October 16, 2019

Pondera Medical Center was recognized with the Cardiac Recognition Award at the Montana Hospital Association’s annual meeting in Billings on September 19th.  The Cardiac Recognition Award is sponsored by the Cardiovascular Health Program within the state health department. The Recognition Award singles out Critical Access Hospitals who demonstrate that they have the infrastructure and commitment to provide high quality care for patients with acute coronary syndrome, which includes heart attack.   Receiving the Cardiac Recognition confirms Pondera Medical Center meets high standards related to the utilization of evidence-based cardiac order-sets and protocols, provides laboratory services 24/7, has a well thought out transfer protocol and has administrative commitment to treating heart attack patients. 

This is the 9th year that the Cardiac Recognition Award was presented, and Pondera Medical Center is one of 21 Critical Access Hospitals to qualify for the award.  Requirements for the recognition include tracking and reporting key cardiac outcomes, using outcomes data to initiate quality improvement activities and coordinating regular healthcare provider cardiac trainings.

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.”

September 27, 2019

Pondera Medical Center is pleased to announce that we have teamed up with the Montana Health Network and Northeast Montana AHEC; and we are now offering Online CNA classes! The online course work will be paired with clinical study and testing at PMC. Certified Nurses Aids play a key role in the care we provide our residents in our Award-Winning, 5-star rated Long Term Care Facility. If you are ready to start your career in the gratifying role as a Certified Nursing Assistant, please contact Jenny Broesder at Pondera Medical Center to learn more and schedule clinical at PMC.

October 09, 2019

The Pondera Medical Center Annual Health Fair and Flu Shot Clinic will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2019, from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 416 S. Kansas in Conrad. The Health Fair is hosted by PMC and admission is free.  Everyone is welcome to attend!

Lab and PSA screens are available during the Health Fair between the hours of 7:00 am and 12:00 pm and on site at Pondera Medical Center from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.  Costs for the Lab health and PSA screens are $50 each. Flu shots are available from 7:00-1:00 pm and cost $40 each.  PMC cannot bill for these services during the health fair, so payment for lab draws and/or vaccinations must be made at the time of registration.  If requested, and for your convenience, PMC will provide you with the necessary information to send to your insurance company.  *Insurance Claim Exception: PMC may bill Medicare for your flu shot upon request only, however, you must bring your Medicare Standard card and you must have Part B in order for PMC to bill Medicare on your behalf.

August 20, 2019

At Pondera Medical Center, we like to believe there is a magic to what we do. The opportunity to serve our beloved small towns with top quality care for the entire family is coupled with the extra benefit of bringing compassion to their health. Working at a Critical Access Hospital or a Rural Health Clinic usually means that you are first and foremost, a resident of the area and you have a vested interest in the healthcare services and wellness of where you live. Pondera Medical Center is fortunate to be the largest employer in Pondera County with over 200 full-time and part-time employees, and additional work-when-needed employees and many volunteers. We feel grateful that in our mission to exceed the healthcare expectation of those we serve in all of life’s stages, there are nearly 300 Pondera County citizens working together towards that goal, for their friends and neighbors.

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In our line of work, we watch our local youth grow up, start families and careers, and navigate life. We cheer for all of them. And occasionally, some of them choose to join the magic.

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It is our great pleasure to announce Heather Johns, D-NP, to the PMC Rural Health Clinic as our newest Family Medicine Provider.  Heather (Newmiller) Johns graduated from Conrad High School in 2008 before completing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at Montana State University in 2013. To add to her impressive timeline of education and professional development, Heather graduated from Montana State University yet again in May 2019 with her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Pondera Medical Center could not be more excited that Heather has made the commitment to serve patients from her hometown hospital.

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PMC Administration shares: “This is what it’s all about. This is why we do what we do. Every day we work together to be the best that we can be for Valier, Conrad, Brady, the entire area we serve. To have Heather want to join our mission and vision is such an honor. This is the worthy journey, to serve the great people of Pondera County, and we are so happy to welcome Heather on board. Just the idea that she sees the potential to reach her goals and best serve her community through PMC speaks volumes about our facility. We are truly humbled.”

