Dental Practice Thrives on Community Service
When Dr. Mike Downing set up a dental practice on Billings’ South Side in 1996, he was guided by a philosophy of community service instilled by his parents. “I firmly believe communities that truly value, celebrate and support the gifts of all people, regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation or economic level, will thrive in positive, healthy ways,” he said during an interview with The Billings Gazette.
Wildfire Smoke Reaches Billings
You can get wildfire smoke updates and find out the air quality in our area through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality Today’s Air website.
When smoke reduces visibility to a few miles, it can be unhealthy, especially for people in sensitive groups, such as people with asthma, lung or heart disease.
Tester offers opinion on the health care bill
Speaking at RiverStone Health, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester blasted the Republican backed Senate health care bill, which he said will cause thousands of Montanans to lose coverage through cuts to Medicaid and mean higher rates for Montanans over age 50.
Proposal would ban e-cig use inside buildings, smoking near entrances
The RiverStone Board of Health adopts rules to protect the public health of the community. The board’s proposed rule, like the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, recognizes the right of nonsmokers to breath clean indoor air.
Growing oasis in a food desert
A partnership between Friendship House of Christian Service and the South Side Community Center will help bring more health food options to the Southside neighborhood. Healthy By Design, which grew out of the Alliance between Billings Clinic, RiverStone Health and St. Vincent Healthcare, helped fund the project and foster the partnership.
Montana Family Medicine Residency Wins National Award for Excellence
Many Montana rural communities lack access to quality healthcare. Doctors in the Montana Family Medicine Residency are specifically trained to care for rural and underserved patients. The residency selects doctors who already possess a drive for community involvement and a desire to help in those under-served communities. With those qualities in place, physicians at RiverStone Health and both local hospitals teach those residents the skills they need to be successful doctors.
School-based Clinic Serves Students
Having healthcare providers at school helps make sure children get preventive care along with treatment for sore throats and other ailments. The RiverStone Health Clinic based at Orchard School also serves students, families and staff at four other nearby schools.
Providing healthcare to foster children
When families are in crisis, routine healthcare can fall by the wayside. If children enter foster care, KidsFirst at RiverStone Health partners with Child and Family Services to quickly make sure children in foster care get the medical and dental care they need.
Report: Yellowstone County’s top health issues are mental health, substance abuse, obesity
Income disparity is a major factor in the community’s health and the county’s top health issues according to the newly release Community Health Needs Assessment. Low-income residents are more likely to have poorer health or higher health risks, the report says.
Game teaches life lessons on good behavior
Our Director of Population Health Services has helped introduce PAX, a behavioral game, into Billings elementary schools. Evidence indicates the game teaches lessons that provide life-long benefits.
