Northern Rockies Medical Center in Cut Bank and Kalispell Regional Healthcare announced today a pending affiliation of the two facilities, and the signing of a non-binding letter of intent to “enter into exclusive discussions to explore a deeper relationship.”

This letter of intent reflects a “longer-term commitment to ensuring that the citizens of Glacier County have expanded services and continued high quality health care.” Kalispell Regional’s announcement states the formal discussions are regarding a possible future affiliation.

According to a press release, health-care leaders say a key challenge for many rural hospitals is the ability to recruit and retain medical professionals while meeting the demands of an ever-changing health-care industry. Relationships with larger medical centers provide much needed expertise, support, and resources to help preserve rural hospital services.

“Our community board members care deeply for the citizens of Glacier County and are committed to safeguarding access to quality health care,” Cherie Taylor, chief executive officer for Northern Rockies, said in a prepared statement. We have had a longstanding relationship with Kalispell Regional Healthcare and are excited about this opportunity to explore a more meaningful relationship. This is an important first step to ensure that Northern Rockies Medical Center remains positioned to continue to the meet the health needs of our community while enhancing services.”

Signing this letter of intent is the first step in a process that will take several months to complete. Both organizations will enter into a period of due diligence, negotiation and planning and expect that process to be complete in the fall of 2020. Once completed and an agreement is reached, both boards would be required to approve the agreement and associated timelines.

“Entering into more formal discussions with NRMC will provide an opportunity to further design a road map with a common vision for success,” Dr. Craig Lambrecht, president and chief executive director of Kalispell Regional Healthcare, said in a prepared statement. “In our meetings with the NRMC Board and the organization’s leaders, patients have always been at the forefront of our discussions in determining how to broaden access, enhance technology, and improve the health of the community. We couldn’t be more excited about the benefits of this potential partnership for the Glacier County community.”

Northern Rockies Medical Center is a 20-bed critical access hospital and rural health clinic located in Cut Bank. The hospital has a service area of 3,037 square miles and serves a population over 13,000 in Glacier County and is one of the largest employers in the county.

The facility has provided medical services in Glacier County since 1949. NRMC provides clinic, inpatient and restorative care, outpatient observation, emergency services, lab, radiology, CT, ultrasound, MRI, physical and occupational therapy. The medical center is designated as a trauma receiving facility.

Kalispell Regional entered into an affiliation agreement with North Valley Hospital in Whitefish in early 2016. The partnership had been discussed for years prior as the corporations had grown increasingly collaborative.

Under the affiliation agreement, hospital officials say there was no transfer of assets or title and there was no purchase agreement and no facility consolidation. While North Valley has retained its own nonprofit status and mission, the structure of the affiliation means Kalispell Regional Healthcare does, at times, have final decision-making and governing authority over North Valley.

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4407 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com