News

Contact: Lauren Brendel, M.S.

BOZEMAN, MT [April 28, 2020]—Bozeman Health remains committed to the health and well-being of our community and our workforce. As we’ve designed our readiness and re-opening plan, we’ve carefully considered how to move appropriately towards full operational capacity to meet the health needs of our community while continuing to be ready for widespread or clustered COVID-19 surges as stay-at-home orders and business closures are lifted. Our phased approach remains in full alignment with the Gallatin City-County Health Department and Governor’s Office recommendations.

Throughout our COVID-19 response and in our preparations for a re-opening, we are following these immediate imperatives and they are guiding our thoughtful and thorough planning efforts:

• protecting the safety and health of our workforce,
• continuing to prepare for a surge of local COVID-19 positive patients, and
• supporting the efforts of state and local elected officials, our health department, and community leaders to continue to flatten the curve.

Phased Approach
Bozeman Health will move forward with a deliberate phased approach to re-opening:

• until May 3, the health system continues our “re-opening preparation” phase, operating at 25% capacity which allows for 75% availability of hospital beds
• Phase 1: May 4 - May 17, open to 50% capacity
• Phase 2: May 18 – May 31, open to 75% capacity
• Phase 3: June 1 and onward, full operational capacity

Throughout our re-opening sequences, we will review indicators that will help guide decisions towards the progression to the next phase. These include:

• monitoring for a continuous reduction or no significant increase in confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Gallatin County
• ensuring the availability of COVID-19 testing for approximately 100 tests per day for 30 days
• achieving and maintaining a 30-day PPE supply
• maintaining staffing levels to provide high quality and safe patient care delivery, and
• sustaining hospitalization capacity, meaning that we will maintain available beds, ventilators, and essential equipment.

As shared above, our partnership and alignment with Gallatin City-County Health Department directives will continue as we work towards reaching full operational capacity.

If you have an upcoming appointment, or if you had an appointment that was cancelled, you will be contacted to confirm or reschedule the date and location of your appointment time, procedure, or surgery. Additionally, since March 19, 2020 we have increased our capacity for telehealth care and that option remains available for patients unless an in-person visit is needed. Should an in-person visit be needed, the following precautions remain in effect:

• limited open entrances
• increased visitor restrictions
• entrance screening for temperature, respiratory symptoms, and purpose of your visit
• appropriate cloth face covering. Please wear a cloth face covering to your appointment and in common areas of the clinic or hospital. You can find information on appropriate cloth face coverings here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

You are encouraged to contact your provider with any questions or to seek medical care. Please don’t delay care, as we are here to ensure your health needs are met.

Bozeman Health’s executive team and our COVID-19 incident command response team are incredibly proud of the care team members who continue to demonstrate leadership, compassion, and personal resilience during our COVID-19 response and beyond to these re-opening phases. While we’re not yet through this crisis, we are making significant headway, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.