Public health workers help Yellowstone County thrive
RiverStone Health is the largest health department in Montana and serves the county’s 170,000 residents. It is our job to make sure everyone who lives or visits here is protected to the best of our ability. We focus on the services our agencies provide to our communities to prevent disease, protect the public and promote health. Melissa Henderson, director of Health Promotion at RiverStone Health, writes about how local and state health departments are celebrating National Public Health Week April 1-7.
Public art promotes community health
Art in public spaces helps revitalize neighborhoods and foster social connections. RiverStone Health’s Community Health Improvement manager Amy Queen, who works on behalf of Healthy By Design, describes three new sculptures to be unveiled this spring in Billings by a local partnership of city, art and health organizations.
Protecting your health after flooding
Recent floods raised awareness that Yellowstone County residents need to be prepared for such emergencies. Floods can happen anywhere, even with breaks in irrigation ditches. RiverStone Health registered sanitarian Deb Wines offers food and water safety advice in advance of spring flood season.
Colorectal cancer rises in adults under age 50
Each year, nearly 500 Montanans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and an increasing number of them are under age 50. Sheri Pope, a prevention health specialist with RiverStone Health, shares tips to prevent colorectal cancer and stresses the importance of regular screening starting at age 45.
New defenses against RSV for vulnerable seniors, babies
Respiratory syncytial virus , a common illness that can affect people of all ages, can be more serious for older adults, pregnant individuals and babies. Dr. Courtney Honken of RiverStone Health encourages anyone who may be at a higher risk for RSV to talk to their provider about prevention tools available.
Education empowers teens to reject vaping
Did you know vapes are an aerosol containing many cancer causing chemicals including formaldehyde? Hillary Schafer, a prevention health specialist at RiverStone Health, educates parents and teens in this column. For more information about tobacco prevention, call 406-247-3305.
Keep yourself and your Valentine healthy
In this Billings Gazette column, Stacie Pannell, RiverStone Health nurse manager, encourages all people who are now or have ever been sexually active to prioritize their well-being by seeking testing that includes screening for syphilis. That disease has increased about 1,000% (yes, one thousand percent) in our community since 2021. For information about confidential STI testing and treatment, call RiverStone Health at 406.247.3305.
Tips for keeping your kids’ teeth cavity free
Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with learning, eating and speaking. RiverStone Health Dental Clinic encourages parents to help their children have good oral health habits and keep up with regular dental care. To make an appointment at the RiverStone Health Dental Clinic, call 406.247.3333.
Don’t risk your family’s health, beware of radon
Radon, a gas that occurs naturally in the soil in some places in every state, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the USA. Radon can seep into homes and other buildings through the soil in Montana. The only way to know whether your home has unhealthy levels of radon is to test for it.
How to defend yourself against winter germs
Reduce your risk of being sickened by seasonal viruses by boosting your emotional and physical well-being. In this Billings Gazette column, Dr. Jacalynn Kim, a family physician at RiverStone Health Clinic, offers tips for staying well this winter. For an appointment at RiverStone Health Clinic, call 406.247.3350.
