For immediate release:
February 3, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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STILLWATER BILLINGS CLINIC ANNOUNCES EXPANSION
Columbus, MT — Beginning on February 8, Stillwater Billings Clinic will be breaking ground as part of an expansion project made possible through the CARES Act, a coronavirus relief funding project.
The CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) is a relief and assistance program, piloted by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last year, the relief and assistance program issued $199,485,740 to 121 rural Montana hospitals and community health centers. Stillwater Billings Clinic was given $3.4 million of that amount, providing the hospital funding to aid with COVID-19 patients and testing capacity, increased infection control measures, and the means to accommodate other hospitals in the region.
“This expansion project has been made possible not only through the CARES Act funding, but through the resilience and exhausting efforts of our teams at Stillwater Billings Clinic and Billings Clinic,” said Dr. Kane. “Additional infection isolation measures will be added, isolation room and hospital bed numbers will be increased, allowing us to receive patients as needed coming from our Billings Clinic campus. We will also have the capabilities to keep our local patients at home for their care. The added square footage in therapy services will be a perk to our patients, therapists, and providers as we continue to practice physical safety measures moving forward.”
Square footage will be increased on the east and south sides of the hospital, allowing space for a 6-bed capacity increase, 2 additional isolation rooms, and an additional 550 square footage for needed therapy services.
“This is an amazing opportunity for us to rise above during these difficult times, as we keep our focus on what’s most important, our patients and employees. We have all been affected by COVID-19 and we must work together to continue towards safest practices possible for our patients and hospital staff, and this expansion will allow for us to do just that,” mentioned Tom Chamberlin, Stillwater Billings Clinic Hospital Board President.
The expansion is estimated to be completed Mid-year. Patients and staff are encouraged to arrive a few minutes earlier than usual, to allow for time to find parking. Construction signage will be staked to assist with parking locations.
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