Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Health Centers (CHCs) have been key to ensuring everyone can access affordable, quality healthcare, during and beyond the pandemic. They are locally run yet part of a national network serving nearly 29 million people nation-wide. They save American taxpayers $24 billion a year in health care costs by preventing and managing chronic diseases. CHCs are not ordinary medical clinics; they are also problem-solvers who reach beyond the exam room to care for the whole person by providing access to necessities like food and housing resources. Community Health Centers care for everyone, regardless of insurance status. As unemployment rises and more Americans lose their employee-sponsored health care, Community Health Centers will be the key to keeping America healthy.

Ritchie Regional Health Center is a CHC that takes pride in serving the surrounding communities. We offer primary care, behavioral and mental health services, as well as dental services.
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In order to survive and thrive well beyond the pandemic, Congress must pass emergency and long-term funding for Community Health Centers. As part of National Health Center Week 2022 (August 7 – 13), we invite you to support RRHC and celebrate our mission and accomplishments.
#NHCW2022

We invite you to participate in the Ritchie Regional Health Center 2022 5K Race "Stepping on Hunger". All proceeds from this event will be given to local food pantries to help combat hunger in our communities. Our goal is to raise $5,000. We are also asking all participants to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated on the day of the race.

Food insecurity - meaning there simply are not enough resources for all members of the household to have nutritionally adequate food - is a critical problem in our area. West Virginia suffers from a food insecurity rate of 15.3 %. In our area, one in six struggles with hunger and one in six children will worry about where their next meal is coming from.

The race will take place Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 8 a.m. in Harrisville, WV, in front of the Ritchie County Courthouse. The kids race will follow. Awards will be presented following the races. The preregistration fee is $15 per participate. Race day registration is $20. The Kids Fun Run is free.

To preregister, complete an application and return it (and the fee), to any RRHC location. The application/fee can also be mailed to P.O. Box 373 Harrisville, WV 26362. To preregister online, please click here. 

Call 304-699-0949 or email mlowther@ritchieregional.org with any questions.

Hope you're able to join us!

RRHC joins the National Council on Youth Sports in celebrating National Youth Sports Week this year from July 20 to 26 — a time to showcase how communities can promote healthy lifestyles for children and families through sports. 

There are numerous benefits for youths who participate in regular physical activity: improved bone health, higher cognitive functions, reduced risk of depressed, etc. Playing sports can provide additional benefits such as goal setting and improving social/interpersonal skills. Sports can also facilitate the development of physical literacy, which is the ability to move with competence and confidence in a variety of physical activities in multiple environments that benefit a person’s overall healthy development. Sports encompass many of the basic movement skills that contribute to physical literacy, including running, balancing, hopping, skipping, jumping, dodging, gliding, falling, lifting, swimming, kicking, throwing, and catching. 

Given all the benefits, it’s hard to imagine not wanting to get up and move yet, ONLY 20% of adolescents meet the daily recommended amount of physical activity. So how can our children and teens be encouraged to be more active? You guessed it -- by playing sports! However, there are disparities in the participation of sports: girls, racial and ethnic minorities, youth from households of low socioeconomic status, youth living in rural areas, and youth with disabilities are less likely to be physically active and play sports. Therefore, the National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS), developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), emphasizes underserved populations and highlights strategies that can facilitate participation despite these barriers. 
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To get involved and help support the idea that ALL American youth should have the opportunity to play sports, RRHC is giving away frisbees to encourage local adolescents and their families to be more active as well as creating awareness about the benefits of playing sports. We’re looking forward to being even more prepared next year!

Today, WV joined the rest of the United States in beginning to use the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

988 will be the new three-digit number for call (multiple languages), text or chat (English only) that connects people to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, where compassionate, accessible care and support are available for anyone experiencing mental health–related distress.

988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be:
• Thoughts of suicide
• Mental health or substance use crisis, or
• Any other kind of emotion distress

People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

The Lifeline works! Since the Lifeline began in 2005, it has served as an invaluable resource, helping thousands of people overcome suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress every day. With the transition to 988, these life-saving services will be even easier to reach.

RRHC kindly reminds everyone who read this, we offer behavioral and mental health services. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled professionals, please call or text 304-643-4005. 

July 12, 2022, RRHC Harrisville had the privilege of being part of the FARMACY program launch in Ritchie County.

The 10-week-program is part of an effort to increase access to fresh produce to individuals ages 18 to 75 who have not previously been diagnosed with hypertension, stroke, or cancer. In additional to nutritious food items, the program provides a weekly 30-minute class that will include food demos, recipes, and information about hypertension, stroke, and cancer; as well as offers free health screenings for a1C, blood pressure, lipids, and weight on the first and tenth weeks.
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RRHC would like to thank all the participants and staff involved, especially LPN/Clinical Applications & Documentation Specialist, Mary Spencer. 

