Kalispell Regional nears deal to take over HealthCenter

Kalispell Regional Healthcare is nearing a deal to take on full ownership of The HealthCenter, following discussions with the Flathead Physician Group board.

The HealthCenter has been a partnership with Kalispell Regional and Flathead Physician Group since it opened in 2003. It provides inpatient and outpatient services including surgery, rehabilitation, imaging, digestive health and women’s health, and is attached to the north end of Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

The HealthCenter’s departments include The Digestive Health Institute, The Montana Center for Wellness and Pain Management, Northwest Women’s Health Care and Glacier View Plastic Surgery.

If members of the Physician Group approve the offer in an upcoming meeting, The HealthCenter “would become a fully owned entity of KRH,” said Mellody Sharpton, director of communications and marketing for Kalispell Regional Healthcare.

Sharpton said the world of health care has changed dramatically since 2003, and taking on full ownership of The HealthCenter would help Kalispell Regional in “positioning ourselves to adapt to the future.”

Kalispell Regional employees received an email letter on Friday regarding the situation. The letter was signed by Craig Lambrecht, Kalispell Regional chief executive officer; Brent Buchele, Flathead Physician Group board chairman; and Kim Stimpson, The HealthCenter board chairman.

The letter states the Physician Group board agreed to bring forward an offer made by Kalispell Regional that would make The HealthCenter “a fully-owned partner” of Kalispell Regional.

“We want to assure everyone that the physicians and KRH are committed to the employees of The HealthCenter and should this transaction go forward, no employees will lose their jobs as a part of the proposed agreement,” the letter states.

“We are fortunate to be a tight-knit medical community and while ownership could change, the commitment to delivering high-quality patient care will never waiver,” it adds.

The letter also announces the formation of a “Synergy Team,” which would help facilitate the transition and likely be made up of individuals within Kalispell Regional. It “would be dedicated to making sure we take advantage of the best of The HealthCenter, along with what is required to be successful in the future.”

Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or at cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com