News you can use
News you can use
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Press release Northern Montana Health Care presented the C.A.R.E. Award to Jessica Sheehy, PA-C, a member of the Family Medicine Team at the Northern Montana Family Medical Center, in June. Sheehy has worked at NMHC for five years. She was nominated for the honor by one of her co-workers. This co-worker had also had the opportunity to be a patient of Sheehy's at the Family Medical Center. "Jessica has seen several of my family members recently," the nominator said. "She was...
I think that we can all agree that we are happy to have the warmer, spring weather back. Upon welcoming the warmer weather, we are also welcoming the pesky seasonal allergens back. Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions. This time of year some common allergens we encounter here include ragweed, pollen, cotton, sagebrush, cocklebur, trees and grass. Mold is another common allergen that becomes an issue this time of year due to the fact it can grow quickly in the heat. Your immune system works to protect you...
By Tieraona Low Dog For women, iron could be the key to boosting brain function. That’s the conclusion of a recent study that examined a group of female college students. The students performed a series of cognitive tests that progressively increased in difficulty. Those who were deficient in iron struggled to keep up. That makes sense; iron ensures the brain has enough oxygen and energy to perform complex tasks. Yet more than one in 10 U.S. women lacks the iron they need. By contrast, just one in 50 men does. This isn’t the...
World Meningitis Day is today, April 24, so this is a good opportunity to share some information to help protect our community from this potentially deadly disease that can be fatal within 24 hours. The good news is that there are safe and effective vaccines that protect against the most common causes of bacterial and viral meningitis. What is it? Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis has various causes, from viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, amebic to...
April is Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month, an annual observance to raise public awareness about the impact of sexually transmitted diseases on the lives of Americans and the importance of individuals discussing sexual health with their health care providers and, if sexually active, their partners. STDs are a major public health issue in the United States. The Center for Disease Control estimates that there are approximately 20 million new cases of STDs in the U.S. each year, almost half of them among young people...
Press release Judy Solomon, admissions coordinator at the Northern Montana Care Center was recently awarded the Montana Health Care Association 2018 Commitment to Caring Award for Ancillary Service. She was presented with this award at the spring conference of the association. "Judy was recognized for her contribution to the quality of care and the quality of life of the residents in our facility." said Christen Obresley, vice president of regulatory and community services...
Press release Last week, Northern Montana Health Care presented the C.A.R.E. Award to Jacey Liddle, a member of the administration team. Liddle has worked at NMHC for one year. She was nominated by her peers for her ability to be a team player; working toward a goal with determination and as "can-do" attitude. They feel she is well-organized and pays attention to detail. Liddle was presented with a special logo jacket as part of a surprise announcement from the High Five Club...
By Julianne LaSmith Fighting between siblings is a very ordinary thing. Most of us grew up battling our brothers and sisters over small things, and large things. Hurting each other is just part of that equation. "Sure. I think you can jump down a two-story stairwell and land on your feet. Go ahead and try it." Or "Oh, it's fun to stand up in the wagon while I pull you down the driveway." Those two statements explain my personal inventory of stitches. Just a normal phase of...
Press release Emergency Alert Codes; such as “Code Blue” or “Code Grey” have been used for many years in hospitals across the country to alert and direct staff in emergency situations. Northern Montana Health Care previously used colors to represent the codes. The reasons for these codes range from a possible fire to a violent or armed person. The intent in using a code is to not alarm any patients or visitors in the process. The downfall to the color system of codes has been in the varying range of them. What one facilit...
Community health centers in north-central Montana have received $350,000 in federal grants to use in the regional battle against rampant opioid abuse and to help treat people with mental health issues. Bullhook Community Health Center in Havre and Sweet Medical Center in Chinook each received $175,000. The grants are part of $2.8 million in grants to 17 health centers in Montana and $200 million nationwide from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resource and Services Administration. The opioid e...
Youth Dynamics in Havre has experienced such an influx in demand for its services that they recently had to enlarge their staff. “It just seems like these past couple of weeks, it has been busier and busier,” said Briayan Flores, area manager of the Havre office. The Havre office, on the upper floor of the Atrium Mall, has in recent months gone from having an in office staff that fluctuated between one and four and sharing an area manager with their Shelby office, to now having five employees including their own area man...
Now’s the time for Montanans with Medicare to check their health and drug coverage for 2017. Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 until Dec. 7. Open enrollment is the best time to make sure people’s health and drug plans still meet their individual needs, especially if they have had any changes in their health. By now, insurers should have notified people of any adjustments in their health or drug coverage or any changes in thier out-of-pocket costs for next year. The average monthly premium for a Medic...
The Hill County Health Department is dedicated to help people with health concerns of all types and this includes animal bites. My office receives about one animal bite report per week, of which most occur in the Havre area. Many of these bites come from dogs but can come from cats, bats or other wild animals. There are certain procedures that I am asking people to remember any time an animal bites a person. They are very important, and they will hopefully save a lot of...
