November 20, 2020

To My Patients,

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It has been my pleasure and the privilege to serve you at PMC. I have received an offer of employment with the Fairbanks Clinic in Alaska and I have accepted. My last day at PMC will be Dec 14th. I encourage you to establish care with one of the many fine health care professionals at PMC. They work tirelessly to serve you and I am confident they will provide you with the highest level of care possible. Please call 406-271-3231 to schedule your appointment today.

V/R

Aaron Dahle MPAS, PA-C, MLS (ASCP)CM

Acute care/Family practice

November 10, 2020

​As healthcare workers, it is our job to heal injury and illness. That’s what unites us... the all-encompassing fight against disease and damage. We are patient advocates and we believe it is our job to advocate for your overall wellness: mental, physical, and emotional. Our patients aren’t just those who receive our services or schedule their appointments with us. Our patients are the ones filling the community we live in and love, our friends, neighbors, and family.

November 04, 2020

The COVID pandemic brought about rapid, unanticipated change for all of us. The joy of the freedoms we take advantage of every day is now challenged. “How do we move forward and put this behind us?” are questions on everyone’s mind. I hate to say it but we are only in the early innings of a long game to play. This virus is not going away anytime soon and the recent statistics are overwhelming. Currently, just in Pondera County alone, our rate of infection per 100,000 people is 10X higher than in Los Angeles and New York City. We can do better than this!

August 04, 2020

COVID-19 activity in and around Pondera County has risen. Our cases have increased to a level that currently requires masking, per orders from Governor Bullock. Montana, in general, has seen a surge in cases and a surge in hospitalizations, even as many as 224 new cases in one day. A spread was to be expected as we reopened, although maybe not to this extent. Moving forward, the outlook for Pondera County can best be determined by how we proceed as individuals working towards a team goal.

July 10, 2020

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC and other organizations, including PMC, recommend that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. “Some places you go, it’s hard to social distance, and that’s where a mask can be beneficial to a community. Some essential workers are in constant contact with people which really puts them at risk. We can support them by wearing masks in their place of work. If you need a mask, call us.” This recommendation is called source control and is based on what we know about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence that shows cloth face coverings reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.

June 04, 2020

Pondera Medical Center is excited for Phase 2 of Reopening. Many of our services are functioning quite normally. PMC Clinic has restored the front entrance for all patients. We have been happy to see so many people utilizing our facility for lab work and radiology exams. Our Rehab department is again accepting appointments and thrilled for an increasingly busy schedule. Cardio-Pulmonary Rehab is back on track in the Wellness Center.  While we are happy to move forward, some caution is still in order and remains in effect.

June 03, 2020

Pondera Medical Center has won a silver Aster Award for the category of single entry billboard. The billboard was ranked in the top 12% in the nation for hospitals of similar size. The billboard was featured on Main Street in Conrad, through a contract with Lamar Advertising.

The Aster Awards, one of the largest and most respected national competitions of its kind, is hosted by Creative Images, Inc. This elite program has recognized outstanding healthcare professionals for excellence in their advertising/marketing efforts for over 19 years.

The 2020 Aster Awards received entries from across the entire United States. All entries are reviewed by a panel of industry experts and are scored on multiple criteria with a possibility of 100 percent. Participant’s entries compete against similar-sized organizations in their specific groups and categories.

April 07, 2020

Pondera Medical Center has implemented screening protocols, designated reserved parking and added exam space at our facility to further our efforts to protect those we serve.

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We have reserved three parking spots in front of our Emergency Department, marked with signs designating parking areas for “Designated Patient #1.” “Designated Patient #2,” and “Designated Patient #3.” We are using these parking spots for anyone that has called ahead to our facility. The caller will be directed where to park and a nurse will meet them at their car, perform a screening, and provide masking. This protocol applies to all patients, including but not limited to potential COVID-19 cases.

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Our facility has secured a trailer from Pondera County Emergency Response. The silver trailer is located in front of our Emergency Department and will be utilized as an exam space for clinic and hospital respiratory patients.

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PMC continues to take precautions to protect all of our residents, patients, staff and community. We ask patients to please call ahead, if possible, to be directed. All patients will be met at the door or in their vehicle for further direction and screening.

