The Extra Mile - Volume 32

Volume 32 | Fall 2022

FACES of HEALTH THE DIFFERENCE YOU’RE MAKING FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED

The Extra Mile HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS WITH PUBLIC HEALTH

During flood, pandemic, RiverStone Health steps up Public Health team goes the extra mile to deliver vaccinations

RiverStone Health nurses go all over Yellowstone

County and beyond to reach people who want shots to prevent serious diseases. In the past year alone, RiverStone Health has offered more than 150 outreach immunization clinics. That doesn’t include vaccinations at our primary care clinics or our mass vaccinations clinics at MetraPark and the Shrine Auditorium, which immunized thousands of adults and children against COVID-19.

many enrollees. About two of every 10 Medicare enrollees who inquire about getting vaccinated against shingles ultimately decide to skip that vaccine because of the steep out-of-pocket cost, Brenda says.

The co-pay for some Medicare enrollees has been about $170 for each dose or $340 for the required two doses.

When a new immunization need develops, typically there isn’t more staff or money to respond, Kelly explains. Even the COVID-19 funding has dried up. The limited funding available through government programs has to be used in specific ways for specific purposes.

Our mobile nurses have visited businesses, churches, schools, the county jail, a prison pre-release center, Brenda Koch, left, and Kelly Gardner of RiverStone outdoor festivals, parks, Health Public Health set up an immunization location in Fromberg in the wake of the devastating June floods. senior meal sites and apartment complexes.

That is why gifts from They offer vaccinations against flu, hepatitis, tetanus, RiverStone Health Foundation friends are so human papilloma virus and other diseases. important. You can help close gaps that RiverStone When June floods devastated neighboring counties, Health nurses see as they work to prevent diseases RiverStone Health offered help. At the request of in our community. With your gift to the RiverStone Carbon County Public Health Foundation for Health, Kelly Gardner, immunizations, Brenda Ninety percent of what we RN, and Brenda Koch, will be able to tell the next do is building trust with the immunizations program Medicare enrollees who manager, drove the community, especially with high-risk call that our Foundation RiverStone Health van populations, homeless people and other friends will cover their full to Fromberg’s city park shingles immunization cost marginalized populations. We are for a morning clinic. In if Medicare does not. Please just trying to get them into the fold of the afternoon, they drove consider helping us raise routine healthcare. to Red Lodge and again $2,500 to help RiverStone offered tetanus, hepatitis Health Foundation close Kelly Gardner A and B vaccines to people gaps in healthcare. exposed to contaminated waters. The vaccines were provided at no charge.

Despite RiverStone Health nurses going the distance, there are gaps in access. For example, Medicare currently does not cover the shingles vaccine for

To make a gift in support of patients in jeopardy, visit RiverStoneHealth.org/GIVE

Scan me

Volunteers help make 32nd Scrub Run a success The annual RiverStone Health Foundation Scrub Run drew a crowd of all ages and abilities to South Park on a beautiful September 10 morning to support RiverStone Reads. Forty-one volunteers helped make the event fun and safe for the 166 people who ran or walked the 5K course and 42 kids in the kids’ dash. Additionally, 29 people registered to participate virtually.

Scrub Run volunteers

Photos by Skoog Photography Runners and walkers start the Scrub Run

Board of Directors Ryan Nordlund – Chair, City Vineyard John Dorr, MD – Vice-Chair, MSU Billings Greg Wing – Treasurer, Retired CFO John Felton – Secretary, RiverStone Health Carol Beam – Rocky Mountain Health Network Dan Carter – ExxonMobil Billings Refinery Drew Hedrick – Century 21 Hometown Brokers David Mitchell – Coldwell Banker Commercial Bill Royer – UBS Financial Services

Foundation Staff Leyna Kingman – Development Coordinator Beth Allen – Development Associate

Make a Gift Visit RiverStoneHealth.org/GIVE Stay up-to-date Subscribe to our emails to hear about events and other happenings at RiverStone Health. Email us to sign-up: foundation@RiverStoneHealth.org MT Endowment Tax Credit questions?

Contact Development Coordinator Leyna Kingman Announcements Memorial Listing: Gifts given in tribute are posted quarterly at RiverStoneHealth.org/memorial Opt out If you no longer wish to receive communications from RiverStone Health Foundation, please call 800.398.9022 and ask for the Foundation.

Contact us directly at 406.651.6555, or email foundation@RiverStoneHealth.org to opt out.

Facebook There is more happening at RiverStone Health Foundation than can fit in this newsletter. Like us on Facebook to keep in touch.

Create a legacy by remembering RiverStone Health Foundation in your will.

123 South 27th Street • Billings, MT 59101 • RiverStoneHealth.org • 406.651.6555

Hospice Tree of Lights Please join us virtually at 4 p.m. Sunday, November 13 when the 32nd Annual Hospice Tree of Lights ceremony and reading of names will be streamed online via Facebook and YouTube.

Your donation in memory of a loved one helps ensure that RiverStone Health Hospice can continue serving all people at the end-of-life, regardless of their ability to pay.

The 32nd Annual Hospice Tree of Lights is raising funds to support RiverStone Health Hospice’s quality, compassionate end-of-life care. Among the 400 hospice patients we served in the past year, more than 100 needed financial assistance to cover the cost of their care.

Go online to learn more and include your loved one’s name in the event or scan this QR code:

RiverStoneHealth.org/LIGHTS

123 South 27th Street Billings, MT 59101

RiverStoneHealth.org • 406.651.6555