Rachel Marwedel
Reporter
Those driving to Holt Arena these past few weeks may have noticed a brand new sign on the other side of the road: “ISU Community Psychiatric Center.” For years, the building behind that sign had been used by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. How did ISU come to use the building, and what exactly was the Psychiatric Center? The answers to that are more complicated than they seem. To learn more, I spoke to Dr. Daisha Orchard, MD, Medical Director and Psychiatrist at the ISU Community Psychiatric Center.
In order to explain how the Center came about, we’ll have to back up first and discuss residency. As many may know, when a doctor completes medical school, they go into a residency. Doctors tend to settle down and practice wherever they complete their residency. Since there is a shortage of psychiatrists in rural Idaho (for example, Pocatello only has one currently practicing outpatient psychiatrist), there was a significant need to develop a residency program in rural Idaho to attract more psychiatrists to stay.
To solve this problem, Utah State University and Idaho State University partnered to create the Rural Idaho Track. For 2 years, residents train in Salt Lake, then come up to Pocatello for an additional 2 years. During this third year, resident’s primarily focus on outpatient training, and in the fourth year, they will be dedicated to trainee-specific interests. There are 3 residents in each class, so 6 residents are present at any time in Pocatello.
These residents work not only in ISU facilities, but at other locations like Idaho State Hospital South, Portneuf Medical Center, Tribal Health and Human Services, Portneuf Valley Family Center, The Village, Pocatello Free Clinic, Mental Health Specialists, Pocatello Women’s Correctional Facility, and participate in Telehealth services. However, another location was needed.
When Dr. Daisha Orchard, MD, and current Medical Director and Psychiatrist at the ISU Community Psychiatric Center was in her last year of residency in the Rural Idaho Track, she was approached with a new idea. Former ISU president Kevin Saterlee and Dr. Rex Force, Vice President of Health Sciences at ISU, wanted to create a community-focused psychiatric center. “The hope was not only to provide more treatment options to the community, but to create a site where residents could train,” Dr. Orchard told me. Essentially, a home base for residents.
So the planning began, and building blocks began to fall into place. Funding was secured through the Idaho State Legislature and other sources. Dr. Orchard was hired as the Medical Director for the new center. But one question remained – where would it be housed?
On 421 Memorial Drive, a strong candidate appeared. The State of Idaho’s Health and Welfare Department held an office in that building for years. However, with the rise of remote work and alternative work options for the 2020 Coronavirus, many offices in the building had gone empty. Space was available, and the Center was ready to move in! In addition, the building was owned by ISU, and Health and Welfare had been leasing all this time. With their lease up in 2025, they’re planning on fully vacating and transferring the building back to ISU.
“So you’re leasing from Health and Welfare, who is leasing from you? Sub-leasing to yourself?” I asked Dr. Orchard. She laughed, “For now, yes.”
In mid-July, the ISU Community Psychiatric Center began to see patients. Dr. Orchard explained to me what the Center does. “We serve community members. We are diagnosing psychiatric conditions, medication management, and in the process of hiring two community counselors to provide therapy. Currently we have a psychiatrist seeing patients, as well as two residents, Dr. Fortson, MD, and Dr. Emmond, MD. Currently, we are also seeing children in crisis from the Village, and perform mental health evaluations for student athletes.”
“We are seeing here ages 14 and up, and taking all major insurances, Medicaid and Medicare.” To schedule an appointment, call them at 208-282-2434. They are open 8-5, Monday through Friday, and closed 12-1 for lunch. Additional information can be found at https://www.isu.edu/clinics/mental-health/community-psychiatric-center
What does this mean for students?
Well, the Community Psychiatric Center is open to just that – the community. However, the residents in the Rural Idaho Track still serve students through the ISU Health Center. (And it’s included in student fees, so office visits are free!) To schedule an appointment with one of these psychiatry residents, call the ISU Health Center at 208-282-2330. Residents are in the Health Center Mondays and Thursdays, usually booked a week out.
With the creation of the ISU Community Psychiatric Center, Pocatello and rural Idaho’s mental health is in good hands.
