COVID-19 Shapes the Future of Telehealth
Before the coronavirus pandemic began limiting nonemergency hospital visits all over the country in March, Virtual Health Manager Nicki Perisho says Kalispell Regional Healthcare (KRH) was conducting an average of 20 telehealth visits a month. But once the stay-at-home order went into effect, telehealth appointments multiplied to almost 500 per day. While the high volume of virtual visits scaled back to about 150 per day by early July, Perisho says the pandemic has paved the way for telehealth’s future and patients and providers are now recognizing its convenience and effectiveness. While many patients are still anxious about coronavirus exposure in
Community marks ground breaking for new Missoula VA clinic
MISSOULA — Montana has one of the highest populations of veterans in the country and Missoula will soon be home to a new veterans health care center. Community members and politicians all came together on Friday to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new VA clinic which aims to bring healthcare to more Montana veterans. The new clinic will sit on an eight-acre lot on West Broadway in Missoula and will be 60,000 square feet. The facility is named after WWII veteran David J. Thatcher who volunteered to participate in the Doolittle Raid following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thatcher’s son-in-law
Daines Announces Nearly $14 Million in Additional Relief Payments to Rural Hospitals, Healthcare Providers Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be directing $13,866,039 to healthcare providers in Montana, including those serving rural communities. “This major funding will support our providers that are on the frontlines of this pandemic and serving our rural communities,” Daines said. “It is important we continue working to ensure Montana’s healthcare providers, including those facing financial devastation caused by the pandemic, receive the assistance they need as we begin safely reopening our economy.” Daines fought to secure this critical funding through the bipartisan CARES Act and the
Working to ban funding for cities/states allowing anarchy in their streets
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, R-Montana, this week sponsored the “Ending Taxpayer Funding of Anarchy Act,” which would restrict federal funding to cities and states that allow “anarchist jurisdictions” when local or city governments give up their duty to protect its citizens from non-governmental actors and protesters and no longer provide police, fire or emergency medical services. “We cannot let mob rule dominate our cities and communities,” Daines said. “Our tax dollars should go towards restoring public safety, not enabling chaos and destruction.” This legislation follows the shooting and killing of a 16 year old minor in the Seattle anarchist jurisdiction,
David J. Thatcher VA Clinic Groundbreaking in Missoula
Two thirds of Montana’s Congressional delegation, along with the Lieutenant Governor were all in Missoula on Friday for the groundbreaking ceremony of the David J. Thatcher VA Clinic on West Broadway near the Missoula International Airport. Dr. Judy Haman is the Executive Director of the VA Montana Healthcare System. Dr. Haman said this clinic will offer state of the art care for Western Montana’s veterans. “We’re very excited to announce our new, expanded David J. Thatcher VA Clinic,” said Dr. Haman. “It’s going to be state of the art, technologically savvy, with more space for our wonderful staff and it
Tillis, Daines bill aims to create more effective federal regulation process
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Steve Daines (R-MT) on July 2 introduced a bill that would streamline regulations for federal government agencies. “While some regulation is necessary, there is too much red tape that is outdated, redundant and irrelevant to the task at hand,” Sen. Tillis said. “This bill will create a more conducive environment for small businesses, companies and organizations across the country to succeed by streamlining agencies and organizing a more effective process.” Sens. Tillis and Daines are original cosponsors of the Unnecessary Agency Regulations Reduction Act, S. 4196, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) to
VA Breaks Ground On Missoula Veterans Clinic
Critics have complained that Western Montana’s veterans have had to make do with an undersized clinic, but that’s about to change. Friday in Missoula was the groundbreaking for a vastly updated outpatient veteran’s clinic in Missoula. At over 52,000 energy efficient square feet, Missoula’s brand-new VA facility will be a much larger upgrade over the existing Community Based Outpatient Clinic, or CBOC. The new David J. Thatcher VA Clinic, named for the decorated Montanan who participated in the 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan, will have 154 percent more space than the existing clinic. When it opens late next year, the
Groundbreaking ceremony held for new V.A. clinic in Missoula
MISSOULA — A crowd gathered on Friday to celebrate the start of construction on the new David J. Thatcher Veterans Affairs clinic. The event brought together Montana’s U.S. senators, veterans, the Salish-Kootenai tribe and more. The facility will be 60,000 square feet, covering eight acres. That’s about a 40,000 square foot increase from the current clinic. The $48 million dollar clinic is named after Montana veteran, David J. Thatcher, who received the silver star for his service in the Doolittle Raid. The facility will have tele-medicine technology. Health care professionals will be able to treat patients virtually, who are unable
Groundbreaking on VA’s new Missoula clinic one step closer to “the care vets deserve”
Service veterans across western Montana will say goodbye to the cramped confines of the Department of Veterans Affairs current Missoula medical clinic next winter when a new integrated care center opens on West Broadway. VA officials joined veterans, Native Americans and members of Montana’s congressional delegation on Friday to break ground on that new $31 million facility, which will double the size of the antiquated clinic off Palmer Street. “Today marks our first next step forward for Montana veterans, both those with us today and future veterans,” said Dr. Judy Hayman, director of the VA Montana Healthcare System. “This new