As always, the summer months seem to fly by and this year is no different. Harvest is in full swing and our children are already back in school. Soon loud cheers will echo across football fields and volleyball courts. What a great time of the year!
And what a great time at Big Sandy Medical Center! In just a few short weeks, we will have a brand-new kitchen with ample food storage space and food prep areas. Korb construction has been working continuously, despite shipping delays, to keep this project moving. The addition is complete and now the “finish work” is happening on the inside of the addition and old kitchen space. The dietary staff have been working hard to keep the folks fed, making trips to and from the Catholic church multiple times a day to prepare meals and wash dishes.
By mid-September, work will begin on the installation of the modular clinic building. After the building is in place, it will take a couple of months to get ready for occupancy. Most of the furniture has been delivered and of course many items from the current space will move over. Once the current clinic space is cleared and the new clinic building is operational, the remodeling of the old clinic space will start. The completion goal is February of next year. This will give the community access to a CT Scanner and create space for additional future services.
September will also bring changes to the Wellness Center as plans are taking shape to open the gym to community memberships just in time to start an indoor exercise program. As those plans get finalized, more details will be shared. You will also be pleased to hear about the addition of a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner to come in October. Again, more details to come as the time gets near.
August saw many young faces in the BSMC building. A Babysitter’s Training class and a CPR/AED/First Aid class were hosted for children ranging in age from 8-15 years old. Both classes were well attended and enjoyed by the kids. More classes of this nature will be hosted over school breaks and next summer. Other community classes for CPR/AED/First Aid will be available over the winter as well, keep an eye out for those class dates/times in the future.
BSMC received a grant from AHEC-MSU Bozeman. The monies from this grant are being used to pay for free A1C, or diabetic screenings for members of our community. This test is recommended with your annual labs, however, most insurance companies do not pay for it annually. The A1C shows your average blood sugar levels over the last three months. This information is provided at no cost to you, without needing to see a provider. That information is yours to do as you wish; take it to your primary care provider, keep it for your own records, or make an appointment at BSMC to discuss your results with a provider here.
Finally, BSMC welcomed two new employees to the team this month. Weslie Taylor will be helping out in the laundry department and Wyatt Phillips will offer his efforts in maintenance. We are grateful to have them aboard. Current open positions at BSMC include, a Full-Time Accounts Payable clerk, a part-time Outpatient Registration and Patient Accounts Representative, a full-time/part-time CNA, and full-time/part-time Dietary Aid. Job applications can be found at http://www.bsmc.org.
Many things are changing at BSMC, may you find just as much beauty in it as you do the leaves changing in the fall. Thank you for continuing to chose BSMC for your healthcare needs; it is you, the people that are the heart of BSMC.
