​October 10 marks World Mental Health Day, a global event dedicated to raising awareness about mental health issues and advocating for better care for those affected. It's a day to challenge stigma, promote understanding, and encourage individuals to prioritize their mental well-being.

Why is World Mental Health Day Important?
Mental health is just as crucial as physical health. Yet, for far too long, it has been overlooked or stigmatized. World Mental Health Day aims to:

• Break down stigma: Challenge negative perceptions and stereotypes surrounding mental health.
• Promote understanding: Foster empathy and acceptance for those experiencing mental health conditions.
• Advocate for better care: Encourage governments and healthcare providers to prioritize mental health services.
• Inspire individuals to seek help: Let people know that it's okay to ask for support.

How Can You Get Involved?
There are many ways to participate in World Mental Health Day:

• Educate yourself: Learn about different mental health conditions and how to support someone who is struggling.
• Start a conversation: Talk openly about mental health with friends, family, and colleagues.
• Prioritize your own mental health: Take steps to improve your well-being, such as practicing mindfulness, getting enough sleep, and seeking professional help if needed.

Remember, you are not alone. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, know that there is help available. Reach out to a friend, family member, or mental health professional. IHCWV has a whole team of dedicated professionals ready to help. As a reminder, we offer the Sliding Fee Program to qualifying uninsured or underinsured individuals.  

Let's work together to create a world where mental health is valued and supported.
#Mentalhealthmatters #WorldMentalHealthDay

National Physician Assistant Week recognizes and celebrates the invaluable contributions of physician assistants (PAs) to healthcare. At Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia, we are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and skilled team of PAs, Lucas Henger, PA-C, Tyler Ebbeskotte, PA-C, and Danielle Potts, PA-C.

Our PAs are vital in providing comprehensive and accessible healthcare to our community. They work tirelessly to diagnose and treat various medical conditions, ensuring our patients receive the highest quality care. Their expertise, compassion, and commitment to improving health outcomes are genuinely inspiring.

From conducting physical exams and ordering tests to prescribing medications and providing patient education, our PAs are essential members of our healthcare team. They collaborate closely with clinical staff to deliver coordinated and patient-centered care.

We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our PAs. Their contributions make a significant difference in the lives of our patients and our community. Thank you for all that you do! #PAWeek #HealthcareHeroes #CommunityHealth #IHCWV

A Milestone of Care and Compassion
Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia is thrilled to commemorate its 30th anniversary. For three decades, we’ve been dedicated to providing quality healthcare services to the communities we serve in West Virginia.

A Journey of Growth and Impact
Our journey began in 1994 as part of a pilot school-based health center program within Ritchie County High School. Over the years, we've expanded our services to include dental, behavioral health, and telehealth, and have opened an additional seven locations. We've also grown our team of dedicated healthcare professionals who are committed to delivering high-quality care.

Celebrating Our Achievements
Our 30th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements and the positive impact we've made on the lives of countless individuals. Some of our key accomplishments include:

Increased access to healthcare: We've helped to bridge the healthcare gap by providing affordable and accessible care to underserved populations in rural WV, and offer telehealth appointments.

Commitment to social responsibility: We are wholeheartedly committed to the well-being of the communities we serve. Beyond delivering exceptional healthcare, we are deeply passionate about actively supporting our communities through volunteering, organizing events, fundraising, education, and advocacy. For three consecutive years, our annual 5k race, Stepping on Hunger, has focused on combating hunger in the surrounding areas by donating the proceeds and non-perishable food items to local families in need. We take great pride in our extensive volunteer work. Our history includes Wood Co. Society Telethon, WVU Extension Service Progressive Agriculture Safety Day, Jefferson Elementary Social Studies Fair, local school sporting events, and school career days.

Community partnerships: Our commitment extends beyond healthcare, as we advocate for education and community empowerment through collaboration with organizations such as WV Rivers Coalition and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services. Through our collective efforts and shared vision for community health and well-being, we promote preventive care and access to resources and address medical-related anxieties. We strive to make a positive impact in the lives of WV residents.

Looking Ahead
As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we are excited to look ahead to the future. We remain committed to our mission of providing compassionate, high-quality healthcare to all. We will continue to invest in our facilities and staff, expand our services, and strengthen our partnerships to ensure that our community has access to the care they need.

