About the Organization
CARD was formed to meet the screening and healthcare needs of individuals in the Libby, MT area exposed to Libby Amphibole Asbestos (LAA). LAA exposure in Libby occurred beginning in the 1920's until 1990 when the contaminated vermiculite mine closed. Exposure was both occupational and environmental. Community wide LAA contamination resulted from ore that was transported and processed in the downtown area, and given away to the community for free to use in construction, as a surfacing material, and a soil conditioner. The Center for Asbestos Related Disease is a multidisciplinary holistic clinic specializing in: ongoing care of exposed individuals, screening for LAA pulmonary induced diseases, research to understand mechanisms of diseaseand develop new treatment for those exposed to LAA, and extensive outreach and education about LAA. The clinic is open Monday through Thursday and there are no call requirements. Fridays are reserved for administrative and research activities. We currently employ two physicians, a PA and an NP.
About the Community
Libby is a small, geographically isolated community in Northwest Montana. The picturesque Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and Kootenai River make Libby an ideal location for outdoor enthusiasts. The population of Libby and surrounding areas is approximately 10,000. It is the county seat and the central base for the 2.2 million acres of land and hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams that make up the Kootenai National Forest. In a county that is primarily forested public land, the population density is less than six people per square mile. Libby enjoys four distinct seasons. Summer sun brings fishing, hiking, swimming and boating. Fall in south Lincoln County can be all types of hunting for some and photography for others. Winter snow means skiing, ice skating, and snowmobiling while spring brings blooming wildflowers and the abundant wildlife having their young.
Libby's medical community includes a critical access hospital, community health center, and a rural health primary care clinic, in addition to the CARD clinic. The local public school system has small class sizes for individualized educational opportunities and the local community college is a great place to start an advanced education.