By Michael Howell
Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital CEO John Bartos and Chief of Medical Staff Dr. Jennifer Feighner cut the ribbon last week at the grand opening of Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital’s new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit.
It all began with a bake sale held by the nurses working in the old ICU. The other hospital employees soon joined the effort, raising over $300,000, and eventually the whole community kicked in and a whopping $2.2 million has been raised to date.
Anyone who was familiar with the old Intensive Care Unit cannot help but be in awe at the newly dedicated facility. It is awesome! Not only does it increase the bed capacity from three to five, and increase the square footage from 492 square feet to 9,470 square feet, it increases the quality of patient care beyond measure. Even a skilled reporter finds it difficult to accurately express the magnitude of the accomplishment.
The improvements cannot be measured in floor space alone, but more floor space means a lot. When a patient is in intensive care the family needs to be there. They need room to attend. The nurses and doctors need room to move around. The size of the space matters and the new rooms are very accommodating.
If you weigh over 300 pounds, making it difficult to receive treatment, don’t worry, there is a room for you. If you are so weak that you might not be able to get in and out of bed, don’t worry, there is a bed for you. The special equipment that addresses these patient issues also addresses the safety and health of the staff.
Need a ventilator? In the past, if a patient needed a ventilation machine they were either driven in an ambulance or Life-flighted to Missoula. No more. The latest of ventilators is now ready and waiting at the ICU in Hamilton. There is also a computer station in each room where any nurse or doctor present can examine the patient’s medical record on the spot to aid in diagnosing and treating the patient. Marcus Daly Hospital was the first hospital in the state to digitize its records.
Dr. Don Lodmell, Chairman of the Hospital Board, called CEO John Bartos a “man of vision” and recounted a litany of improvements that Bartos helped usher in during his tenure at the helm as the hospital grew from a 50,000 square foot facility to a 250,000 square foot facility. An Administration wing, Transitional Care Unit, and Hospice unit were added. In 2003, the surgery department was expanded and renovated. Then came the new Emergency Room and new Rehabilitation Center.
In that time, the number of physicians also grew from 14 to 49 and the current number of total employees is about 500, making it one of the largest employers in the Bitterroot Valley.
The hospital has also acquired some of the most advanced, state-of-the-art equipment and technology.
Lodmell said the reality is, “If we don’t keep up to speed, we won’t be here anymore.”
“As you tour the facility,” said Lodmell, “think of the patients that will be in the ICU that are experiencing pain, fear and anxiety. In the ICU, their pain and suffering will be eased, they will be healed, their lives will be saved.” He noted that the next person to need the ICU “could be a friend, a spouse, a child, or it could be you.”
Dr. Jennifer Feighner, chief of the hospital’s medical staff, moved to Hamilton five years ago from a very large hospital in Portland.
“Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital is a truly special place in a special community,” said Feighner. “A place like this is truly unique in the world. We have an excellent small hospital, surrounded by a beautiful location and a wonderful, supportive community. I am so pleased we can now offer this beautiful, modern, state-of-the-art facility for meeting the critical care needs of our patients.”
Dr. Feighner said later that she had worked in larger hospitals and was dissatisfied with the lack of personal connections with her patients. She took the job at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital looking for an opportunity to provide more personalized care and is pleased at what she found. Not only is the care very personalized with an administration dedicated to quality personalized health care but the quality of the equipment and technology available is also impressive.
“It stands up to almost any other hospital I have worked in,” said Feighner.
Daly Hospital Foundation Board president Bill Rummel noted that the hospital was a non-profit and had never asked the community for one nickel. But when the hospital had bumped up against the ceiling for borrowing money, it came to the Foundation Board for help and the community responded. The ICU Nurses bake sale netted $1,400. Then the employees of MDMH raised another $320,000, ten percent of the total amount of the project. The Auxiliary raised another $56,000. A concert featuring Huey Lewis at the Daly Mansion raised another $270,000. To date a whopping $2.2 million has been raised.
“But keep in mind, we’re still a million short,” said Rummel.
Sonny LaSalle, who co-chaired the Daly Hospital Foundation Steering Committee with his wife Judy, quoted soul singer James Brown, saying, “I feel good!” He said all this occurred with one goal in mind – a commitment to patients.
“Patient welfare, patient safety and quality of care for the residents of the valley that use this hospital were driving these efforts,” said LaSalle. “Quality, accessible, personalized health care – all the decisions went through our motto because we are patient centered.”
After the ribbon cutting the public got a chance to tour the new facility which includes the five patient rooms, the nurse’s station which includes supporting work stations, the hospitalist’s quarters, the consultation room and the family waiting room.