Join Us in Celebration
Halloween Health-Fest on Friday, October 25, is the perfect occasion to join us in celebration of our 30 years of service. Your support means a great deal to us, and we look forward to serving our community for many years to come.

We're excited to announce that we will be hosting our second Halloween Health-Fest on Friday, October 25, 2024, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Harrisville Gym!

This free event will feature local businesses, trunk-or-treat, community resources, health education, face painting, and so much more!

Wear your best costume and do the monster mash - it’s going to be SPOOOOOKTACULAR!!
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For questions, please call 304-643-4005. Or, you can shoot us an email [email protected]
Own or represent a local business or organization and interested in participating? Contact us to reserve a spot! We'd LOVE to have you join us!

Dr. Zack Henderson recently joined Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia (IHCWV), formerly Ritchie Regional, to provide primary care services to patients of all ages at IHCWV West Union Campus.

Dr. Henderson graduated from Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, WV. He then attended West Virginia University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree before heading to Lewisburg, WV, to attend the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He moved north to Pennsylvania to complete his family medicine residency training and is now ready to return home and start serving patients in West Virginia.

Dr. Henderson is a licensed physician with training in family medicine. His training allows him to provide full-spectrum healthcare to all patients, including preventive healthcare (cancer screenings, chronic disease prevention), chronic disease management, women’s healthcare, depression and anxiety management, healthy lifestyle and weight management, physical exams including pre-employment, sports, and pre-op, minor office procedures (such as skin biopsies and joint injections), annual wellness exams, and DOT medical exams.

Dr. Henderson sees patients at the IHCWV West Union Campus. To make an appointment, please call 304-873-1401 or text 304-643-4005. As a reminder, IHCWV accepts all insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, and offers services on an income-based Sliding Fee Scale to qualified uninsured or underinsured individuals.

It’s hard to believe that summer 2024 is almost over, and the kiddos are returning to school. We know all too well how challenging it can be to remember WV public school requirements, especially when you have multiple children! 

Fear not! We have you covered! Keep reading to learn more and be prepared for the 2024-2025 school year. 


Physicals
School physicals are required for students entering preschool, kindergarten, or 2nd grade. A sports physical will satisfy the ‘school physical’ requirement. To fill out a sports physical form online, click here. Filling out the online form does not mean an appointment has been scheduled. You may also request a paper copy.

Immunizations
WV state law requires all children entering school for the first time in grades K-12 to show proof of immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B unless properly medically exempted. The meningococcal vaccine is required for 7th and 12th graders.

Contact us first to confirm the necessity of your child's immunization(s). To fill out the consent form online, click here. Filling out the online form does not mean an appointment has been scheduled. You may also request a paper copy.

To learn more about immunization requirements in WV, visit our webpage Immunizations Information. 

Dental Exams
Although it is recommended that your child receive dental cleanings every six months, dental exams are required for students entering preschool, kindergarten, 2nd, 7th, or 12th grade. Our dental team provides services at our two West Union campuses.

School-Based Health Centers
Six of our eight campuses are located on school grounds. If your child attends one of the following schools, they can receive quality healthcare without leaving school—all we need is your consent, and we’ll take care of the rest.

• Ritchie County Middle/High School 
• Smithville Elementary 
• St. Marys High School 
• Doddridge County Elementary School 
• Doddridge County Middle School 
• Doddridge County High School 
• Jefferson Elementary School 
• Parkersburg South High School 

We accept all insurance plans and offer the Sliding Fee Scale to uninsured or underinsured individuals. Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment.

We’re Here for You and Your Child
Remember, your local community health center is here to offer support and help keep your child healthy! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2024/2025 school year!

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). National Health Center Week 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 31.5 million patients across nearly 15,000 communities annually.

This year we will once again kick off the celebration early with our annual race:
Saturday, 8/3: 5K Walk/Run Stepping on Hunger – All proceeds and donated nonperishable food items will go to local families in need.

Wednesday, 8/7: Patient Appreciation Day – To show our appreciation to our patients, we will be having giveaways at each of our locations! If you’ve been our patient at any time from January 2, 2024, to August 7, 2024, you’ll automatically be entered for a chance to win!

