Be Recall Ready
Last Updated: December 9, 2024 Many of us are preparing more food or gifting more toys this month. Every meal and every gift should be joyous, and paying attention to recall notices can help! Recalls let consumers know if there have been possible illnesses or injuries associated with items they’ve purchased. How do I find... Continue reading→
Winter safety at home and on the road
Last Updated: December 9, 2024 Public health cares about residents living healthy, long lives. That means that we focus on illness, but we also pay attention to injury and community safety. In the winter, residents can face bad road conditions, cold temperatures, and power outages that make daily activities less safe. RHHD’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator,... Continue reading→
World AIDS Day: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress
Last Updated: December 9, 2024 Sunday, December 1, was World AIDS Day, an opportunity to mourn the more than 32 million people worldwide who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. In the U.S., the theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.” The Department of Health and Human Services says... Continue reading→
Diabetes Did You Knows
Last Updated: November 25, 2024 November is American Diabetes Month. Take 60 seconds this month to complete a prediabetes risk test, which can help you figure out if you need to take extra steps to prevent diabetes. I’ve heard of diabetes, but what is prediabetes? People living with prediabetes have higher than normal blood glucose levels, but... Continue reading→
Thank you, Nurse Practitioners!
Last Updated: November 18, 2024 November 10–16 is Nurse Practitioners Week. Nurse Practitioners are a critical part of our healthcare landscape—they make sure that as many residents as possible have access to a care provider. In Virginia, we have more than 17,500 NPs, a few of whom work at RHHD! This week, we’re celebrating the following... Continue reading→
Calling it quits: RHHD supports tobacco cessation
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S., and 90% of lung cancer cases are related to smoking. If you are a smoker, quitting now is the best thing you can do to keep your lungs healthy. Continue reading→
CHA Priorities: Mental Health
Today, we’re focusing on Mental Health. More than 30% of you said that mental health concerns—including anxiety, depression, and self-harm—were one of the biggest health issues currently facing our communities. The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) will help RHHD decide how to address this important issue. A first important step is the Richmond and Henrico Regional Resource Guide to Substance Use and Behavioral and Mental Health. The guide provides Continue reading→
Welcome to RHHD’s Adolescent Health Team, Cindy Pulido!
Cindy Pulido is one of RHHD’s newest staff members! She joins our Population Health team as the Adolescent Health Coordinator. Tamara Jones, the Population Health Manager, says that Cindy will be working closely with RHHD staff and community partners to design programs and initiatives focused on promoting the health and well-being of adolescents through the City of Richmond... Continue reading→
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Last Updated: October 22, 2024 In October, we recognize one of the most commonly occurring cancers nationwide: Breast cancer. Breast cancer is easiest to treat when doctors find it early, so it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about risk factors and screening. If you are at average risk for breast cancer, the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce recommends beginning breast cancer screening once you... Continue reading→
Protect your child and test for lead poisoning
October 20-26 is Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. Dona Huang runs RHHD’s Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Initiative, and she says the most important prevention step is to have children checked for lead poisoning through a blood test. “Lead poisoning can be silent,” Dona says. “There are no obvious signs of lead poisoning unless it’s already really extreme. The first thing lead impacts is the central nervous system. If it’s not discovered early, a young child can face developmental challenges.” Continue reading→
Welcome to the Tuberculosis team, Mario!
RHHD recently welcomed a new Tuberculosis outreach worker: Mario Martinez! Mario has been part of the RHHD team for years. He previously worked in COVID-19 containment and as a Community Health Worker (CHW) in the Southwood Resource Center. Tuberculosis is a contagious illness that can affect the lungs and other parts of the body. TB is treatable, but treatment takes a long time and... Continue reading→
CHA Priorities: Chronic Disease
RHHD’s Community Health Assessment (CHA) revealed three major areas where residents saw big health challenges: Community Safety and Violence Prevention, Chronic Disease, and Mental, Health, including Substance Use Disorder. Today, we’re focusing on Chronic Disease. CDC defines chronic diseases as “conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living, or both.” Chronic diseases can include heart disease, cancers, and diabetes. More research also includes... Continue reading→