Health

Health Care

The Flathead Valley is blessed with TWO ultra-modern medical campuses which both provide excellent patient care and the most recent medical technology with comfortable surroundings and excellent food!  With 2.5 physicians/1,000 residents Flathead County is ranked 3rd in the state for its physician to patient ratio.  Northwest Healthcare on the north side of Kalispell and North Valley Hospital in Whitefish both serve Flathead County and the surrounding environs.

Northwest Healthcare

Several generations of families from both sides of Montana’s Continental Divide have been receiving extraordinary healthcare in Kalispell for more than l00 years.  During that time, they have witnessed stunning growth in contemporary medicine ranging from the nation’s first rural helicopter to open heart surgery.  Currently 24 specialties, including 8 surgical disciplines, are practiced at the 298-bed campus of Northwest Healthcare which includes Kalispell Regional Medical Center, HealthCenter Northwest, Brenden House, Pathways and a host of other related organizations.

Locate on the north side of Kalispell; it is the hub for health care in the valley, offering high tech, state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical capabilities, cancer care and exceptional orthopedic care – facilities that are typically exclusive to larger urban areas, including:

• A comprehensive cancer treatment program, with the latest technology in radiation treatment
• An orthopedic center of excellence
• A neurosurgical program featuring some of the finest surgeons in the country
• A gynecological surgery program including advanced laparoscopic procedures pioneered by our own physicians
• A cardiac catheterization lab and heart surgery program
• A Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

The 258 member medical staff provides services to friends and families over an area equal to the size of three New England states. Several of these physicians provide specialty clinic services to other hospitals in Northwestern and Central Montana.  Because of the large area covered by Northwest Healthcare, A.L.E.R.T. II, a fixed wing aircraft, must be utilized for transfers to and from these areas when the rescue helicopter is in use.  During the busy summer, the A.L.E.R.T. helicopter is launched more than a 100 times during a peak month.

The healthcare spectrum at Northwest Healthcare ranges from high-level emergency rescue care to nationally recognized preventative medicine and wellness programs in the 110,000 square foot The Summit Medical Fitness Center offers a complete environment of fitness and rehabilitative services overseen by a medical advisory committee. Their purpose is to provide medically based and scientifically sound programs.  The Summit features a 25-yard, six lane multi-use pool and therapy pool, whirlpool spa, men’s and women’s locker rooms with their own steam rooms and saunas, family changing rooms, a cardiovascular mezzanine, climbing wall, regulation size gymnasium, four indoor tennis courts, three racquetball courts and a squash court, weight training area and complete physical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation departments, a child care center and after-school program.  A variety of membership options are available to the community.

North Valley Hospital

Located in Whitefish, North Valley Hospital is able to provide leading edge technology and the highest quality physicians, surgeons, nurses, technicians and support staff while being on the forefront of superior patient care. The imaging department is equipped with digital mammography, CAT Scan, MRI, Ultrasound and X-Ray. The three surgical suites provide equipment for general, gynecological, breast, urological, orthopedic, cosmetic, reconstructive and endoscopic surgeries. The Birth Center is the only location within several states that offers a water birth option, which is safe, effective in reducing pain during labor and more relaxing to mom and newborn.  North Valley Hospital has 25 in patient beds, in addition to the emergency department and Birth Center labor and exam rooms. Our hospital family continues to grow. We have 43 active physicians, 67 Courtesy and Consulting physicians and 30 Allied Health Professionals. Seven physicians are part of the Hospitalist program, which provides hospital-based medical care to patients while communicating with patients’ primary physicians while they’re in the hospital. North Valley Hospital is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit community-based critical access hospital and implemented the Planetree patient-centered care philosophy six years ago.

Fitness Centers

The Wave Aquatic and Fitness Center opened in 2005, and is located in Whitefish, MT. This is a non-profit organization lead by a team of directors and is professionally managed by Planetary Fitness.  The Wave happened from the longtime dream of the community of Whitefish wanting a community swimming pool, and the hard dedication of them to make it happen. The Wave is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and well-being of the community. The Wave facilities are the Aquatics Center which features three different pools, a Jacuzzi, sauna, and steam rooms. A Fitness center where you will find top of the line equipment, first class free weights, weight machines, and numerous pieces of cardiovascular equipment. With nine health clubs in the valley The Summit and The Wave lead there competition with size and amentities.

Other Medical Services