Like other technology, medical technology is constantly advancing. To improve efficiency and stay up to date, upgrading medical equipment is imperative. Ritchie Regional Health Center - recognized by Health Resources & Services Administration as a Patient-Centered Medical Home - recently upgraded its x-ray equipment, striving to provide the best possible patient care.

This major, state-of-the-art upgrade is a first for Ritchie County and means lower dosages of radiation and clearer images. RRHC Harrisville Campus has been providing x-ray services to the community for over 17 years and is excited to continue to do so with improved equipment.

X-ray services are available at RRHC Harrisville Campus Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Please note, a doctor’s order is required. For more information, please call/text 304-643-4005.

​Human Resource Professional Day is celebrated every September 26 and is meant to commend those working in HR departments everywhere. 

Becoming a human resource professional is great for someone who has strong interpersonal skills, likes helping others, and is self-motivated. Working in HR means that you are going to implement policies, advise on, and develop plans relating to the way in which staff operates within a business.

They recruit candidates, arrange interviews, process payroll, maintain employee records, and conduct disciplinary actions - not to mention the other hundred tasks they tackle! 

Today, on Human Resource Professional Day, Ritchie Regional would like to recognize and thank HR Generalist, Devan Shipe for everything she does for RRHC and our employees!

Every third Tuesday in September, National IT Professionals Day pays homage to the information technology (IT) wizards that troubleshoot our devices, reset our passwords, and keep us connected!

The IT professional is a “behind-the-scenes hero”, that faces obstacles that leave the rest of us scratching our heads. Whether it be desktops, laptops, mobile devices, applications, servers, networks, databases, or cybersecurity, IT professionals keep business humming.

RRHC would like to wish our IT director, Robb Harvey, a very happy National IT Professionals Day! We appreciate all that you do, Robb!

Ritchie Regional Health Center welcomes a new behavioral health therapist, Ashley Stevens, MA, LPC. Ashley earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Ohio University and graduated from Marshall University with a master’s degree in counseling. 

She started her career as a teacher counselor at a level III residential treatment facility for troubled youth, ages 12 - 18. After nine years, she was promoted to program director. During that time, she also provided therapy for clients ages 12 - 18 and part-time emergency services evaluations for adult and child patients in crisis. Upon leaving the residential facility, she became a clinical supervisor for a community-based program called Safe at Home, working with children and families. In September 2022, she joined Ritchie Regional as a behavioral health therapist, serving clients ages 5 and above. 

Starting Monday, September 19, Ashley will offer individual and family in-person or telehealth therapy services to children, adolescents, and adults. She will rotate locations between RRHC Harrisville Campus, Harrisville Elementary, Creed Collins Elementary, and the Ritchie County Middle/High School Wellness Center. Appointments can be made by calling 304-869-3650.

As a reminder, Ritchie Regional accepts most insurances including Medicaid and Medicare. The Sliding Fee Program - based on family size and income - is also available to uninsured or underinsured patients. For more information, call/text 304-643-4005.

With the FARMACY Program ending yesterday, it seems appropriate that today is National Food is Medicine Day - a day meant to raise awareness about the threat of malnutrition and the obstacles people in the U.S. face while trying to acquire good, healthy food. 

What some people may not realize is, that malnutrition includes everything from starvation to being overweight. Two primary causes of diseases today are poor diets and the health risks that come with them. Quite often, diets fall short of having enough vitamins, minerals, and fiber, or they have too many calories, saturated fats, salt, and sugar.

In 2010, 10% of the world’s disease burden was caused by unhealthy eating and lack of exercise (measured as the number of years lost due to ill health, disability, or early death). By 2015, six of the top 11 global risk factors, such as being undernourished, having a high body mass index (B.M.I.), and having high cholesterol, were related to diet.

The main problem - especially for families or individuals with low-incomes - is having access to and affording nutritious foods. Quality is often disregarded because it financially makes more sense to buy the cheaper option. Nothing good comes from a poor diet, yet too many people don’t really have a choice. It’s a harsh reality that organic, non-processed food is usually more expensive and doesn’t last as long. 

