Zane Bendig is Big Sandy's newest Medical provider. Zane, his wife Sarah, and five children will be moving to Big Sandy in July. Currently Zane is travelling back and forth from Great Falls to provide medical care here.
He grew up in Great Falls before Zane moved to Denver. In Denver, he was a paramedic and a fire-fighter for 20 years. "Being a first responder in Denver is kind of fun. What I noticed there is the best way to keep people out of the ER is to have better primary care." On the other hand, the sense of community he felt as a fireman and while being on the ambulance crew, which allowed him to take care of people, was what was important to him. While in Denver he became a Registered Nurse. Zane moved back to Great Falls seven years ago and worked as a nurse in the Emergency Room, because it was a natural fit following his experience as a First Responder. He finished the NP program after he returned to Great Falls. "There is a huge lack of primary care in the nation." It was the natural progression career wise going from paramedic/firefighter to ER nurse to now a Nurse Practitioner. The conclusion of the search when he asked himself, "How can I make an impact."
They have five children, from a blended family. They didn't want their children to grow up in Denver. They wanted to bring them up in a smaller community. The difference from large city values to small town values is huge. His oldest son is 20 and his youngest child is seven. His 20-year-old is going to college on line, in graphic design, but he will be moving here as well. His wife is a PT assistant.
He wants to be a Family Practitioner. He is very excited to be here. "Before we move here permanently and increase the population by 10% we are looking to rent for a year before we purchase a larger place." He is hoping to pitch his tent here and stay here for a long time.
"When you get to see little kids, like I saw one today, but ten years from now I can say I remember when I first saw her. I have always wanted to be that kind of provider."
It was funny to him that people already knew his name. He wants to be in a community that has that kind of closeness and the values he treasures.
According to Leah Griffith Big Sandy Medical Center's CEO "The process was fairly easy, because he was from Great Falls and he did a lot of his clinical in the area. He had heard a lot of good things about our facility. He's great to have another male provider."
Leah mentioned he made it clear during the recruitment that he wants to relocate here permanently and was not interested in moving here for a short stay. He wants to create a home for his family.
