Bozeman Health estimates five million miles saved in travel due to closer services
By Jen Clancey STAFF WRITER
A lot can happen in a decade. For the Bozeman Health Big Sky Medical Center, those 10 years included treating patients in the COVID-19 pandemic, and navigating rural health care in a growing community just one hour from one of the nation’s busiest national parks—and for many years, one hour from the nearest hospital.
As snow piled up outside on Thursday evening, Dec. 4, leaders reflected on the medical center’s beginnings and where it’s headed next, from clinic expansion to longer term financing of health services for Big Sky.
BSMC Administrator Kelly Halmes noted that partnerships were key to opening the medical center, and ensuring continued high quality care. She thanked the Big Sky Resort Ski Patrol, the Big Sky Fire Department, Sergeant Dan Haydon and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, the National Park Service and local nonprofit Big Sky Bandage led by Amy Vance.
Halmes noted that the Sheriff’s office has been phenomenal and the best she’s ever worked with and described how closely BSMC has worked with the Big Sky Fire Department to address emergencies.
“Because we are staffed with two nurses and a doc in the ER, they’ll bring a patient in and if we need more hands, they will work with us. They will stay and make sure that they manage that patient with us,” Halmes said. “It’s like, you wanna give the best care every day, you know, [with] minimal resources, to be honest with you and we’re all bringing more resources. They’re bringing in more critical care. We’re bringing in specialties, we’re growing with the town.”
Support from local organizations and leaders was also important to the opening of the BSMC on Dec. 6, 2015. In her speech, Halmes highlighted the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce, Big Sky Resort Area District, Big Sky Community Housing Trust and Big Sky Wellness Coalition. Halmes also celebrated longtime community members like Taylor Middleton, former president and chief operation officer of Big Sky Resort and his wife Barbara Rowley, writer and leader in several local boards and organizations including the Big Sky Broadway program, for their commitment to seeing a medical center in Big Sky come to fruition.
Heidi Marshall, BSMC executive assistant, highlighted the commitment of the facility’s staff to establish high quality care in Big Sky Town Center. She recalled late administrator Tracy Reamy, who relocated to Big Sky with her family to open BSMC.
“To give you a glimpse into what the days were like, just three days before the hospital opened, things were moving at absolute lightning speed. The building wasn’t finished. And the workers were in every part of this hospital working against the clock,” Marshall said.
Despite the flurry of activity, doors opened in 2015, and Marshall recalled the energy of that day, saying that she and the staff knew they were doing something meaningful.
“I know Tracy is looking over us today filled with pride at how far we’ve come. Those of us who knew Tracy can still hear her infectious laugh and feel her unwavering, all-in energy that defines her,” Marshall said. “Tracy shaped us in ways that we’ll never forget.”
Looking ahead
With 40,000 emergency department visits, over 300,000 filled prescriptions, 4,000 outpatient psychiatry visits, 150 oncology appointments, more than 50,000 imaging and 175,000 lab tests under its belt, leaders at BSMC are looking forward to the next decade.
And this upcoming chapter could be interesting given legislative changes that allow for a new hospital district, or “wellness district,” in Big Sky. BSRAD Executive Director Daniel Bierschwale described the possibility for Big Sky to create its own wellness district to funnel taxpayer dollars into local services, which in the Madison County portion of Big Sky currently go toward the Madison Valley Hospital District.
“The wellness district isn’t just an administrative change. It’s a long-term investment in Big Sky’s ability to thrive,” Bierschwale said. “It ensures that medical care we depend on today will remain strong, stable, and supportive for decades to come.”
Nikki Howard, a Big Sky resident who testified in support of the legislation that has allowed Big Sky to begin creating a new wellness district, noted how important the medical center has been in her recovery from a traumatic ski injury.
“I genuinely feel so grateful that this community and this institution exists because these people actually care about me and they are listening to me,” Howard said. She said she lives in the Madison County part of Big Sky, but all of her treatment happened outside of MVHD, including care at BSMC—a core argument of Big Sky citizens in the midst of Senate Bill 260 talks.
Residents in May will vote on whether they’d like to create a Big Sky Wellness District. Aside from wellness district efforts, Bozeman Health leaders are already considering what Big Sky needs in the future.
Bozeman Health CEO Kathryn Bertany described how support for BSMC enabled the facility to quickly respond to pandemic needs through quadrupling oxygen capacity, doubling room space and expanding testing. Growth in the next 10 years could look like expansion of the emergency department and adding procedures, according to Bertany.
“We’re continuing to grow as the community grows and tourism grows,” she said, noting the unique responsibility of caring for both residents and the many tourists who access nearby trails, resorts and Yellowstone National Park. This year, Bozeman Health estimated about five million travel miles in the Gallatin Canyon saved due to closer health care services in Big Sky. Bertany hopes that convenience only grows as the medical center expands.
“I hope we double that in the next 10,” Bertany said.
