Has anyone noticed National Dental Hygiene Month is the same month as Halloween? Coincidence?! Or is it the perfect time to stress the importance of dental hygiene because of the sweets many of us indulge in this time of year?
For RRHC, National Dental Hygiene Month is a time to raise awareness of the importance of good oral health which is more than just having a pretty smile. It is directly tied to our overall health and well-being. Studies have shown that poor oral health can be linked to a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. The good news is that good oral health is easy to achieve with a few simple steps:
In addition to raising awareness about dental hygiene, National Dental Hygiene Month is an opportunity to recognize the hard work of our dental hygienist, Sarah Bartley. Sarah is an essential member of our dental team, providing preventive care and education to patients of all ages. She plays a vital role in helping people maintain healthy teeth and gums for a lifetime. If you’d like to make an appointment with Sarah, call 304-873-1401 ext. 201. We accept most insurance plans and offer the Sliding Fee Scale to uninsured or underinsured individuals.
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💜💙 We wear purple and teal to show solidarity for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, and it is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24. Suicide Prevention Week is an annual event that takes place during the third week of September. The goal of suicide prevention week is to raise awareness about suicide and to provide resources for people who are struggling with suicidal thoughts. There are many things that you can do to help prevent suicide. Here are a few tips:
Suicide prevention is everyone's responsibility. By talking about suicide, reaching out to those who are struggling, and learning about suicide prevention, we can all help to save lives. #SuicidePrevention #SuicidePreventionWeek #mentalhealthmatters #TalkAwayTheDark September 14, 2023 West Virginia was one of 13 states in the Appalachian region to participate in Safe a Life Day. Community members, friends, family, people who use drugs, and anyone wishing to be prepared to save a life were welcomed to be trained on how to use Naloxone. The medication, the most common being a nasal spray called Narcan, works to reverse opioid overdoses with no adverse side effects. The devastation of the opioid overdose epidemic in the Appalachian region is well-known, and according to data from the CDC, five of the ten states that have the worst overdose rates are in the Appalachian region, where the loss of loved ones in 2021 represented 38% of the fatalities in the nation for that year. Although only 2 counties in the Mountain State first participated in Save a Life Day in 2020, all 55 counties in West Virginia participated in Save A Life Day in 2023. Since Save a Life Day started in West Virginia, the state with the worst overdose rate, West Virginia-based SOAR now works with more than 150 counties spread across 13 states to come together and support one another. Ritchie Regional was fortunate enough to participate in Safe a Life Day in both Pleasants and Ritchie. It was a pleasure to be a part of the WV-wide event; we’re already thinking about how to make it even better next year! We'd like to thank everyone who came out to Save a Life Day 2023! Because of you, the day was a huge success! Breaking through stigma and supporting each other is how we conquer the opioid epidemic. Special thanks to all the organizers, volunteers, and sponsors who made Safe a Life possible ❤️💛🖤 #SaveaLifeAppalachia #savealife West Virginia continues to lead the nation in chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Through a program called FARMACY WV, we emphasize the concepts: “healthy food is medicine”; and the first line of treatment and prevention is a healthy diet and lifestyle changes. FARMACY WV is a 10-week program that supports those concepts by providing fresh produce and healthy food along with nutrition and cooking education. During the first week of class, participants received a care kit, an insulated bag, a cookbook, and a workbook. Participants were also weighed, had their blood pressure checked, and had their labs drawn to establish a baseline. Each week, they received a useful kitchen tool and vouchers for fresh produce at Lakeview Market. Every other week, they receive a healthy meal box from Mountaineer Food Bank. At the end of the program, labs, B/P, and weight were once again taken and compared to the baseline. This was the second year that RRHC has hosted FARMACY classes for Ritchie County and we feel extremely lucky to be a part of the efforts to help improve the health of our community, families, and friends. We sincerely appreciate all those who were involved! Join RRHC Behavioral Health Case Manager, Jocelyn Blackwell, at Doddridge Co. Public Library every Tuesday for SMART Recovery and Friends and Family. Everyone is welcome!
SMART Recovery is unique in that it encompasses all types of addictive behavior as well as mental health struggles. It is not focused on alcohol or substance addiction and can include shopping addiction, eating addiction, gaming addiction, gambling addiction, or issues with mental health such as self-harm which can lead to addiction. Addiction is something that a person engages in that results in problems in their everyday life activities and relationships that they continue to engage in regardless of the negative impact it has. In SMART Recovery, we focus on the fact that everyone is individual and their recovery is also individual. We work through stages of change and meet them where they are at without negative feedback. We are supportive of everyone’s choice to handle their recovery the way they see fit. Individuals are not powerless and we take a self-empowerment approach to recovery. In the Friends and Family group, we focus on how individuals with loved ones struggling with addictive behaviors can cope and take back some control of how they respond to their loved ones. On September 14, 2023, all 55 counties in WV will be hosting a Save a Life Day event. 2023 will be the first year that Ritchie County will participate, and Ritchie Regional Health Center is privileged to be a part of it.
