Kalispell Regional's expanded ER, a yearslong effort, reflects a growing valley

For all the chaos that can fill an emergency room, Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s emergency department appeared crisp and airy on a recent Wednesday morning, with wide hallways, extra-large doors and a skylight ­— elements from its recently completed ER wing that opened Aug. 22. With the opening of its new ambulance bay in October, the hospital will wrap up the renovation and expansion of its ER, a yearslong project designed to handle the health crises of the Flathead for decades to come.