MRMC/Benefis Partnership Vital for Emergencies and For a Strong Chouteau County

FORT BENTON – A knife accident recently left Ann Koch in desperate need of emergency care.

She already knew Benefis Missouri River Medical Center as a 24-year employee and now she would experience the rural critical access hospital as a patient, too.

With blood pressure so low she could not communicate, Ann watched the MRMC Emergency Department team spring into action to save her leg and her life.

“I was impressed as they worked together. This wasn’t their first rodeo,” she said. “Time was of the essence, and everyone involved knew their job, were professional, and coordinated care from the facility to our local ambulance to Mercy Flight to the Benefis ambulance and on to the Benefis ED, where I received nothing but the best of care.”

The knife missed an artery by millimeters, but Ann lost about five pints of blood.

“It could have been life and death, and they took the time to make choices that assured I was cared for in the right way in the timeliest manner,” she said. “This community is fortunate in knowing they have such valuable lifesaving services that start right here at home.”

This summer, we celebrated one year since MRMC joined Benefis Health System. MRMC includes a critical access hospital, a family practice clinic, a 24-hour emergency room, physical therapy, laboratory, radiology, and a nursing home. It’s Chouteau County’s largest employer.

The ability to get higher-quality equipment at the rural hospital has been a great result of the acquisition, said Janice Woodhouse, MRMC’s chief operating officer and director of nursing.

New computers, better lab equipment, new cardiac monitors in the Emergency Department, and upcoming building modernizations are among the upgrades. Services continue to improve for the people MRMC cares for across their whole lifetime.

MRMC also can tap into Benefis Human Resources and IT departments for support.

“We saw through COVID that you need the big-city support. We’ve been able to keep our small-town feel but have the support of Benefis, and people realize it’s good for Fort Benton,” Janice said.

“Our community has accepted it very well. We continue to support our local pharmacy, local businesses, and sponsorships,” she added. “Benefis saw the importance of that, too.”

Ann, who is a social worker at MRMC, remembers hearing concerns and questions, but MRMC leadership made a compelling case to the staff and community.

“We knew the real threat for rural healthcare facilities, which are closing all over Montana. With Benefis, there are benefits including efficient and economical purchasing of supplies, which is huge,” Ann said. “Benefis helps with adequate staffing as well, which is so important. And again, we feel more connected through coordinated services.”

Ann said the first changes were more training opportunities for employees to boost their skills, along with some changes in duties and staff. The MRMC entry-level wage also increased $5-$7.

MRMC upgraded to Epic as the electronic medical record system this spring with the rest of Benefis, which has required some new skills. It’s been a challenge, but also an advance in care coordination, especially for long-term care patients coming back from specialists and in emergency situations. No longer are faxes or pieces of paper sent back and forth. Patients also have benefited from the MyChart app and the ability to access results.

“Certainly, I noticed an increase in coordination of care,” Ann said. “Patients benefit from that coordination and skilled care in a personal and compassionate way.”

MRMC remains a hometown, caring place to work, Ann said.

“It’s a pleasure to come together as a team with all the dedicated and skilled staff who are employed at this facility.”