Monday, May 19, 2025
5/19/2025
Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program - Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program Southwestern Utah RESEP, St. George Regional Hospital, Intermountain Health 600 South Medical Center Drive, Bldg 7; St. George, UT 84790-8723 Rebecca Barlow, APRN, MSN; Project Director Phone Numbers: Voice: 435-251-4760 Email Address: rebecca.barlow@imail.org Proposed Service Region: Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, Sevier, Millard and Garfield counties in Utah; Nye and Lincoln counties in NV, and Mohave County north of the Grand Canyon in AZ From 1951-1962 the United States government conducted above-ground nuclear testing in Nye County, Nevada at the Nevada Test Site—which site is directly west of Washington, Iron and Kane Counties in southern Utah. During this testing, the fallout, containing nineteen radioactive materials, blanketed southwestern Utah, northern Arizona and southeastern Nevada. The National Cancer Institute reported that Utah’s Washington and Iron Counties received the greatest amount of fallout from the testing. Populations within the proposed affected counties stated below (known as “downwinders” because of their living downwind to the fallout) were collectively estimated at around 61,000—and have remained fairly stable to this day. Following the period of nuclear testing, this collective population started showing abnormally high rates of malignant and non-malignant thyroid disease and numerous studies ensued. Among them, studies conducted by the University of Utah in southwestern Utah confirmed the link between radioactive fallout and increased rates of thyroid malignancy and leukemia. Additionally, data from the Utah Cancer Registry for southwestern Utah for the period 1991-2000 showed a higher-than-expected incidence of lymphoma, breast and thyroid cancers. St. George Regional Hospital (SGRH); previously Dixie Regional Medical Center, proposes to continue to serve the population of Southern Utah and adjacent regions exposed to radiation from this period of nuclear testing by continuing their Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program (RESEP) clinic. To date, the Southwestern Utah RESEP clinic has provided a cancer health screening physical to almost 5,700 patients, given out nearly 4,000 RECA applications to potential claimants, provided RECA information to more than 144,000 individuals, and conducted over 82,000 RECA counseling sessions. Over 2,000 known claimants have received RECA compensation. This program will continue to provide education to these individuals on screening for health consequences related to radiation exposure. SGRH’s broad scope of medical capabilities; location within the exposed area and history of health care service to its mostly rural communities, make it well suited to conduct the full scope of activities required by RESEP. Additionally, eligible uranium industry workers and qualified onsite participants will also be included in the target populations. While it is difficult to determine the exact number of the original estimated almost 61,000 exposed individuals that are still living in SGRH’s proposed service area, it is expected there are at least several thousand to ten thousand local residents still eligible for the RESEP clinic and efforts will be made to promote the program locally as well as regionally. SGRH proposes to continue its present services to the populations of Washington, Iron, Kane, Beaver, Sevier, Millard and Garfield counties in Utah; Nye and Lincoln counties in NV, and Mohave County north of the Grand Canyon in AZ. The Southwestern Utah RESEP clinic will continue to be managed by the expertise of a nationally certified oncology nurse practitioner who is trained in the health effects of radiation. Both she and the RECA counselor are well educated in the biology of cancer and are passionate about the difference that preventative screening and education of cancer risk can make within a population.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).