Press release Experts in diabetes provide “state-of-the-art” training for health care professionals Oct. 27-28 in Helena The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services is sponsoring the 19th annual Montana Diabetes Professional Conference October 27-28 at the Best Western Great Northern Hotel in Helena. Registration is now open. The cost to attend is $120. A discounted registration fee of $55 is available for students. Late fees apply after October 14. “This conference is not only an excellent way to stay abrea...
Montana is the healthiest state in the nation — when it comes to managing the state budget. Studies also place us in the “Top 10” for business tax climate, entrepreneurship, and growth in high-tech jobs, per capita income and exports. As a native Montanan, I appreciate the value of state rankings in attracting economic opportunity to the Big Sky. However, not all of our rankings are favorable, and your local hospital is committed to improving one in particular: population health. Montana is not the healthiest state in the n...
Can we talk? This October, Hill County Family Planning will sponsor Let’s Talk Month to encourage parent-child communication about sexual health. Parents are the first and most important sexual health educators in their children’s lives. However, not all parents are comfortable with or have the resources to discuss sexual health with their children. Often, parents want to talk to their son or daughter about this issue but are afraid that they will not have the right answers and do not know where to get them. Sexual dev...
Life can be full of risks. Every time we step outside, we risk insect bites, car accidents or simply tripping on an uneven sidewalk. Of course, we don’t let these concerns rule our lives or change our daily activities. We take reasonable precautions, such as insisting our kids wear seatbelts and put on helmets when they take off on their bicycles. As medical providers in this community we are very much aware of the health risks that surround us. So we take precautions. We evaluate coughs and colds, schedule routine c...
From DPHHS The Department of Public Health and Human Services reports that approximately 315,000 Montanans age 50-75 should be screened for colorectal cancer. However, about 40 percent are not currently meeting the screening recommendations. DPHHS Director Richard Opper urged Montanans to take action. “If you’re 50 years old or older, you need to get screened for colorectal cancer,” he said. “This is too important to ignore, and it could save your life.” From 2009-2013, an average of 490 Montanans were diagnosed with colorect...
From DPHHS April is National Sexually Transmitted Diseases Awareness Month, and the Department of Public Health and Human Services is raising awareness about those who may be at risk. Judy Nielsen of the DPHHS STD-HIV Prevention Section said there are many steps people can take to prevent STDs. “It’s important for Montanans to know that that STDs are all preventable,” said Nielsen said. “However, in order to prevent STDs, people need to be informed and take steps to protect themselves. “We especially encourage people wh...
Jessica Boyer Director of Marketing Rocky Mountain Treatment Center For those of us who go through addiction, it is not as simple as one would think. We spend a lot of time silently wishing, “Why can’t you just quit? Just stop, it is that easy!” Many times, I would ask myself so many questions; however, the most tormenting one that I would ask myself daily was, “Why doesn’t he love me enough to quit? What am I not doing right?” But the truth, of course, is far more complicated; this is compounded by the simple truth that...
From Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Cold weather means more indoor time for many Montanans. Close contact indoors often helps spread illnesses, such as norovirus, anywhere people gather together. Holiday gatherings, schools and settings such as long-term care and assisted living facilities are especially vulnerable to outbreaks. “Norovirus can spread very quickly and can make some people very ill,” Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Richard Opper said. “To protect yourself and othe...
By Jessica Boyer Recreational therapy helps people develop and expand their emotional connections to assist in developing a new, healthy and successful lifestyle free from old patterns and habits. Research has shown that damaging behaviors are addictive at some level, and that environment plays a powerful role in perpetuating those behaviors. The intent is to change a once negative environment into a positive one, to open the doors to creating new and healthier experiences that change the course of their lives. In practice,...
Northern Montana Health Care Unfortunately, the following situation is one that’s far too common and happens every day all across the country. A family is gathered by the bedside of a loved one who has been seriously ill and now is likely near the end of life. Each member of the family has a different idea of what should be done and what their loved one would have wanted. Throughout the course of the illness, the family never discussed what the care priorities should be in the final months and weeks of life. Even in the final...
Press release Rachel Nystrom of Havre Optometric Clinic has earned national certification as an optician. The American Board of Opticianry announced that Nystrom passed national competency examinations and the National Opticianry Competency Exam to be designated as a certified optician. The competency examination is a job-related test which measures knowledge in opticianry, the field of turning a doctor's prescription into actual eyeglasses or other vision aids and related...
From DPHHS In Montana, arthritis impacts the lives of thousands of adults. Recent statistics show this condition currently impacts 27 percent, or 215,000 Montana adults. Additionally, 31 percent of adults with arthritis report they are not physically active. The Department of Public and Health and Human Services offers programs that help people with arthritis become more active. “People living with arthritis and other chronic conditions need to know that there are resources available to them to help lessen their pain and i...
