Foundation Special Project Fund and the Archie B. Teater fund for Children with Disabilities of the Idaho Community Foundation provided funding to assist patients who are unable to pay or whose insurance does not cover mental health care.
Video-based CNA training now a reality for THC communities
The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
 After nine months of planning, Idaho State University Workforce Training, in cooperation with The Hospital Cooperative, is offering a video-based Certificated Nursing Assistants (CNA) course. The video-based CNA course teaches didactic components via distance technology with learning laboratory practice and clinical occurring at the student’s local community hospital site. Exams and assignments are submitted via the Web.
| Idaho State University instructor Cheryl DenHartog, R.N., right, teaches students in our Pocatello conference room and in Soda Springs, on monitor. |
“The purpose of this class is to provide cost effective training for nurses in rural settings that will free up local Registered Nurses so they may complete their job responsibilities without the additional time commitments of teaching CNAs in their local community,.” said Cheryl DenHartog, R.N., health programs manager for Workforce Training. This collaboration began in May 2007 when executive director Jon Smith contacted Workforce Training about the potential to collaborate on conducting video-based CNA courses. Workforce Training staff members presented various options and a start date for the new course was set.
The first course began February 20, 2008 with six students. Two students from Caribou County are attending classes via distance learning while four students from Pocatello attend classes at The Hospital Cooperative offices. “Cheryl DenHartog is to be commended for her efforts in recruiting the students to make the program run,” said Joe Fleishman, director of Workforce Training, “Workforce Training strives to meet the needs of our citizens and is responsive to requests we receive from companies and organizations throughout our region. Through The Hospital Cooperative, we expect to be soon offering these classes to other rural area hospitals.” Workforce Training provides short-term training in a variety of areas, including computers, business, health care, apprenticeships in the building trades, and professional development to provide youth and adults with technical skills, knowledge and attitudes necessary for successful performance in a highly effective workplace. For more information about the CNA course, contact Jon Smith at (208)239-2384.
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