Kalispell Regional Healthcare

Last week, several Montana hospitals were graded on patient outcomes and safety measures by the nonprofit group Leapfrog. Most hospitals scored well, but other Leapfrog grades show room for improvement.

Kalispell Regional Healthcare has agreed to pay $4.2 million in a settlement with patients affected by a 2019 data breach of medical records. The settlement could assist up to roughly 130,000 people who had their personal information stolen.

Starting Jan. 1, Kalispell Regional Healthcare (KRH) will begin operating under the name Logan Health. The hospital system has been expanding beyond the Flathead Valley, acquiring medical facilities in the Shelby area and has plans to take over other facilities near the Rocky Mountain Front.

Montana’s rural critical access hospitals are struggling as COVID-19 patients fill beds and strain staffing resources. Larger hospitals are at times unable to take patients.

As COVID-19 cases across the state surge, the number of available hospital beds for COVID and other patients is quickly becoming a concern. But a shortage of health care workers to staff and watch over patients in those beds is already a problem in some areas of the state.

Kalispell Regional Healthcare is expected to acquire the Marias Medical Center and other facilities in the Shelby area. Toole County commissioners voted to accept a multi-million-dollar deal late last month.

On Monday, Montana reported a total of 919 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 56 new cases since Sunday. That’s the biggest one-day spike since the pandemic started in March.

This spike has prompted some hospitals to tighten visitor guidelines.

Some hospitals and medical facilities in Montana are beginning to again provide elective surgeries and procedures.

Kalispell Regional Healthcare (KRH) started its phased-approach to providing in-person services Monday. KRH is starting with in-person medical services not requiring anesthesia at various locations.