This week, our hats are off to you, the people of our community. What is a hospital without its patients? This facility was built over 50 years ago with none other than the people of the Big Sandy area in mind. It is the people who founded BSMC. It is the people who volunteer on the Board of Directors. It is the people who are employees. But most importantly, it is the people who become patients. The first week of February is Patient Recognition Week. Thank you for choosing us for your healthcare needs.
While HIPPA laws prevent us from thanking you individually, know that our gratitude extends to each and every one of you.
In the year 2022, BSMC served 304 patients in the Emergency Room. Our Emergency Department is open 24/7/365. Currently, a patient needing Emergent Services has access to labs, x-rays, nursing care, and a limited pharmacy. The facility is not licensed as a “retail” pharmacy. That is the role of the Big Sandy Pharmacy in town, but their business hours are not 24/7 like those in the ER. To fill the gap, we have a limited stock of antibiotics and other prescription strength medications for those seen in the ER after the pharmacy has closed. Soon, we will add CT scans to our available assessment options as well. There is always a nurse on duty and a midlevel provider (PA or NP) available for your care. While the staff may need to be called in from home to help care for you, it is uncommon that you must sit in a waiting room full of other sick and uncomfortable people awaiting your turn.
If your situation is not an Emergency warranting a trip to the ER, you are likely to have an appointment in the clinic like one of the 2,768 people seen by our providers in 2022. Our clinic is open Monday-Friday, 9-5 and staffed by CMAs (Certified Medical Assistant) and the same Midlevel providers you see in the ER. The same services are available to you as a clinic patient, plus the luxury of scheduled time where you are the sole focus. The clinic can also offer medication administration like Vitamin B or Testosterone injections, or your allergy shots, tetanus boosters, and flu shots. Annual and DOT exams, sports physicals, pre-op H&Ps, EKGs, and lab work can be completed locally. Sutures and staples can be removed here too. No need to make the trip to your surgeon’s office just for that!
Outpatient services include labs, x-rays, and nursing care. Last year, 48 patients were served in the outpatient setting. Nursing services can include IV antibiotics, fluid, or other infusions, catheter changes, port maintenance and wound care. Many lab tests can be completed, including blood counts, metabolic studies, thyroid testing, wound and strep cultures, flu and covid tests, urine and stool tests etc. Anything that cannot be completed inside of our facility, usually due to a lack of test-specific technology, are sent to Billings Clinic daily for further evaluation.
Sometimes your care in the Clinic or ER earns you an overnight stay in the hospital. 59 patients experienced a stay at BSMC in 2022. Whether you stay as an inpatient, needing more acute care, or a swing bed patient, needing more time to rehab and recover before going back home, we are grateful for you! Receiving Physical Therapy and around the clock nursing care is certainly something worth sticking around for.
While the number of patients we see in the clinic and ER varies from day to day, our Long-Term Care residents are the reason we come to work every day. Currently there are 18 residents calling BSMC home. They are the life of the facility, giving us reasons to celebrate, memories to share, and extra grandmas and grandpas for ourselves and our children. We are truly grateful for them and their families. That is the thing about caring for someone 24/7, their family becomes our family. As we recognize our patients this week, we also recognize the people who trust us to care for them.
If you notice the center of the 50-year celebration rock, it states, “People, the heart of BSMC.” You, the patients, are the lifeblood of the facility. Without you, the providers, nurses, CNAs, CMAs, lab techs, housekeepers, laundry staff, dietary staff, and business office personnel would be out of a job. We are here to serve you.
Thank you for providing us with the opportunity. Thank you for trusting us with your health and the health of your loved ones. Thank you for being the heart of BSMC.
Friday, February 3 we will celebrate you! Stop by the clinic for coffee and cookies and put your name in the drawing for some BSMC gear!
