Sidney Health Center Year In Review

Sidney, MT - In 2021, Sidney Health Center accomplished great things as it adjusted to a "new" normal with record-high patient volumes in the clinic, ER and hospital. Despite many challenges, there were several reasons to celebrate throughout the year.

The organization kicked off 2021 celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the Cancer Care radiation therapy services. In 2011, Sidney Health Center expanded its outpatient cancer services to include radiation therapy when it opened Phase I of the Cancer Care suite with the installation of a TomoTherapy Hi-Art radiation system. This was the first of its kind in Montana and has proved to be a vital and necessary service in the MonDak region – treating 600 area cancer patients in its tenure.

Recruitment efforts continued with the addition of four physicians and two physician assistants, bringing the total to 45 members on the medical staff. Among the new recruits included Dr. Eric English in the ER, Dr. Andrew Roberts as a hospitalist, Dr. Peter Deveaux in general surgery, and Dr. Rouba Hadi for pathology support. In addition, physician assistants Joan Turek and Adrianne Bryant were hired to improve access to care through the Primary Care and Same-Day Clinics.

New services included the addition of aquatic therapy and the joint venture with fAIRMED, a critical transport company, to bring an affordable air ambulance service to residents living the MonDak region.

In July, the Rehabilitation Services started offering aquatic therapy with the installation of a 15' x 15' Endless Pool. The pool was installed through a collaborative effort between Rehab Services and HealthWorks, where the pool is located. Funding for the $400,000 pool project was provided through designated funds from Sidney Health Center, grant funds from the Foundation for Community Care, and a healthy donation from the Good Cents Store.

In October, Sidney Health Center's Care Flight service hit the skies, offering high quality, affordable, air medical transportation for patients requiring emergent or urgent medical care that is not provided locally. To date, the service has flown 35 patients to regional destinations including Billings, Great Falls, Bismarck, and Fargo. Of those transports, Care Flight has assisted area facilities including Baker, Ekalaka, Glendive, Lewistown, Malta, Miles City, Plentywood and Poplar. Through donations from the Foundation for Community Care and Richland County, Sidney Health Center was able to secure $2.9 million in funding to purchase a plane for the air ambulance service.

And last but not least, the organization made great strides to address the impacts of COVID-19 in the community. Sidney Health Center expanded its Same-Day Clinic providers, implemented COVID-19 drive-thru testing for symptomatic individuals and set-up an outpatient monoclonal IV therapy unit to reduce hospitalizations and non-emergent visits to the Emergency Room. Additional efforts were made to expand access to COVID-19 vaccinations for employees, patients and residents.

Since the onset of the pandemic, one of the main concerns has been the health and well-being the workforce and the community. It's been a full year since Sidney Health Center received the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines and administered the initial doses of the Moderna vaccine. Since then, a lot of work has been done to protect the health of the workforce, long-term care residents and the patients through the continued use of PPE, screening, testing, and vaccination.

Through it all, Sidney Health Center's mission remains the same, which is to help you achieve your highest level of health and well-being.