Q's Health News

by Raquel Williams, RN

Sorry about the hiatus, life had gotten a little too hectic with college, work and Tegan’s schedule. However, now that I have moved into the Carter County Public Health department, I plan to reach out to the people of this county more frequently. I developed this column a couple of years ago to provide health education to the public, as I am passionate about educating others and feel getting information out to citizens is essential.

However, I am not going to talk about health promotion or disease prevention today, instead I want to bring your attention to the heroes who help you stay healthy in rural southeast Montana: nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, CNAs, lab and x-ray technicians, and everyone else who keeps Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association running smoothly. Thursday, November 21st, 2019, is National Rural Health Day! Even though we may feel like there are few of us, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 46 million Americans live in rural areas.

Working in rural health can be extremely challenging as healthcare providers do not have all the necessary tools available and must think outside of the box at times to care for patients. In addition, the distance between Dahl Memorial and larger hospitals can cause complex transfer situations at times. Rural healthcare can be demanding for healthcare professionals, but it also comes with an abundance of rewards. We are able to know our patients on a personal level. We also get to assist patients with every level of their care!

It takes a special type of person to take on a position in rural healthcare. We are fortunate to have a plethora of knowledgeable, personable, and downright outstanding people working in rural health right here in Ekalaka!

Next time you see them, please thank our local healthcare professionals for their service and sacrifice in this beautiful rural area of Montana!

If you have questions or comments, you can find me at the Carter County Public Health office in DMHA or email me at ccpublichealth42@gmail.com. Thanks for joining me this month!