Notes From Your Community

A letter to Community from Congressman Denny Rehberg

Thank you for your invitation to attend the grand opening of Phase I of the Community Women's and Newborn Center. I wish I could be there to join you.

A letter to Community from Senator Jon Tester

Congratulations on the grand opening of the Women's and Infant Center. This is a great addition to the Missoula community and it will contribute enormously to the health and well being of women and babies in all of western Montana.

Travel Health

A winter storm warning has been issued and you receive the news with a hint of guilty delight because you have already booked a vacation to the sunny beaches of Mexico!  Those of us fortunate enough to escape the winter doldrums, cold and snow should consider some simple pre-trip health preparation

Holiday Safety for Children

Montana winter holidays are magical and memorable, but also can present unique child safety issues many of us neglect to consider.  We decorate our homes, host guests, and indulge in a frenzy of activities that create unintended safety hazards for our children. To keep the holidays happy, safe and injury-free, please consider the following child safety precautions.

Suicide - You are Never Alone

Mental illness in 90 percent of suicide cases account for successful suicide, Phillip Hollman gives some advice on the risks associated with suicide.

Sleep and Shift Work Disorder

Phillip Holman gives helpful hints about some useful  strategies to help you manage your sleep issues and take control of Shift Work Disorder(SWD).

Back To Sleep And Tummy Time To Play

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome remains the leading cause of death among infants in their first year of life, prevention programs are helping the number of these deaths decline. 

Community Medical Center Invests in Electronic Health Records

Community Medical Center has invested in significant information technology initiatives and projects to introduce comprehensive Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems into Community Medical Center and Community Physician Group offices.

Missoula Outdoor Fitness

If the physical stresses of the activities we are doing are greater than our bodies can tolerate, we are setting ourselves up for injury.

The Best Medicine for Stress

Wedding season is just around the corner. Are you feeling the stressful tug of family expectations? Is the economy getting you down? Are you feeling disconnected and just plain old stressed out?

Finding Colon Polyps Early Key

Cancer of the colon and rectum is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the country.  Almost 150,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2011, and almost 50,000 people will die from the disease.

Practice Medication Safety

Storing your medications correctly is very important.  Medications should be kept in their original labeled containers.  This helps to maintain the quality of the medications and decreases confusion in case there are several in the same area. 

Blood Donation - The Gift of Life

In the three seconds it will take you to read this sentence, someone, somewhere will need a unit of blood to save their life.  Odds are that sooner or later that “someone” will be someone close to you; 1 out of every 4 people will need blood in their lifetime.

Recognizing Depression at Any Age

As a father of nine children and a husband, I am always concerned about the genetic legacy we pass down to our children. Depression is one of those conditions that can have genetic familial roots and may be part of other ongoing medical diagnoses.

Preventing Diabetes and Heart Disease in Montana

The incidence of diabetes in Montana, as well as in the rest of the country, continues to increase.  The most recent data, from 2006, reports that 48,000 Montanans, 6.4% of the population, have diabetes.

Who Needs the Flu Shot

Children who have not been previously immunized and who are between 6 months and 8 years of age will need a series of 2 vaccines spaced at least 4 weeks apart to help boost their immune response.

Weight Loss Slower is Better

Current media has tricked us into thinking that exercise means tremendous and immediate weight loss. The truth is that for most of us who are not in great shape, exercise will help us to build muscle as we start to lose fat.

Stop Ignoring the Voices in Your Head

I hope we never meet, at least on a professional level.   I am an Intensive Care Unit nurse at Community Medical Center. So if we do meet, it is likely because you or somebody you love requires the specialized and intensive care that I and my colleagues provide 24 hours per day, every day of the year. 

What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who usually has a few years of experience as a registered nurse (RN) in a hospital or other setting before returning to school to obtain a Master’s Degree. A Master’s Degree typically takes two years, during which the nurse learns to perform a variety of procedures, such as suturing (sewing up cuts), as well as how to diagnose and treat medical conditions. The nurse practitioner learns to make prevention, wellness and individualized care the priority.