Emergency Medical Care

CHA offers a full continuum of care including Acute Care, Cardiopulmonary Services, Convenient Care, Emergency Services, Laboratory Services, Medical Imaging, Nutrition Therapy, Rehabilitation Services, Pharmacy, Surgery, and multiple ambulatory care clinics with services including Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Obstetrics/Gynecology. CHA also offers Home Health, Hospice, Long-term Care, and a Surgical Clinic encompassing the specialties of General, Orthopedic, Brain and Spine. CHA will continue to assess community needs and will expand services as needed to meet those needs.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

A Rural Health Clinic staffed by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs. Visiting Specialists on a regular basis

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Patti Wittkopp, PA-C

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Peter Barrah, MD
Jay Taylor, MD
Patricia Grena, DO
Visiting Specialists

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Dr. Aadron Medley, MD, general surgery; Dr. Randy Webb, MD, Family Practice; Dr. Robert Cole;

Emergency Medical Assistance, Critical Access Hospital and Walk-In Clinic

Emergency Medicine:
Michael Clarke, M.D.
Paul MacMillan, PA-C, MPAS
Greg Moore, MD, FACP, FAWM
Ramona Potter, MD

Hospitalists:
Anna Loge, M.D.
Thomas Murray, MD

Walk-In Clinic:
Anna Loge, M.D.
Burke Hansen, M.D.
Casey Rasch, M.D.
Danielle Maxfield, FNP-C
Hallie Tipton, M.D.
Jana Barnes, PA-C
John Madany, M.D.
John Pickens, M.D.
Judy Wilson, M.D.
Karen Weed, M.D.
Kelly H. Smith, M.D.
Mary Reindollar, PA-C
Mick Lifson, M.D., FACOG
Ron Loge, M.D., M.A.C.P.
Sandra McIntyre, M.D., FACP
Shafi Shafaieh, M.D.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Angel Johnson, FNP; Dr. Jace A Bird, DO; Sonya Gilson, APNP; Sharon Lyons, FNP

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

We are fully staffed with four Family Practice Physicians, one Specialist in Internal Medicine, two Family Nurse Practitioners, as well as an ample amount of nursing and administrative staff.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Penny Denning, PA-C; Krzysztof Dygulski, MD; Janice E. Griffin, MD; Richard A. Wells, DO; Charlene Pontoriero, FNP; Carleen Gaub, PA-C;

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Emergency medical services are provided at the Level II Emergency & Trauma Center located on the north side of the hospital off 10th Avenue North. Billings Clinic Emergency & Trauma Centerhas a full time staff of residency-trained/board certified physicians that are prepared to provide care for any acute illness or injury. Emergency services span the continuum of emergency care, including pre-hospital medical control, assessment and stabilization, patient disposition to in-hospital care, and care managers to provide social services interventions and discharge planning. Physicians have bedside wireless tablets used at the point of care to access the patient's medical history, including medication information, allergy information, lab and test results, physician notes and more. The Emergency & Trauma Center is committed to providing exemplary service-oriented, quality care to patients, their families and consultants.

Billings Clinic's MedFlight Air Ambulance Service optimizes our regional service providing safe and rapid critical care airplane transport to the Center. MedFlight's team is comprised of critical care nurses and respiratory therapists who are trained to provide stabilization of all health care needs available to our facility.

If you are currently experiencing an emergency, call 911.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Jay Pottenger, Administrator

Dr. Randall Rauh, Medical Director

Sarah Nordlund, Director of Nursing

Char Herbold, Bookkeeping

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Services Offered inside of Fort Belknap Service Unit
Administrated by Indian Health Service:
• Outpatient Ambulatory Care – Fort Belknap Critical Care Hospital ◦8:00am - 11:30am & 12:30pm - 4:00pm on Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fri.
◦12:30pm - 7:00pm on Wed.
◦Appointments Phone: 406-353-3137

• Outpatient Ambulatory Care – Eagle Child Health Center ◦8:00am – 4:00pm on Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fri
◦12:30pm – 4:00pm on Wed.
◦Appointments Phone: 406- 673-3777

• Inpatient Care ◦3-5 days at the Fort Belknap CAH. Patients requiring further hospitalization are referred or transported to one of the regional hospitals in Billings or Great Falls, Montana.

