Board-certified family nurse practitioner, Christine Merrill, joins Ritchie Regional Health bringing over 20 years of nursing experience in the ICU and the ER, as well as urgent and primary care practice.

She obtained her Associate's Degree in Nursing at WVU Parkersburg and volunteered as a nurse-medic with Wirt County Emergency Medical Services. She obtained her bachelor's and her master's degrees at WVU in Morgantown. In 2017, she received her advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license.

Christine and her husband, Kevin, moved to the Pennsboro area 5 years ago with a job opportunity and they are now glad to call the area home. Christine attends Pennsboro United Methodist Church and is a member of the Pennsboro Women’s Club, as well as the Mountaineer Beekeepers Association of WV.  

“It is indeed a pleasure and a privilege to serve the fine people in the West Union area. It is my goal to provide excellent healthcare to folks in the rural areas of Doddridge/Ritchie Counties.” 

Christine is currently accepting new patients at RRHC West Union Campus, offering primary healthcare services to individuals of all ages. To schedule an appointment with her, please call 304-873-1401 or text 304-643-4005. As a reminder, RRHC accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare. The Sliding Fee Program, based on income level and family size, is available to uninsured or underinsured individuals. 

Ritchie Regional Health Center has provided affordable, compassionate, excellent care for nearly 30 years. With eight locations across Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie, and Wood counties, it offers important primary care services to the Mid-Ohio Valley. RRHC is patient-centered, meaning we believe in having trustworthy, respectful relationships with our patients that create positive healthcare experiences. So, what are some of the innovative healthcare options RRHC offers?

School-Based Health Centers
In addition to being primary care centers, six of RRHC’s campuses are also designated as School-Based Health Centers (SBHC). These clinics are located within school grounds and can support the teachers, students, and staff at the school, but also provide clinical services to the student’s parents and the community-at-large. Having a school-based health center means if a student is sick or injured, they’re able to receive care on site, during school hours with parental consent.

Telehealth Services
Using technology to deliver healthcare has several advantages including cost savings, convenience, and the ability to provide care to people with mobility limitations or compromised immune systems. Telehealth is the use of electronics to extend care when the provider and patient aren’t in the same place at the same time. If you have a phone or device with internet access, you have everything you need to receive Telehealth Services. Ritchie Regional Health Center provides many Telehealth options including phone calls, video chat, chat messaging, email, and secure file exchange. Remote patient monitoring allows your provider to check on you at home using devices that gather ECG or other vitals.

Patient Portal
Ritchie Regional Health Center uses an Online Patient Portal that allows its users to manage appointments, view medications, manage health records and even send secure messages to our providers. Having this information at your fingertips cultivates transparency and trust between you and your healthcare provider, which is a core value at RRHC.

Insurance
RRHC accepts most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare. We also provide The Sliding Fee Program, based on family size and income level, which is available to uninsured or underinsured individuals.

The Sliding Fee Program
Ritchie Regional Health Center is a nonprofit organization that receives federal funds, which enables the health centers to provide services to our patients at discounted rates based on household size and income level through The Sliding Fee Program. Our health centers do not turn anyone away due to the lack of ability to pay.

Caring, Local Staff
RRHC is proud to have a staff that is deeply connected to the communities in which they serve. Many are born and raised in West Virginia, although all of our providers have lived, worked and served Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie and Wood County residents for years. It is that connection to our patients that make Ritchie Regional truly a Community Health Center.

COVID-19 Vaccinations
Ritchie Regional Health Center is a trusted administrator of both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. Contact any of our eight locations to learn more about their services and the benefits of staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations.

To schedule an appointment, click here.

Since six of RRHC’s eight campuses are school-based health centers (SBHCs), February - National School-Based Health Center Awareness Month - is the perfect time to increase awareness about how SBHCs transform children’s access to and delivery of comprehensive health services. Every child needs healthcare to thrive and SBHCs can help them get there.

The increased demand for school-based health services, particularly behavioral health services, has made it more important than ever to have such centers available. Ritchie Regional’s SBHCs provide a full range of healthcare services not only to students (with parental consent), teachers, and school staff but to the community at large.

Learn more about our centers and schedule an appointment with us today!

#RRHCsbhc #SBHCAwarenessMonth #SBHCAM2023

On February 3, 2023, National Wear Red Day, people all over the U.S. wear red to raise awareness of the nation’s No. 1 killer – cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease impacts some individuals - especially women - at higher rates than others, but the simple truth is that most cardiovascular diseases can still be prevented with education and healthy lifestyle changes.

Here’s what you can do now to reduce your risk:

• Don’t smoke
• Know your family history
• Stay active
• Eat for heart health
• Ask your primary medical provider to check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood glucose

Have questions or concerns? We’re here to help! Learn more by making an appointment with one of our providers because losing even one person to cardiovascular disease is one too many.
#WearRedDay