Tips for caregiver well-being
Many of us struggle to help care for family members while juggling work and family life. From personal experience, our nurse supervisor of Home Care Services knows about the stress caregivers may feel. “The best way to equip yourself to take care of others is to refuel your own tank,” she writes in this Billings Gazette column.
Know the Risks Before You Drink Raw Milk
Raw milk and products made from raw milk are more likely to be contaminated with harmful bacteria than pasteurized milk. The top pathogens, or germs, linked to raw milk disease outbreaks between 2007 and 2012 were campylobacter, E.coli and Salmonella.
Providing Doctors to Meet Montana’s Needs
Investing in Montana’s medical residencies makes economic sense. The residencies in Billings and Western Montana help recruit, train and retain primary care doctors to practice in Montana since the majority of those doctors settle in Montana once they finish their training.
Make 21 the minimum age to purchase tobacco
Making 21 the minimum age to buy tobacco makes sense because experimentation with tobacco at a young age often turns to daily use between the ages of 18 and 21. Four out five users become daily tobacco users during the years between 18 and 21.
Suicide Rate Demands Action
Montana’s suicide rate of 26 deaths per 100,000 is twice the national average and the rate is even higher among the elderly and American Indian youths.
Preventing Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women, but the symptoms vary greatly between the sexes. Find out more in this column written by one of our physicians in the Montana Family Medicine Residency.
Making seat belts a priority
Seat belt use is the single most effective way to prevent deaths and injuries on our roadways. Yet Montana is one of just 15 states that doesn’t allow motorists to be pulled over for not wearing seat belts, as this column explains.
Enroll before January 31st for 2017 insurance coverage
Despite all the action in the U.S. Congress, you can still sign up for health insurance coverage through HealthCare.gov. Most Montanans qualify for tax credits to help with costs. Many find plans for less than $100 a month. For help, make a free appointment by calling 651.6540 or marketplace@riverstonehealth.org.
Clinical pharmacists improve patient care
Clinical pharmacists work together with your doctor to help improve medication use. With complex treatments for diabetes, heart disease or mental health conditions, the goal is typically to make sure medications are working effectively with a minimum of side effects.
Breathe easier by improving indoor air quality
Our Coordinator of Air Quality and Food Protection at Environmental Health Services shows how to improve the air quality inside your home by keeping it clean, dry, well-ventilated and free from contaminants.