• Urgent Care at the Fort Belknap CAH ◦24 hour emergency care, 7 days a week Phone: 406-353-3222
◦Weekend urgent care staffed by contract locum tenens
◦911 Emergency/Ambulance

• Pharmacy ◦9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm on Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fri.
◦1:00pm – 5:00pm on Wed.
◦Refill Phone Line: 406-353-3105

• Compliance Phone Hotline – 406-353-3187
• Dental
• Optometry
• Physical Therapy
• Behavioral Health – Mental Health and Social Services
• Men’s Health
• Women’s Health
• Well Child Health
• Full lab and radiology services during clinic hours
• Ultra-sound and mammography
• Public health nutrition
• Hospice Team
• Emergency Medical Services
• Pharmacy
• Outreach/Referrals
• OB/GYN
• Contract Health Services
• Family planning
• Transportation Services
• Specialty Clinics – Monthly to twice a month ◦Dermatology
◦ENT
◦Orthopedics
◦Podiatry
◦Urology


Administrated by Tribal Health Department
inside of Fort Belknap Service Unit The Fort Belknap Tribal Health Department, under P.L. 93-638, Self-Determination Law, administers programs under contract from Indian Health Service. The goal of P.L. 93-638 is to have Tribes become more involved and self-sufficient by participating in the administration and responsibility of providing care to the Native people. The Tribal Health Department administers:


• Chemical Dependency Treatment Program
• Community Health Representative Program
• Family Planning Program
• FAS/FAE Program
• Health Education Program
• Public Health Nursing Program
• Women, Infant and Children Nutrition Program – WIC
• Diabetes Program
• Personal Care Attendants
• Sanitation/Environmental Program
• Nutrition

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

Acute care services, clinic & extended care, support services

For WIC call:
M, Tu, W 9-5
406-266-5209

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

"Critical Access Hospitals" are limited service hospitals designed to provide essential services to rural communities. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 established the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (RHFP) which provided grants to States for designation of hospitals as Critical Access Hospitals or CAH. Because of relaxed staffing requirements and cost-based reimbursement for Medicare and Montana Medicaid patients, converting a struggling rural hospital to a CAH can allow the community to stabilize and maintain local health care access. A current listing on Montana CAHs is available by clicking here.
Key criteria for designation of CAHs include:
• located more than 35 road miles or, in the case of a facility located in mountainous terrain or where only secondary roads exist, more than 15 road miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital; or be certified by the State as a necessary provider of health care services to residents in the area (in Montana, this includes all hospitals located in a frontier county or a non-IHS hospital located within the boundaries of an Indian Reservation)
• provide 24-hour emergency care that is necessary for ensuring access to emergency care services in the area served by the facility.
• has no more than 15 acute care inpatient beds or in the case of a facility with swing beds, 25 acute care inpatient beds, of which no more than 15 are used for acute care at any one time.
• provide inpatient care for a period not exceeding 96 hours, as determined on an average, annual basis for each patient.
• operates a quality assessment and performance improvement program and follows appropriate procedures for review of utilization of services.
Besides designation of CAHs, the RHFP addresses four major goals:
1. Creation and maintenance of a State Rural Health Plan.
2. Development and implementation of Rural Health Networks.
3. Improvement and integration of Emergency Medical Services.
4. Ability to address Quality of Care issues.

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With emphasis on patients’ wishes about the care they receive, the National POLST Paradigm helps patients get the medical treatments they want, and avoid the medical treatments they do not want, when they are seriously ill or frail. It's about helping people live the way they want until they die. Web locator for state's sample forms. The POLST form is a medical order emergency personnel can follow whenever, and wherever, the patient has a medical emergency and can't speak for himself/herself.