Grill smart: Food safety tips for outdoor cooking and barbecues
There’s nothing like the smell of smoky ribs, sizzling sausages and charred kebabs on a warm Montana evening. Whether you’re flipping burgers in the backyard or firing up the smoker at a lakeside campout, barbecue season is a highlight of summer. Clark Snyder, an Environmental Health Services program manager and registered sanitarians at RiverStone Health, shares prevention measures to keep you and your family healthy during grilling season.
Prioritizing women’s health in May
Women’s Health Month kicks off each year on Mother’s Day and is reminder for women to prioritize their health by keeping up with their recommended screenings. Cancer screenings that should be regularly scheduled based on your age and risk factors include cervical, breast and colon cancer. Sheri Pope, a case manager at RiverStone Health, highlights the importance of screenings as well as RiverStone Health’s Women’s Health fair on May 22.
How and why to check your blood pressure at home
Your blood pressure is very important to monitor for both you and your physician. Like the plumbing system for any house or apartment, if the pressure is too high it will cause damage to your body. Sam Pollock, DO, a family medicine physician at RiverStone Health Clinic, highlights why it is important to check your blood pressure and tips for checking it at home.
It is time for Yellowstone County’s wellness check
Yellowstone County is due for its wellness check, also known as the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). The goal of the CHNA is to identify major health problems, gaps in services and other factors that may contribute to healthcare needs for residents in our community. Amanda Zimmerman, the program coordinator on behalf of Healthy By Design and the Healthcare Alliance, shares the importance of community assistance and how you can get involved.
The importance of clean air and quitting tobacco
Every year on April 22, we celebrate Earth Day to show our support for environmental stewardship and taking care of the health of our planet. Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April each year, reminding us of the importance of planting trees and keeping our air clean. Jenna Solomon, the Prevention Programs Coordinator at RiverStone Health, emphasizes the harm tobacco causes on the planet and people, along with prevention being done in Yellowstone County.
Recognizing the value of volunteers
Volunteers at RiverStone Health are at the heart of our mission to improve life, health and safety every day. The volunteers at RiverStone Health come from a variety of backgrounds and life journeys. Sarah Rachac, the volunteer coordinator for RiverStone Health highlights the importance of volunteers and how community members can become more involved in the work RiverStone Health is doing.
Celebrating National Public Health Week
National Public Health Week begins today. As your local city-county public health department, RiverStone Health wants to say thank you for your partnership and support for our community’s health. Heather Fink-Stambaugh shares the importance of public health in our communities and the role RiverStone Health plays in keeping us all safe.
How to control your blood sugar to prevent diabetes
Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that is an epidemic nationwide. In Montana, about 5,300 adults will be diagnosed with diabetes each year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Lucas Teynor, DO, a family medicine physician at RiverStone Health Clinic provides guidance on healthy changes you can make to help prevent diabetes.
Spring DIY plans? Make sure you are renovating lead-safe
Spring is nearly here – and so is the season of home renovations. Renovating a home can be an exciting project, but if your house is one of the 68% in Yellowstone County built before 1978, there’s a chance it might contain lead-based paint. Keri Perez, a prevention health specialist at RiverStone Health, highlights measures you can take to make sure you reduce your risk to lead exposure during your renovation.
How you can protect yourself and your family from measles
Measles is a highly contagious and serious viral illness once eradicated in the U.S. In 2025 so far, there have been over 200 cases and 2 deaths due to an outbreak in Texas and New Mexico, as well as cases in 10 other states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Dr. Megan Littlefield, pediatrician and internal medicine physician and the chief medical officer at RiverStone Health, shares information regarding your family’s safety and your best defense against measles.
