The Mineral Community Hospital Clinic opened its doors on Jan. 2, 2019. The highly anticipated facility held an open house on Dec. 20 where people could stop by and meet the providers and staff. It is located in the same building as the Mineral Regional Health Center, which shuttered its doors in 2015.

Representatives from U.S. Sen. Steve Daines’ office, Danielle Tribble, and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte’s office, Sonny Capece, spoke around 2 p.m., along with Mineral County Commissioner Laurie Johnston, Mineral Community Hospital Governing Board Chair John Woodland, and Partnership Health Center representative Abby Berow.

“Critical access hospitals play a vital role in communities across the country. And Mineral Community Hospital has been serving the people of Mineral County for nearly 100 years. The opening of this hospital based clinic is an exciting day for Mineral County residents,” Daines commented in a letter.

Mineral Community Hospital CEO Steve McNeece thanked the hospital team for getting the clinic ready in a relatively short timeline. He also showed appreciation for the positive working relationship they have developed with Partnership Health Center (PHC). PHC opened five years ago and offered primary care to county residents, which will no longer be offered with the opening of the hospital clinic.

“We are grateful they will remain in Mineral County providing dental and behavioral health services,” he said.

John Woodland, a longtime hospital board member and chairman, commented that this is “a great step forward for the hospital and community. The hospital is coming full circle, back to the efficiencies and continuity that comes with having the clinic and emergency room services operated by the same entity.”

He also said that because of the newly established level of cooperation with PHC, the community will benefit from the expansion of available services. The hospital clinic will see patients weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment, and walk-ins are welcome.