Friday, 8/9: Health Center Staff Appreciation Day – On this day and every day, we recognize and thank our outstanding employees who are committed to providing exceptional care to the communities we serve. Because of their compassion and dedication, we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary in September.

Saturday, 8/10: Children’s Health Day – Stop by any of our eight locations during National Health Center Week. We’ll be handing out “Practicing Healthy Habits” coloring books to the kiddos and providing back-to-school information to parents.
#NHCW #nhcw24 #CommunityHealthCenter

We're changing our name to Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia (IHCWV).

Why are we changing our name?
Although we take tremendous pride in our origins, people often assume we only serve Ritchie County, WV,  when, in fact, we also have locations in Doddridge, Pleasants, and Wood County. As we approach our upcoming 30th anniversary, we thought this to be the perfect opportunity to change our name to better reflect who we are, what we do, and where we're located.

How did we develop the name 'Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia' (IHCWV)?
We want everyone to know that our medical, dental, and behavioral health services are integrated to provide holistic care for the body, teeth, and mind. Moreover, we are deeply integrated within the local schools and communities we serve in West Virginia, with six of our eight campuses on school grounds supporting students, faculty, as well as the surrounding communities. 

Are there other changes?
Our commitment to providing affordable, compassionate, and excellent care close to home remains unwavering. While we're unveiling a new name and logo our mission, values, vision, and our beloved mascot, Ritchie, will remain vital to our identity. 

Was Ritchie Regional Health Center purchased by another company or healthcare facility? 
We understand that you may have questions about this transition, and we want to assure you that we have not been acquired by another company or healthcare facility. Our exceptional staff remains dedicated to providing the outstanding care you know and love. We remain a federally qualified health center, governed by a board of patients and community members, committed to surpassing your healthcare needs.

What if I have questions or concerns?
We always love hearing from you, so please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or feedback. Your input matters to us, and we're more than happy to address any concerns you may have.

​As we move forward, remember that we are here for you, your family, your friends, and your community. Our dedication to providing exceptional care remains steadfast. Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn for the latest updates! Cheers to a new chapter!

✨🎉We are thrilled to announce that after nearly three decades of providing compassionate and excellent care, Ritchie Regional Health Center is evolving to better reflect who we are and what we do.

In honor of our upcoming 30th anniversary, we are excited to reintroduce ourselves as Integrated Health Centers of West Virginia (IHCWV)! With eight campuses across North Central West Virginia, including six integrated with local schools, we remain committed to offering affordable and comprehensive healthcare to our students, school staff, and the surrounding communities.

Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this exciting new chapter together. For updates, follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

It's Men's Health Month: Take Charge of Your Well-Being!
June is National Men's Health Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about men's specific health issues and encouraging them to prioritize their well-being.

Why is Men's Health Month Important?
The statistics are concerning: men tend to die younger than women and are less likely to visit doctors for preventive care. This can lead to delayed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes. Men's Health Month aims to change that narrative.

What Can Men Do to Take Charge of Their Health?
Here are some key actions men can take to stay healthy:

• Schedule Regular Checkups: Don't wait until there's a problem to see a doctor. Annual checkups are crucial for early detection of potential health issues.
• Focus on Preventative Care: This includes screenings for common health concerns like prostate cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
• Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep are essential for overall health.
• Prioritize Mental Health: Men are less likely to seek help for mental health concerns. Talking to a therapist or counselor can be incredibly beneficial.
• Build Healthy Habits: Develop routines that promote well-being, such as managing stress, reducing alcohol intake, and not smoking.

Let's Break the Stigma
Traditionally, there's been a social stigma associated with men talking about their health. This Men's Health Month, let's break that barrier.  Encourage open conversation about health concerns and prioritize self-care.

Men's health is important not just for men, but for families and communities as a whole.  This Men's Health Month, let's commit to taking care of ourselves and each other. Let's champion healthy habits and open communication for a stronger, healthier future.

Be Entered For a Chance to Win
This month, Ritchie Regional is encouraging men to take charge of their health and schedule an appointment with us. Male patients 18 years old or over who have an appointment at ANY of our eight locations (telehealth included) during June will be entered to win our Men's Health Month Giveaway. The winner will be announced in the first week of July.