With the uncertainty of the current times, never before has staffing been such an integral part of West River Health Services and Western Horizons Living Centers. We are constantly searching for the brightest and most caring healthcare personnel we can find – and especially those who want to work and raise their families in a rural community. There...

Dear Dr. Toshi,  What's the differences between cleaning, sanitizing (as in hand sanitizer), and disinfecting? What's the difference between disinfectants and antiseptics? What should we use against COVID-19? Antiseptics and disinfectants both kill microorganisms (germs) such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and tiny parasites like amoeba. An anti...

Dear Dr. Toshi,  What is osteoporosis?  I'm sure you've heard the word "osteoporosis." So, we'll talk about bone health today because osteoporosis is something to do with our bones. Do you know how many bones we have in our bodies? Over 200! There are big ones like our femurs (thigh bones; without them we couldn't walk or even stand) and ...

Dear Dr. Toshi, How do you become a doctor? Have you ever wondered what a "resident" or "resident physician" means? What are interns? How did they get to work at the hospital? Today, I'm going to give you a quick overview on how a person becomes a doctor! This process I'm going to explain today is about doctors who have an "MD" (Doctor of Medicine)...

Dear Dr. Toshi, "My doctor told me to stay hydrated. Should I drink water? How much should I drink?" I used to help out at marathons as a staff member in a medical tent. As you may know if you participated in an event like that or saw a marathon on TV, there are hydration stations along the route, where athletes can get fluid along the way. There a...

Dear Dr. Toshi, I haven't been exercising very much because of the COVID pandemic and it's been getting cold outside. What can I do? Early in the spring, when we had the first COVID-19 lockdown, I read an article about a young marathon runner who had to stay at home and couldn't exercise because of the lockdown. However, he really wanted to continu...

Dear Dr. Toshi, What are electrolytes?      At some time in your life, you may have been told to drink fluids that have electrolytes. Today I'll explain what the electrolytes are, why we need them, and how we test your blood for them. Did you know that our bodies have electric charges? An electric charge can be positive or negative, ...

West River Health Services is interested in hearing from you about community health concerns.

Updated 11/7/2020 WRHS Clinics and Hospital Visitation Updates Hospital Visitation with NO COVID Positive Inpatients – One adult visitor at time per inpatient, no visitors under the age of 18. All visitors masked. Hospital Visitation with COVID Positive Inpatients - Immediately limit visitation to end-of-life patients only, immediate family only, a...

Dear Dr. Toshi, I was just told that I tested positive for COVID-19. Can you tell me how to take care of myself at home? As you've probably been hearing in the news, North Dakota is currently the number one "hotspot" in the United States for the COVID-19 pandemic. It's spreading fast, and more people are getting sick and dying here every day. Fortu...

Dear Dr. Toshi,     When you go get your annual physical, your doctor may order a "lipid panel" as one of your blood tests. Lipids are fats and fatty substances in your body, and the results of the lipid panel include your total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides. You might recall...

Dear Dr. Toshi, (Lab Results Part 3) I went to see my doctor, and she showed me my lab results, but I had no idea what they mean. Can you explain them to me? Today I'll talk about the last part of the Complete Blood Count lab (CBC), namely, platelets. Basically, platelets play an important role in repairing injuries and clotting blood. So, I'll tal...

Dear Dr. Toshi, (Lab Results Part 2)    I went to see my doctor, and she showed me my lab results, but I had no idea what they mean. Can you explain them to me? We started talking about the family of white blood cells last week. They're cells that are part of your immune system, and they circulate in the pipelines in your body--that is, i...

WRHS Clinics and Hospital Visitation Updates Hospital Visitation – No Visitation unless a patient is end of life. In this instance, approved visitors will be required to gown in full PPE. Labor and Delivery – One support person per delivery - both should enter through the West End door and not the Emergency Room. Mom and support will be rapid teste...

West River Health Services in Hettinger, N.D. and Southwest Healthcare Services in Bowman, N.D. have started talks around how the two organizations can collaborate to sustain growth, enhance services and improve access to quality, local healthcare. The chief executive officers of both organizations and their respective boards of directors are worki...

Dear Dr. Toshi,   (Lab Results Part 1)I went to see my doctor, and she showed me my lab results, but I had no idea what they mean. Can you explain them to me? I'm sure you've had your blood drawn to have lab tests done at the clinic or hospital. But do you know what they're for? Have you wondered what the results mean? I'd like to give you a q...

Dear Dr. Toshi, I have trouble sleeping at night. What can I do to get better sleep? Insomnia is "persistent problems falling and staying asleep." Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed sleep habits for some people, according to a report I read. Some people are struggling with insomnia due to increased anxiety or stress, for example. But ...

Dear Dr. Toshi,   COVID-19 is still going strong, but will we have a regular flu season this fall and winter, too? Yes, we will have a season of influenza (the flu) again, just like any other year. Unfortunately, having COVID-19 is a different virus, so it doesn't make our regular flu season go away. COVID-19 is caused by a virus called SARS-C...

Dear Dr. Toshi, Why do some people have to be quarantined for 14 days after a vacation away from home if they're feeling fine and have no fever? Good question! It's been really confusing because 1) some unfamiliar words and phrases are used, 2) guidelines and rules seem to change a lot, 3) recommendations and guidelines from the CDC (Centers for Di...

Dear Dr. Toshi, "We often hear doctors and other providers talk about blood clots. What exactly are they? Why are they so bad?" Several years ago, on a flight to Japan, I heard the overhead announcement, "Is there a doctor or nurse on board? If so, please let one of the flight attendants know." I was ready to help! I immediately pushed the flight a...