July is UV (ultra-violet) Safety Month!

With beautiful sunny weather, it's a dream to go and spend all day basking in the sun, but unfortunately, there are downsides to this dream. Being in the sun means you are exposed to a lot of UV radiation. UV radiation causes sunburns (the least desirable outcome when you're trying to tan), and in some cases, skin cancer! Even though the weather's nice, UV radiation results are not so nice.

We love going out, so here are some tips to stay safe in the sun! 
- Use sunscreen. It's recommended that you should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher (even if it's cloudy). Remember that you have to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours! If you're swimming, be sure to follow the directions on the bottle!
 
- Seek shade. You reduce your risk of sun damage by simply just staying under an umbrella or tree.
 
- Wear protective clothing. Longer pants and long-sleeved shirts can provide protection from UV rays, however if this isn't possible, you should try to wear things such as a t-shirt or a beach cover-up. Tightly woven fabric in clothing can provide more protection.
 
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Canvas, tightly woven fabric, hats work well in protecting your skin from UV rays. Try to avoid straw hats with holes. Most sunglasses meet the standard of blocking UVA and UVB, which is important for protecting your eyes. Sunglasses also help reduce the risk of cataracts.
 
Even with all the sun protection, it is still vital that you limit your exposure to the sun. Most skin cancers come from too much exposure to the sun.
 
It's also important to stay away from tanning beds. Tanning beds produce both UVA and UVB radiation during its operation, increasing the risk of developing skin cancer.
 
Summer is not the only season you should be utilizing UV protection. The sun may be brighter and hotter in the summer than in any other season, but it is still there! UV rays can affect you on cloudy and cool days, so be sure to stay protected!
 
We hope your summer is going well! Make sure to have fun while staying safe!
 
________
 
Concerned about a spot or growth on your skin? Make an appointment at any of our locations and get it checked out. We accept most insurance plans as well as offer a variety of payment options, including the Sliding Fee Scale and payment plans, so you can get the help you need without having to worry about the cost.
 
Call or text us at (304) 643-4005 to make an appointment today.

🥳🥳🥳Celebrate Parents’ Day With a Chance to Win a Rest & Relaxation Basket! 😴😌

July 23 is Parents’ Day -- a special day to honor the people who have given us so much. This year, we're giving away a prize basket to one lucky parent. The prize pack includes a variety of items that are sure to be enjoyed by parents of all ages!

👉How to Enter: Your child must be seen by one of our providers on 7/19, 7/20, 7/21, OR 7/22 at ANY of our 8 campuses. Remember, your child doesn’t need to be sick to see us -- we offer services such as sports physicals, immunizations, wellness exams, dental cleanings, and therapy services too! 

👉Rules: The giveaway is open to ALL parents/legal guardians/legal caregivers. Only one entry per child. RRHC employees are not eligible to win. The winner will be announced the week of the 24th. 

👉To schedule an appointment, contact any of our locations or click here to schedule an appointment.
​
We hope you'll join us in celebrating Parents' Day by entering our giveaway. Good luck! 🤞

Did you know that Ritchie Regional Health Center has 8 campuses serving 4 counties in WV? You may have guessed from our name that Ritchie County is 1 of those 4 counties, but we also have offices in Doddridge, Pleasants, and Wood Counties.

Why are we called Ritchie Regional Health Center?
We were established in 1994 as part of a pilot school-based health center (SBHC) program located in Ellenboro, WV, at Ritchie County High School. The wellness center was such a success, that we decided to expand and opened another location in Harrisville, WV. Our Harrisville Campus has since become our main campus and serves as our administrative office. Due to the locations of the campuses, we chose the name Ritchie County Primary Care Association. For years we were known as Ritchie County Primary Care Association, however, as we continued to grow and open new locations in other counties, we decided to change our name to Ritchie Regional Health Center (RRHC).

Why are we revamping our logo?
We take tremendous pride in our origins, but too often people see, “Ritchie” and assume we only serve Ritchie County. That’s why we’re changing it up and emphasizing that we’re a health center providing healthcare services to the Doddridge, Pleasants, and Wood Counties’ communities too!
​
Besides an updated logo, has anything else changed?
We are still Ritchie Regional Health Center whose mission is to provide affordable, compassionate, excellent care that is close to home. However, there is someone very special we’d like to introduce: Ritchie, RRHC’s new mascot! Ritchie is cute, friendly, and here to help promote our services! Today is his official debut, but don’t be surprised when you see him and his family making an appearance!

As always, we’re here for you, your family, and your community -- and now Ritchie is too! ​

​🚶🏃‍♀️ MARK YOUR CALENDAR 🏃‍♀️🚶

Please join us for Ritchie Regional's 2023 Annual 5K Walk/Run, "Stepping on Hunger". Once again, we will be combating hunger in the surrounding communities by donating the proceeds and non-perishable food items to families in need.

Race-day registration begins at 7 a.m. in front of the Ritchie County Courthouse. The race starts at 8 a.m. The Kids' Fun Run will follow.

*$20 Preregistration
*$25 Race-Day Registration
*FREE Kids' Fun Run
*We ask that all participants bring a non-perishable food item

You can now preregister online!

To request a paper copy of the race application, please visit any of our 8 locations or contact us. 

Contact Information:
Devan Shipe
Ritchie Regional Health Center
PO Box 373 Harrisville, WV 26362
304-699-0725 Phone
304-643-4177 Fax
[email protected]

Hope to see you there!!