August 16, 2019

It's a joyous day at Pondera Medical Center and one that we are proud to share with our patients, residents and community.

A successful Golf Tournament in June allowed us to reach our goals and purchase three high-priority items deemed most the most prudent needs of our patient population. The carefully chosen equipment is: A 3-section Bariatric Adjustable Bed, Bariatric high-low Treatment Table and Adjustable Parallel Bars. We are so proud to announce that the equipment has arrived, been installed and is in full use by the Rehab Services Team!

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Stephanie Keil-Harris is a Speech-Language Pathologist and the Director of Rehab Services at Pondera Medical Center and she shares: "Oh, it's amazing. Our department was already so solid, and now to have this top-of-the-line equipment.. it's just mind blowing. We can literally treat anyone who walks in our door, very comfortably and with the ease of adjustable equipment. The bars even adjust. The equipment is used all day,everyday. I really feel like our department compares or exceeds any in the state. We are so lucky and grateful!"

August 07, 2019

Erin Knepple is the newest resident of Pondera County; and off to the races at Pondera Medical Center. Erin joins our team as our new Registered Dietician and will oversee all aspects of nutrition at Pondera Medical Center.

Erin comes to us from Columbia City, Indiana; and recently graduated with her RDN from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Erin chuckles when she says she grew up in a small town and says with a smile: “Or what I used to think was a small town!” After spending a summer working at Yellowstone and spending time in the Bozeman area, Erin made up her mind that someday she was going to live in Montana; and that dream has become reality for the “small town” girl from Indiana. She enjoys hiking and biking and being outdoors and fully intends to take advantage of the area. Less than a month into her time in Montana, she has already made use of weekends and evenings by hiking to Hidden Lake with PMC Wellness her first weekend in Conrad, hiking in Glacier Park, and biking all through Conrad and surrounding towns. Erin says everyone has been very friendly and welcoming.

July 22, 2019

Pondera Medical Center is proud to announce the certification of our Cardiac rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This certification is recognition of Pondera Medical Center’s commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g., heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery) and pulmonary problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], respiratory symptoms) recover faster and live healthier.  Both programs include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families. Completing a cardiac rehabilitation program reduces the risk of a second event by 30% and reduces the risk of mortality by 60%.

At Pondera Medical Center, we are very proud of our Cardiac Rehab program and the extensive work that Jenny Broesder, RN & Program Manager has done to make the department a tremendous success and an invaluable tool for our area communities. When asked about what it means to service Conrad & the surrounding areas, home to Jenny since she was 9, she says: “Serving the patients of Pondera County means a great deal to me.....

July 08, 2019

Sleep Medicine services at Pondera Medical Center took an important step last week to being an accredited Sleep Study Provider by the State of Montana. Accreditation is valuable for a sleep medicine program because it allows for Medicare to be billed; but the process also vouches for the standard of the services patients receive. Setting a goal to receive accreditation highlights the drive and passion behind PMC’s mission to always exceed the healthcare expectation.

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CJ Rauscher is a Registered Respiratory Therapist and the Respiratory Department Manager at Pondera Medical Center. She has played a key role in getting the program ready for accreditation status. Since going full-time in May 2018, CJ has done a tremendous amount of work and used her skills and experience to prepare sleep medicine for referrals and to start taking on new patients. Regarding sleep and the importance of offering sleep studies and sleep medicine to our patient community, CJ says: “We really don’t give sleep the credit it deserves. Inadequate sleep can cause a long list of short and long-term quality of life problems. Often, people will recognize their symptoms but don’t consider sleep conditions at the root. If your body is deprived of oxygen or you are not hitting REM, it can lead to fatigue and trouble focusing and depression; but also very serious risks such as heart attack and stroke.”