X-Rays Not Available until Spring, Art Decorates Hallways

Seeley-Swan Hospital District

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley-Swan Hospital District Board met for their monthly meeting, Jan. 11. Currently the Seeley-Swan Medical Center is without x-ray capabilities due to a shortage of trained technicians to run the machine. The clinic has also been decorated with artwork from six different Alpine Artisans, Inc. (AAI) artists.

Partnership Health Center (PHC) Director of Innovation Mary Jane Nealon informed the board that the Medical Center will be unable to offer x-rays until later this spring. When Cindy Lewis retired, PHC sent another staff member through the training for the limited x-ray license. While the individual finished the course work and was nearly ready to step into the role, they took another position in Missoula and no longer work at the Medical Center.

Nealon said that additional staff are being sent to the training scheduled for March. It will take another month or two following the training to complete requirements to be licensed to run the machine.

“We thought we did the right thing but it didn’t work out,” said Nealon. “PHC is very sorry. We didn’t want this to happen.”

Thanks to the help of AAI members Juan and Randi de Santa Anna and board member Rachel Harman, six artists now have their work displayed throughout the clinic. The board approved permanent framing for artwork to be hung on the ceiling in the dental area. They are also considering AAI’s suggestion for a shelf and TV in the reception area so artists can provide photographs of their work as a looping film.

In other business:

• The board approved Nealon’s request to add backs to the stools at the kid’s game table as a safety measure.

• A communications committee has been established with representatives from the Seeley-Swan Medical Center Foundation, the board and PHC. The purpose of the communications committee is to provide a venue to keep everyone up-to-date with the various partners, address issues and concerns and strengthen the partnerships. It is advisory only.

• Discussions about senior housing are continuing. The Seeley-Swan Medical Center Foundation is meeting with the CEO of Pacific West Community, Inc., another senior housing developer, that owns a lot next to the Medical Center.

• There are two open positions on the hospital district board. Incumbents Walt Hill, three-year term, and John Addis, one-year term, will be running again. Anyone interested in serving on the board is asked to contact Board Chair Twyla Johnson, PO Box 1186, Seeley Lake or Clerk Marty Kux, 406-754-2529. The deadline to apply is Feb. 8.

The next hospital district board meeting will be held Feb. 8 at 5 p.m. at the Seeley-Swan Medical Center. The public is invited to attend.

 

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