Powell County Mem Hospital

Description

Welcome to Powell County Medical Center where our focus is on putting the patient first Located in Deer Lodge Montana our hospital serves as a primary full service medical center to communities throughout the Deer Lodge Valley

Our 19 bed acute care facility encompasses modern technology with a home style care that creates a healing environment of kindness compassion and courtesy We also have a 16 bed long term care center

At Powell County Medical Center we believe in providing quality health care to all we serve At Powell County Medical Center we encompass a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient We believe that when it comes to a persons health there are many aspects of healing In treating the patient as a whole not just treating the disease or illness we can truly focus on healing

We Strive to Exceed Expectations Through

Personal Interactions
Access to Information
Participation of Family Friends and Volunteers
Healthy Communities
We believe in making each of these elements an important focus of patient care In this way Powell County Medical Center strives to promote excellence

We want to exceed your expectations Providing personalized healthcare to you and your family is the first step toward reaching that goal Please let us know how we can better serve you

Vision
Powell County Medical Center is to be the healthcare provider of first choice We will be acknowledged by our patients as responsive caring efficient and recognized within our community as a symbol of excellence We are the preferred employer of healthcare professionals in their selection of where they chose to work

Mission
The Mission of Powell County Medical Center is to provide high quality healthcare to all we serve

Key Values
Our Values are our core principles and are fundamental to our purpose Our Values affirm the beliefs of our employees and reflect how we commit to treat our patients our colleagues and our community We speak with one voice as we commit to

Treat each other and those we serve with compassion respect and dignity

Act with integrity and adhere to the highest ethical standards valuing honesty trust and professionalism

Value teamwork collaboration and cooperation

Recognize the worth of each individual and to be sensitive to their needs

Demonstrate accountability to our patients and each other for high standards of care

Doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason

History

In October of 1873 by the persistent endeavors of Rev Remigius De Ryckere first diocesan priest in Montana the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth came to Deer Lodge Montana to establish a hospital Montana had been an organized territory for only a very short time The four Sisters left the Mother House in Leavenworth on October 23 1873 and arrived after a rugged twelve day trip from Leavenworth by rail to Corrine Utah then by stagecoach to Deer Lodge A hospital was opened in a little log cabin that stood on the corner of Third and D Streets and which had formerly been the Deer Lodge County Court House This was Montanas second hospital The Sisters set up a couple of handsawed cutwood beds with crisscrossed rope springs and stocked upon crude hewnboard shelves a meager supply of quinine mustard plasters carbolic acid homemade cough syrup and bandages They then staunchly announced that they were prepared to give hospital care to the sick and injured From the first day prospectors farmers ranchers their wives and children came on foot and on horseback by wagon and sled to seek relief from their miseries at the Sisters hospital

The sisters remained in these temporary quarters till February 1874 when they moved to their new building a convenient twostory frame structure erected next to the brick three story structure seen above

After the battle fought at Big Hole August 7 1877 on hearing that there was a Sisters hospital at Deer Lodge General John Gibbon at once moved his command in that direction in order to place his wounded men in the Sisters care St Josephs Hospital proved to be a Godsend for the brave fellows who never forgot the untiring attention they received at the hands of their nurses It may also be well to mention in this connection that no sooner had the news of the battle with a call for medical aid and other assistance reached Helena than a couple of Sisters accompanied by one of the Fathers were on their way to the scene of action to offer their services in behalf of the wounded The act was greatly appreciated by officers and men and General Gibbon in his official report made reference to it in terms both grateful and complimentary The soldiers also published this note of thanks quotWe the members of the detachment of the 7th Infantry wounded in the fight at the Big Hole while serving under our brave and gallant commander General John Gibbon desire to offer to the Sisters of Charity St Josephs Hospital for the unremitting care and attention given us while under their care our deepest gratitude and shall ever think and speak of those estimable ladies in highest terms and with greatest praisequot

A substantial brick structure was completed in 1882 replacing the original frame building At the time it seemed to the Sisters to be ample for years to come Awareness of being needed and the spirit of service which motivated the courageous Sisters to enter the Valley remained unchanged

The camp of Deer Lodge begun as a temporary settlement had grown into a prosperous small city by the middle 80s because the extension of the Northern Pacific Railroad from Chicago to the Pacific Coast came through it Then in 1908 the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific Railroad extended its lines into Deer Lodge and in 1920 the establishment of the Milwaukee shops in the town with the subsequent transfer of railroad men and their families swelled the population and caused St Josephs to reach the limit of its capacity

With the new building imperative Catholic and nonCatholic friends of the Sisters solicited funds from door to door in the entire area These funds helped the Sisters erect the three story sixtyfivebed hospital seen above This remained in service until 1963 at which time the Sisters left deer lodge The building was leased by the County Commissioners for an additional year until Powell County Memorial Hospital was completed

Powell County Memorial Hospital was opened in 1964 with the aid of 300000 in county bonds and use of the HillBurton Act which provided matching funds on a 6049 basis At present the Hospital is undergoing renovation and the addition of the Deer Lodge Clinic which is currently located across the street on Maryland Avenue

Powell County Memorial Hospital would like to thank The Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth for their contribution to the content of this page