Hospital Corner: Reflecting on highlights from 2023

There is much to look back on in 2023 here at Logan Health – Whitefish. We are a Critical Access Hospital open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, meaning every moment of the entire year we are caring for patients and their families.  As Whitefish and its surrounding communities grow, our caregivers continue to step it up to meet their healthcare needs. Last year was the busiest ever, and we excelled in what we do best — delivering high-quality, person-centered care.  

In 2023 the Emergency Department and Surgical Services both broke records for patient visits and surgical procedures. We also reset the bar for the number of lab tests and imaging visits. With increased demand, infusion therapy expanded their services adding appointments on the weekend. Our cardiopulmonary therapy rehabilitation also saw more patients than ever before. 

Most impressive is the fact that with these increased volumes our staff and employees worked hard to maintain our high quality of patient-centered care. For the first time in its history, Logan Health – Whitefish received a 5-star overall rating, the highest designation available for hospitals from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This honor is in addition to being named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health for the fourth consecutive year. 

Some of the other highlights from 2023 include:

In January, the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce presented its prestigious “Great Whitefish Award” to Logan Health – Whitefish along with other local emergency providers, for “outstanding service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

In May we opened an Outpatient Laboratory in the Medical Village south of the hospital to better serve patients requiring routine tests.

This summer Logan Health Behavioral Health – Whitefish added a second transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) system for treatment of depression. The clinic, located in the Medical Village south of the hospital also added two new providers this fall Ruth Myers, MD and Jennifer Lewis, a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

The Birth Center was redesignated as a Baby Friendly Hospital, one of eight hospitals in Montana and one of 602 hospitals in the U.S. to hold this designation. The Emergency Department received the Cardiac Recognition Award and the Stroke Recognition Award. These awards recognize critical access hospitals that have gone the extra mile in treating heart attack and stroke patients.

In November, Logan Health – Whitefish was among four of Logan Health’s hospitals to be recognized with a 2023 Performance Leadership Award for excellence by The Chartis Center for Rural Health. Logan Health – Whitefish received its honor for top quartile performances (75th percentile or above) among rural hospitals in the “Patient Perspective” category. 

Looking into the coming year, the newly designed website logan.org will better connect our community beyond Whitefish to the services, providers, and locations throughout the Logan Health family. Users can learn the latest news and community resources available at Logan Health, and you can still pay your hospital bill at logan.com/whitefish.  

In 2024, we look forward to continue serving as the center of healing for Whitefish and its surrounding communities.

Riley Polumbus writes the monthly Hospital Corner column for the Whitefish Pilot and manages community relations for Logan Health – Whitefish at rpolumbus@logan.org.