RRHC Steps Up for PTSD Awareness by participating in the National Center for PTSD Virtual Walk. 

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health problem. PTSD can develop after you go through or see a life-threatening event. Going through a traumatic event is not rare. At least half of Americans have had a traumatic event in their lives. While it's normal to have stress reactions to these types of events, prolonged and/or ongoing stress from the trauma could mean you have PTSD. Of people who have experienced trauma, about 1 in 10 men and 2 in 10 women will develop PTSD. For some people, PTSD symptoms may start later on, or they may come and go over time. 

Anyone who has PTSD or who is close to someone who has it, knows just how difficult it can be to manage. Thankfully, treatment opinions are available. For some people, treatment can get rid of PTSD altogether. For others, it can make symptoms less intense. Treatment also gives you the tools to manage symptoms, so they don’t keep you from living your life. PTSD treatment can turn your life around — even if you’ve been struggling for years.

So how do you know if you have it? The only way to know for sure is to talk to a mental health care provider. Regardless of whether or not you have PTSD, if thoughts and feelings from past trauma are bothering you, you should consider seeking help. 

RRHC proudly offers behavioral and mental health services. If you think you or a loved one would benefit from talking to a professional, please don't hesitate to call or text 304-643-4005 to schedule an appointment or click here.

Are you in crisis right now? You have options:
• Call 911
• Go to the nearest Emergency Room
• Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
#PTSDAwarenessMonth


After this blog was initially published, NST Attorneys At Law provided an excellent, comprehensive guide about PTSD and car accidents that RRHC would like to share. Check it out: 
PTSD & Car Accidents - nstlaw.com/guides/ptsd-and-car-accidents/

On June 21, 2022, the RRHC Doddridge Wellness Center saw over 60 patients during their clinic. The clinic was geared towards preparing students for the 2022/2023 school year by offering required school physicals and dental exams, as well as $10 sports physicals. 

RRHC appreciates everyone who made it such a successful day! A special thanks to the Doddridge County High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for volunteering to help out during the event. 

On Wear Blue Day -- a day created by the Men’s Health Network -- RRHC staff members wore blue to raise awareness about the health issues that plague men. Awareness regarding health issues occurring in the male population is critical since, on average, men live at least five years less than women. 

While the entire month of June emphasizes creating awareness, Wear BLUE Day particularly spreads the message using a single color. Blue represents the ailments that largely affect men including testicular cancer, stroke, lung cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer, and several other illnesses that decrease their lifespan. 
Besides donning blue to show the men in our lives we care, RRHC would also like to remind our male patients to schedule regular checkups. 

Recently had a physical checkup? Don’t forget about your mental health too. In addition to primary care, Ritchie Regional also offers behavioral health services. Just call or text 304-643-4005 to schedule an appointment. To request an appointment, please click here. To self-schedule an appointment, click here.

✨Want to take part in the Wear BLUE Day this year? There’s still time! All you have to do is pick out your favorite blue outfit and post a picture of yourself in the comments! Help us raise awareness about men’s health! ✨

Husbands. Fathers. Brothers. Uncles. Partners. Friends. Coworkers. Sons. They are the reason we wear blue.
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#ShowUsYourBlue

June is National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month (MHAM), and the headache, migraine, and cluster communities are working together for their diseases to be recognized. A disease awareness month plays a vital role in raising public knowledge, addressing stigma, and building a stronger community of patient advocates.

Headaches and migraines are among the most common disorders of the human nervous system. It has been estimated that more than half of the adult population has had at least one headache in the last year. Symptoms range from excruciating migraines, dull and throbbing head pain, piercing cluster pain, neck pain and tension, nausea, and hypersensitivity to light, sound, and smells.

Nearly all of us have experienced a headache. In fact, occasional headaches are common, and usually require no medical attention. However, knowing when to consult your primary care provider is key.

When to see a medical provider: 

• You usually have two or more headaches a week
• You take a pain reliever for your headaches most days
• Your headaches are disabling
• You need more than the recommended dose of over-the-counter pain remedies to relieve your headaches
• Your headache pattern changes, or your headaches worsen

When to seek prompt medical care:

• Is sudden and severe
• Gets worse despite rest and pain medication
• Follows a head injury
• Accompanies a fever, stiff neck, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness, or difficulty speaking

For more information, visit https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/mham/

To schedule an appointment one of RRHC's providers, please call/text 304-643-4005 or click here.