September 30, 2019
Regional leaders Bozeman Health and St. Peter’s Health are proud to announce a new partnership and establishment of a joint operating agreement to develop a program for neonatal care and maternal-fetal medicine services that brings a higher level of care to families in Southwest Montana. Together, Bozeman Health and St. Peter’s will establish a center of excellence in Montana for neonatal care and maternal-fetal medicine services. The partnership is the first of several efforts to increase collaboration between independent community health systems and bring specialized care closer to home for Montana patients.
“Bozeman Health and St. Peter’s Health share a common vision to care for patients close to home and to keep them close to their families, friends, and support system,” shared Bozeman Health president and CEO John Hill. “We know that having a high-risk pregnancy, or delivering a baby that may need specialized care can turn what should be a joyous time into one that is stress-filled. It is our hope that this partnership and center of excellence will alleviate that stress for families and patients in and between Bozeman and Helena. Bozeman Health is proud to partner with St. Peter’s Health and to be regional leaders in women’s and children’s services.”
Families with high risk pregnancies that live in Helena can utilize technology during appointments with their OB/GYN or FPOB (Family Practice/Obstetrics) for telehealth consults with the maternal-fetal medicine physician in Bozeman. This collaboration between physicians provides comprehensive, coordinated care and allows families to stay close to home as long as possible. Helena-area families will have access to NICU care at Bozeman Health and post-discharge pediatric care will be coordinated back with community providers in Helena.
“Collaboration between health care institutions is the vision for the future, and this partnership will bring Montana’s leading specialists together with the latest in telemedicine technology to serve patients between Bozeman and Helena who are in need of these critical services,” said St. Peter’s Health CEO Wade Johnson.
In April 2018, Bozeman Health announced the addition of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) within its new women’s and children’s tower at Deaconess Hospital, which is currently planned to open in the fall of 2020. The NICU will open as a Level II NICU, meaning that most babies born as early as 32 weeks gestation can be cared for within the unit; it is anticipated that it will quickly transition to a Level III NICU, providing care for babies born as early as 28 weeks gestation. The addition of the NICU brings a neonatologist and maternal-fetal medicine physician to the Deaconess Hospital care team, and extends that expertise to St. Peter’s Health physicians.
Dr. Diane Warner, a board certified neonatologist with more than 20 years of experience, moved to Bozeman in February 2019 to become the NICU medical director at Deaconess Hospital. Maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Sina Haeri will care for expectant mothers who need an elevated level of care during their pregnancy and will see patients in clinic at Bozeman Health Women’s Specialists and via telehealth at St. Peter’s Health Regional Medical Center. Board certified in maternal-fetal medicine, Dr. Haeri will begin his practice in Bozeman in January 2020.
About Bozeman Health
Bozeman Health is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving an eight-county region in Southwest Montana. As a nonprofit organization, governed by a volunteer community board of directors, we are the largest private employer in Gallatin County, with more than 2,300 employees, including 250 medical providers representing 40 clinical specialties. It is our privilege to deliver expert, compassionate health and wellness services across the care continuum, designed to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the communities we serve. Learn more about Bozeman Health at BozemanHealth.org.
About St. Peter’s Health
St. Peter’s is a system of health care services including a 99-bed acute care hospital, physician clinics, cancer treatment center, 24-bed behavioral health unit, urgent care clinics, home health and hospice care, dialysis center, and ambulance services. St. Peter’s serves the Helena region and southwest Montana counties of Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, Jefferson, Meagher and Powell, with a combined population of approximately 97,000 residents. The mission of St. Peter’s is to partner with patients, the community and medical staff to provide exceptional and compassionate healthcare. For more information, visit sphealth.org.