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A very important reminder for all PMC entries is to call first. If you are having mild symptoms including fever, cough or sore throat especially when combined with any travel history, we encourage you to call the Pondera County Health Department for further instructions regarding remaining at home or, if deemed necessary, to arrange for testing. Our healthcare providers are working closely with the health department to ensure appropriate management of cases which could potentially be related to COVID-19. If you need to see a clinic provider 8-5 Monday-Friday, please call first at 406-271-3231 so you may be screened and instructed regarding your visit and how to enter the Clinic Area.  If you are having more severe symptoms and feel you need to utilize Emergency Room Services, please call first 406-271-3211 (Hospital Main Line for emergency services including after hours and weekends) to assure the most expedient service possible. Additionally, at this time, Pondera Medical Center is not allowing visitors in the facility including the Emergency Room. In cases where you are the primary care provider for a minor, one attendant only will be allowed.  Also, those needing to call 911 emergently will be screened by dispatchers so ambulance personnel may utilize the appropriate PPE for response.  

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time. We support this community because we are this community.

April 06, 2020

PMC would like to update our community on the restrictions we have implemented and steps we are taking to plan for, and help, contain the spread of COVID-19 in the event that it reaches Pondera County.  We are working closely with federal, state and local officials everyday to monitor and address the situation. As of April 6th, there are zero conformed cases in Pondera County.

January 01, 2020

New Years Eve is time of reflection, resolution and celebration. We gather to recognize the year’s accomplishments and set our visions to make the next 12 months “the best year yet.”

However, New Years also is glowing reminder of the upcoming year we will face without loved ones we’ve lost. The occasion spotlights tragedies and heartbreak that we’ve experiences since last December 31st. Empty seats at our New Years dinner… Christmas presents that sat unopened… Birthday parties without a cake, or guests, or song…

We challenge you to begin 2020 with, arguably, the most important resolution you can commit to: Don’t let your family get “the call.” We all know what call that is.

December 24, 2019

The next three year cycle of the Community Health Needs Assessment has been approved by the PMC Board of Directors and is available to view on our website! Link is at the bottom of this page or by visiting www.ponderamedical.org/chna

December 17, 2019

Winners of the Annual CEO Awards and Archie Breding Award were announced Friday night at the PMC Christmas Party.

Congratulations to the CEO Employee of the Year, Anna McIntyre. Anna’s nominations were very touching and heartfelt; and spoke to her patience and kindness as well as her willingness to work very hard to ensure that we all get paid in a timely manner.

Our Laboratory Department was the CEO Department of the Year winner! The Lab, under the leadership of Barb Meuli, does extraordinary work, 24/7, ensuring respect, privacy and transparency for every patient. We are grateful for their professionalism and dedication to PMC.

The winner of the Archie Breding Award, given to a CNA every year for their dedication to ECF, as well as their team building skills, was Penny Smith! Please join us in congratulating Penny!

Hats off to this year's winners, as well as our entire team, for another great year at Pondera Medical Center! Thank you for all you do for our facility and community.

November 21, 2019

Dr. Jay Taylor, MD and Chief of Staff at Pondera Medical Center, has been awarded the Frank Newman Rural Clinician Leadership Award for National Rural Health Day, 2019! We are so proud to share the news of Dr. Taylor’s most-deserved recognition with our entire PMC Team and our community.

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To learn more about the Dr. Frank Newman Rural Health Award Winners and to read the nomination in its entirety please visit: http://healthinfo.montana.edu/happynationalruralhealthday.html

Please join us in congratulating PMC’s own Dr. Jay Taylor, this year’s Frank Newman Rural Clinician Leadership Award recipient. It is truly a pleasure to work with an individual of this caliber; and we are grateful to have Dr. Taylor at Pondera Medical Center!

October 10, 2019

What was a beautiful tribute to his late wife Margaret Sill, on Tuesday, September 24th, Pondera Medical Center accepted a check for $50,000.00 from Walter Sill of Valier, MT.  Philosophical regarding his generous donation, Walter shared: “This hospital and extended care have helped me through some difficult times. It helped my wife in her hardest times, and I will most likely need it in the future. Margaret wanted to leave a donation that would help the hospital improve care for patients and make things better for nurses.”