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allowing payment on a sliding scale. Since the lack of primary care doc- tors isn’t a new problem, the health cen- ter has already taken steps to combat it. Its relatively new residency program brought in six new physicians to the cen- ter, who not only provide more hands on deck, but who may also fall in love with
working in Northwest Montana.
“One of the intents of the residency is to train physicians in Montana so they
stay in Montana,” Hanson said. Montana doesn’t have its own med- ical school, but does participate in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Wyoming, Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho program (WWAMI), a pipeline for pre-med stu- dents in Montana to get a cost-e ective education and potentially end up work-
ing in the ve-state area.
Recently, a private medical school
began testing the waters in various Montana cities, without nding a suit- able home. The conversation began swirling about what such a facility could do to boost the physician num- bers in the state, but Branscum, with the Montana Medical Association, said such a proposal would need careful consideration.
Currently, there are 26 residents working throughout the state. That’s what the state has worked up to since the rst residency programs started in 1995, Branscum said.
“To grow from 1995 and to have these new residency programs emerge just in the last few years is truly remarkable,” she said.
Billings Clinic just increased the number of residents it accepts, from six to eight. Kalispell’s addition of six resi- dents is a bright spot, she said.
“When you grow, that’s something to be pretty proud of as a community,” Branscum said.
The potential for a new, for-pro t medical school raised concerns among state physicians because there isn’t a capacity for that many medical stu- dents, she said. There would be 150 third-year and 150 fourth-year students to place in programs, which wouldn’t be possiblerightnow.
“To grow that much, we’ve got to think about the scalability to grow it right, and make sure it’s a quality med- ical education,” Branscum said.
Building up new doctors to practice in Montana begins in identifying such students in high school, then getting them access to medical educations. Stu- dents from rural communities applying for medical school seems to be declin- ing, she said, and it’s usually those stu- dents who end up working in those rural communities.
Otherwise, the importance of rural rotations can’t be understated.
“If we want doctors in Montana, we really need to make sure they experi- ence a clinical rural rotation,” Brans- cum said.
mpriddy@ atheadbeacon.com
TRANSACTIONS
WEEKLY BUSINESS BRIEFING
PARSONS RECOGNIZED WITH KUBOTA PREMIER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Kubota Tractor Corporation is honoring Parsons Tractor in Kalispell with its Premier Award of Excellence as part of the com- pany’s prestigious dealership cer- ti cation program. The certi ca- tion recognizes dealers around the country that are providing customers with the “ultimate Kubota experience” from top quality equipment, to sales and nancing, customer satisfaction and best in class service.
Parsons is one of only two dealerships in Montana to achieve the award. In order to be recognized, a dealership must meet all require- ments and achieve at least an 80 percent compliance percentage of all the core elements.
“Simply put, they are our very best, and they’ve set the bar high. For that, we thank and applaud them,” says Todd Stucke, vice president, sales, marketing and product support for Kubota.
For more information about Parsons Tractor, visit parsonstractor. com or call 755-0628.
Opening, moving or expanding a business in Northwest Montana? If you would like to be featured in “Transactions,” please email information to news@ atheadbeacon.com
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