The Three Rivers Health Authority Board has approved a contract with a new vendor to provide a ‘wound care’ program. In action during its January meeting Thursday morning (January 31st), the board approved a contract with Healogics, Inc., a move recommended by the board’s Finance Committee. The move is a change from action taken in [...]

The financial health of Three Rivers Health continues to improve, a trend noted during the January meeting of the Three Rivers Health Authority Board Thursday morning (January 31st). In discussion of information reviewed earlier by the board’s Finance Committee, CFO Steve Andrews noted improvements in two key indicators – the current ratio of current assets [...]

This January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, an annual effort to help raise greater awareness of this life-threatening disease and to encourage women to speak with their healthcare provider about their risk and get screened.  But as an issue impacting thousands of American women every year, it really is an issue that deserves public attention [...]

If you’re wondering about activities and programs offered by the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging (COA) in February, you’ve come to the right place by reading the River Country Journal! The COA has just published its Activity Calendar for the month.  To access it, simply click on the following link:  COA Activity Calendar for [...]

The Three Rivers Health Authority Board has voted to support an application by Community Mental Health (CMH) as a co-applicant for a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in St. Joseph County. Unanimous action on the matter came during the January meeting of the board Thursday morning (January 31st). Bill Russell, CEO of Three Rivers Health, [...]

The Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project in the African nation of Uganda was in the spotlight Wednesday (January 30th) during a joint meeting of the White Pigeon Rotary Club and the White Pigeon Interact Club, the local manifestation of Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Jackson Kaguri, founder and executive director [...]

In celebration of Heart Health Month and Cardiac Rehabilitation Week, the dedicated cardiac rehab professionals at Three Rivers Health are presenting a ‘Heart Health Fair’ on Tuesday, February 11th. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at HealthTRAC on the Three Rivers Health campus. The fair will include presentations, booths, health [...]

LANSING – Every 4 and a half minutes a baby is born with a birth defect, the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States. During January, National Birth Defects Prevention Month, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is joining the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) to increase awareness of birth defects [...]

LANSING – It’s hard to find the time to exercise and eat right, but the devastating impacts of obesity on our future are avoidable with small lifestyle changes. On Wednesday, Jan. 23, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) launched the new MI Healthier Tomorrow campaign aimed at helping people make the changes to impact [...]

LANSING – The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is looking for community sponsors to run summer food programs to prevent more than 575,000 children in Michigan from going hungry when school lunchrooms close for the summer. The Summer Food Service Program could fill the summer hunger gap for hundreds of thousands of children if more [...]

LANSING – The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is developing a demonstration to strengthen services and supports for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. MDCH has been in negotiations with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which has led to the decision to move forward with a regionalized approach. [...]

STURGIS –The boil water advisory issued on January 11, 2013, for the areas affected by the water main break, has now been lifted.  The affected areas include: Homes on the east side of North Lakeview Avenue between Robin Hood Street and Marian Street. Homes on the west side of North Lakeview Avenue between Buckingham Drive [...]

The first of four ‘Town Hall Meetings’ hosted by Three Rivers Health will be held Thursday evening (January 17th) at the Three Rivers Public Library. In advertising regarding the event, Three Rivers Health says, “The Governing Board and Administration of Three Rivers Health invite you to attend a discussion regarding the new mission statement and [...]

STURGIS – On Friday, January 11th, the City of Sturgis had a water main break at the intersection of North Lakeview and Wilshire Park Drive that resulted in flooding in basements of several residences and the issuance of a boil water notice to homes in the area.  Since Friday, several questions have been asked. Question:  [...]

STURGIS – Friday (January 11th) the City of Sturgis had a water main break at the intersection of North Lakeview and Wilshire Park Drive.  The break resulted in the complete shutoff of water to several houses in the area while repairs were completed. Due to the drop in pressure in the Sturgis water supply that [...]

Three Rivers Health is undergoing ‘management restructuring’, resulting in the elimination of eight management positions. In a news release announcing the restructuring, CEO Bill Russell indicated the management reduction is necessary to ensure a sustainable future for Three Rivers Health. During an interview with the River Country Journal, Russell said that, “Based on some changes [...]

It’s that time of year where we are all about to fall short of our New Year’s resolutions to be more active/get outdoors/do something for our environment.  Well, just in the nick of time there is a Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy (SWMLC) workday!  The workday will take place Saturday (January 12th) from 9 a.m. until [...]

The St. Joseph County MSU Extension Office will be offering Dining with Diabetes, a five-session course designed for people at risk of diabetes or who have diabetes, as well as their family members.  Space is still available as are free scholarships. The session will begin on Thursday, January 10 to January 31, 1:30 – 3:30 [...]

The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) will be in the spotlight during the next meeting of the Human Resource Council of St. Joseph County on Tuesday (January 8th) at Glen Oaks Community College. Now that the elections are over and it’s clear that Health Care Reform is here to stay, what do [...]

To better assist you with caring for an infant or child ill with the flu, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has posted a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet – “Caring for Infants and Children with the Flu.”  This FAQ sheet provides timely guidance on how to protect your young one from getting the [...]