Seven Communities Unite to Make a Commitment to Care
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Anyone recently making a phone call to the Sweet Medical Center has probably been greeted with a "Hello, this is One Health; how may I assist you?" No, the caller hasn't dialed the wrong number. As of December 1, 2020, the health centers from seven communities have been operating under the new name of One Health. Those communities include Chinook and Harlem.
Bighorn Valley Health Center (BVHC) in Hardin and Ashland, One Health in Miles City and Glendive, Central Montana Community Health Center in Lewistown, and Sweet Medical Center in Chinook and Harlem have solidified their partnership through a new name - One Health. The organization's motto is Caring for our communities, one person at a time.
BVHC in Hardin originally merged with Ashland in 2015. One Health in Miles City merged with BVHC in early 2018, while Sweet Medical Center and Central Montana Community Health Center in Lewistown joined the family of community health centers in late 2018. Throughout the merger process, locations have operated under the same legal name while maintaining their original names and logos. That changed as of December 1, 2020.
According to the CEO of One Health, Dr. David Mark, "We've combined forces to better serve you and your neighbors throughout central and eastern Montana. Our family of community health centers have been a unified organization focused on a single vision and mission for just over two years. We will continue to provide patients with the same access to the high-quality health and wellness services they've come to expect under the new name of One Health."
Mark, who has served as CEO of BVHC since 2011, went on to explain that the name One Health incorporates the strengths of each location in order to benefit patients, clients, staff, and the communities served. All centers will retain the same locations, continue to offer all existing programs and services and, with one another's help, provide additional options to individualize patient care.
Nora Conner, Community Health Advocate at One Health-Sweet in Chinook reported that she thought the name change had already been made public. She explained that while they are One Health now, they are One Health-Sweet.
"The other six communities are One Health followed by their location, like One Health-Hardin, but after we spoke with our Board, they determined that One Health-Chinook or One Health-Harlem isn't how they wanted to be branded because of the building's history, Lloyd D. Sweet's legacy, and the importance of the Sweet name to this area."
Conner went on to say that the name change should have no negative impacts on patient care. In fact, patients choosing to receive their care with One Health will have access to a wider range of integrated services. One of those services is telehealth offered through Tytocare. Telehealth is the use of electronic information and technology to support long-distance health care.
TytoCare provides clinics with an easy, convenient way to give their patients access to quality medical care anywhere.
Through the TytoCare app, patients can have a live video visit with their provider from their workplace, at home, or on the road.
In a press release dated November 30, 2020, Kent Doughty, CHCEF
Vice President of Development shared this information: "Our patients will benefit from advances in team-based care and ongoing education with easy to use tools and resources that allow individuals to take ownership of their own health. We are proud to offer ALL of our services across Montana - keeping people closer to where they live and work!"
These are some of the members in the One Health--Sweet family. Back Row: Danielle Dunn, Patient In-take Coordinator; Nora Conner, Community Health Advocate; and Robert Kelley, Medical Assistant. Front: Jennifer Hellman, In-Take Coordinator
The press release goes on to explain why these mergers occurred. "These partnerships created a single, regional organization that improves patient care and health outcomes through increased access to care and services. It positions the organization to meet the demands of a rapidly changing health care system while bringing operational efficiencies. These partnerships boost the health centers' ability to meet the challenges of patient care while expanding access to integrated primary, behavioral, oral health care and pharmacy; substance misuse services; public health and wellness programs; and parenting and family support."
Merging is not the result of any financial difficulties. Doughty stated that "all locations are financially strong; this merger and rebranding isn't driven by a need to consolidate services, cut costs or reduce staffing levels."
In addition to Mark's leadership, a Board of Directors provides oversight to One Health. Having between 9-15 members, the board is comprised of individuals who represent the communities where clinics are located (Hardin, Ashland, Miles City, Glendive, Lewistown, Chinook, and Harlem) and their surrounding areas.
Anyone seeking additional information can visit the community health centers' website, chcfamily.org.
