LIBBY - When health screenings five years ago revealed there would be hundreds of asbestos victims to treat in the coming years, administrators of St. John's Lutheran Hospital wondered how they would handle the increased volume of patients.

A $3.5 million federal appropriation proved to be a lifesaver.

The money had to be used specifically for construction, renovation and equipment, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration mandated.

Following orders, St. John's added a large addition for more clinic space and a new emergency room.

Then came a new information system and a tele-radiology department that allows X-rays, CT scans and ultrasound images to be digitally transmitted to and from health-care providers at other hospitals and clinics.

"What this has provided is 24-hour radiologist coverage," said Jeanie Gentry, director of support services at St. John's. "Now, through partnering with Kalispell Regional Medical Center [and other hospitals] we always have radiology available, and that's helped save lives."

Since St. John's no longer subsidizes the Center for Asbestos Related Disease with the annual $250,000 payment from W.R. Grace, the hospital is using that money for other improvements. This year an "ancient" CT scanner, literally worn out from asbestos screening, was replaced.

There is crossover care between St. John's and the CARD clinic.

"We all share the same patients and the same goals," Gentry said. "The focus is on more integrated patient care."

Other health-care resources, such as the grant-funded Asbestos Related Disease Network, help patients with needs that might otherwise fall through the cracks, she noted.

Another important resource is Community Health Care, a federal government program that subsidizes health-care costs for the uninsured.

St. John's Hospital is searching for a chief executive officer to replace Rick Palagi, who left recently to take a job in Wisconsin. Gentry said the hospital hopes to have a replacement within three months.

The hospital this month signed an agreement with Planetree to adopt a health-care model that emphasizes personalized care.

Planetree was founded in 1978 by Angelica Theiriot, who designed a more personalized style of care after enduring three traumatic hospital experiences of her own. Planetree is another name for sycamore, the kind of tree the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates sat beneath as he taught his students that patients should be the focus of care and that environment factors into the healing process.

North Valley Hospital in Whitefish also is a Planetree hospital.

"It's an exciting thing for patients," Gentry said. "I feel we're embarking on a great journey that will help us stay ahead of community expectations."