In addition to Ritchie County’s Save a Life Day which will take place at the Harrisville Town Park (13 S Stout St. Harrisville) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., RRHC will also be represented at Pleasants County’s event which will take place at George Street Church of Christ (108 George Street St. Marys) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free, lifesaving, Naloxone will be distributed and training on how to administer it will be available. We hope you can join us! For questions, please email Dominique Kirl (Dominique.kirl@wvesc.org). #savealife #SaveaLifeAppalachia With school in full swing and Labor Day right around the corner, we’d like to post about our locations’ current hours of operation.
As a reminder, ALL RRHC Locations will be CLOSED on Saturday, September 2, and Monday, September 4. 📍 St. Marys High School Wellness Center Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Phone: 855-552-8907 📍 Doddridge School-Based Wellness Center Medical Hours Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dental Hours Thursday: 8 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Phone: 304-873-0060 📍 West Union Campus Medical Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dental Hours Monday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (limited services available) Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday: Dental goes to the Doddridge Wellness Center Phone: 304-873-1401 📍 Smithville Elementary Wellness Center Monday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Thursday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Phone: 681-408-2000 📍 Ellenboro School-Based Wellness Center Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Phone: 304-869-3650 📍 Jefferson Elementary Wellness Center Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Phone: 304-699-0506 📍 Parkersburg South Wellness Center Monday - Friday: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Phone: 304-699-0809 📍 Harrisville Campus Monday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - noon Phone: 304-643-4005 We’d like to thank everyone who was involved in our 2023 5K Walk/Run - Stepping on Hunger 🏃❤️🚶♀️❤️
We had 98 participants and raised over $8,700!! Stepping on Hunger wouldn’t be possible without all the participants, volunteers, and sponsors. We truly appreciate your support and feel privileged to be able to donate all the proceeds and non-perishable food items to local families in need! 1st Place Overall Male Runner: Nathan Cunningham 1st Place Overall Female Runner: Bentlee Williams 1st Place Overall Male Walker: Jason Mater 1st Place Overall Female Walker: Katherine Vickers Special thanks to our sponsors: Ace Home Center; Alfab; Berdines Five & Dime; Doddridge Independent; Garrett Construction; Hall Drilling LLC; Intra-State Insurance; LabCorp; Long Reach; Morgan Stanley; Phillips Pharmacy; Pizza House; Ritchie Community Pharmacy; Ritchie Gazette; Sister Health Foundation; Troy Nonwovens LLC; Union Bank Inc. August 11, 2023, is Health Center Staff Appreciation Day!
Today, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of not only our staff but those of health center employees everywhere! These incredible individuals are committed to providing high-quality, affordable healthcare to everyone, regardless of their income or insurance status. Health center staff are passionate about their work and make a real difference in the lives of their patients, especially in rural, underserved communities. On this day, we want to say thank you to all the health center staff who work tirelessly to improve the health of our communities. You are the unsung heroes of the healthcare system! Here are just a few of the things that health center staff do:
Community health center staff make a difference in the lives of millions of people every year. They help people stay healthy, get the care they need, and live better lives. Thank you to all the health center staff who work so hard to make our communities healthier! #NHCW #NHCW2023 #hcstaffappreciationday National Health Center Week - The Roadmap to a Stronger America 💪❤️
Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW) to celebrate and increase awareness of America’s 1,400 Community Health Centers (CHCs). NHCW is an opportunity to highlight the commitment and passion of Community Health Center staff, board members, and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to more than 30 million patients across 14,500 communities annually. These not-for-profit organizations are driven by the mission to improve the well-being of the communities they serve. CHCs are particularly important for people who live in low-income communities or who have limited access to healthcare. They play a vital role in reducing health disparities and improving the health of our nation. Ritchie Regional Health Center (RRHC) is proud to be among them. Here are some of the key benefits of CHCs: • Increased access to care: CHCs are located in underserved communities, making it easier for people to get the care they need. They also offer a variety of payment options, so that everyone can afford to see a provider. • High-quality care: CHCs provide high-quality care that is comparable to that of other healthcare settings. They also have a strong focus on preventive care, which can help to keep people healthy and avoid costly medical problems. • Lower costs: CHCs are very efficient, which can save money for both patients and the government. They also provide a variety of preventive services that can help to prevent more expensive medical problems down the road. • Community-based care: CHCs are embedded in their communities, which allows them to better understand the needs of their patients and provide culturally appropriate care. They also work to address the social determinants of health, such as poverty and lack of access to healthy food, that can contribute to poor health. CHCs are a vital part of our healthcare system. They provide high-quality, affordable, and accessible care to millions of Americans. Supporting CHCs is of the utmost importance so that we can continue to provide essential services to their communities. #NHCW #communityhealthcenter #NHCW2023 |
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