So how can food be used as medicine?
Studies have shown that a diet full of nutrients in a whole meal may prevent many diseases and even help treat some conditions, such as type 2 diabetes. Food promotes health, depending on what you eat of course. Food can affect mental health too. It has been proven that sticking to a healthy diet means fewer mood fluctuations, a sunnier deposition, and improved focus. 

Why is National Food is Medicine Day so important?
It creates awareness about the health benefits of a proper diet and emphasizes the risks of excessive junk food intake. Today also draws attention to the struggle low-income families face while trying to purchase healthy food. 

How can you observe National Food is Medicine Day?
Prepare a healthy, homemade meal. Explore new meals high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Educate others on the importance of a proper diet. Another great way to get involved is to donate to local food agencies. 

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year, the 10th of September focuses attention on the issue, reduces stigma, and raises awareness among organizations, government, and the public, giving a singular message that suicide can be prevented.

“Creating hope through action” is the triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 - 2023. This theme is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us.

By creating hope through action, we can signal to people experiencing suicidal thoughts that there is hope and that we care and want to support them. It also suggests that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling. Lastly, it highlights the importance of setting suicide prevention as a priority public health agenda by countries, particularly where access to mental health services and availability of evidence-based interventions are already low. Building on this theme and spreading this message over the three years, a world can be envisioned where suicides are not so prevalent.

At Ritchie Regional, we understand the importance of mental health. If you think you or someone you know would benefit from speaking to a professional, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment with us. Licensed Psychologist, Jasen Nichols, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Chandra Diebold, are accepting new patients.
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Are you or someone you know currently in crisis? Dial 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

We can all play a role in supporting those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by suicide whether as a member of society, as a child, as a parent, as a friend, as a colleague, or as a person with lived experience. We can all encourage understanding about the issue, reach out to people who are struggling, and share our experiences. We can all create hope through action and be the light.

For free web resources that provide information about addiction, eating disorders, and mental health issues, visit:
https://www.southjerseyrecovery.com/treatment-programs/dual-diagnosis/depression/
​https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/first-aid/suicidal-thoughts/

Ritchie Regional Health Center will once again be hosting LUCAS - the WVU Cancer Institute’s mobile lung cancer screening unit!

Although RRHC has hosted LUCAS numerous times this year, on Thursday, September 22, LUCAS will be parked at the Doddridge County Farmer’s Market located at the West Union City Park, N Bend Rails to Trail in West Union. LUCAS is scheduled to be there 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., but an appointment needs to be made. A doctor’s order and prior authorization from insurance are also required for the screening. Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance are accepted. Funding may be available to cover the cost of the screening for eligible uninsured WV residents. Please call 304-699-0949 to schedule an appointment or with any additional questions. 

LUCAS - the 48-foot unit, equipped with state-of-the-art lung cancer screening technology - provides lung cancer screening and refers patients in need of a follow-up to facilities close to their homes. Building upon the successful operations and infrastructure of the mobile mammography unit, Bonnie’s Bus, LUCAS is part of the WVU Cancer Institute Mobile Cancer Screening Program, which is focused on bringing cancer prevention services to underserved communities throughout the state.

More West Virginians die from lung cancer than colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer combined. Approximately 120,000 West Virginians are eligible for lung cancer screening, but only about two to four percent of those eligible for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) are currently being screened. Most West Virginia counties do not currently have access to LDCT in their area.

The WVU Cancer Institute Mobile Cancer Screening Program is coordinated by Cancer Prevention and Control and is a partnership between the WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Medicine-WVU Hospitals.
For more information about LUCAS, contact Cancer Prevention and Control at 304-293-2370 or 877-287-2272 (toll-free), or email [email protected].
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Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to get a lung cancer screening without having to travel very far! With regular screenings, cancer may be detected earlier, when it is easier to treat and cure. Call 304-699-0949 to schedule an appointment today!