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Media Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Construction for New Madison Valley Hospital Underway with Help of Governor Schweitzer Completion of world-class facility scheduled for 2008 Ennis, Mont., (September 13, 2007) — Governor Brian Schweitzer joined over 200 Madison Valley residents and hospital staff in Ennis on August 28, 2007 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Madison Valley Hospital & Clinic (MVH&C). Along with Governor Schweitzer, representatives from the offices of Senators Tester and Baucus spoke about the importance of rural healthcare in Montana. The celebration kicked off with the Chairman of the Madison Valley Hospital Foundation, Dave Hajny introducing Governor Schweitzer. “The best healthcare is that healthcare that takes place close to home,” said Schweitzer. Governor Schweitzer went on to say that “Ennis is one of the most vibrant communities in Montana.” After his speech, Governor Schweitzer helped break ground at the site where the new 36,470 square foot rural healthcare facility will be built. “This is a great day for the Madison Valley community — it’s residents, the hospital staff and all of those who are passionate about improving our access to rural healthcare, said Hajny. “This hospital will not only benefit the 4,000 residents who live here but we will continue to provide the best possible emergency care to some of the 700,000 tourists that pass through Ennis each year.” The MVH&C is the closest healthcare facility to two of the top three most visited places in Montana — Yellowstone National Park is number one and Virginia City is number two. The MVH&C averages 1,000 emergency room visits per year and between 13,000 and 14,000 outpatient visits. The new hospital became a reality due to the generosity of the entire Madison Valley community and the tireless fundraising efforts put forth by Project Giveback. Last July, Ted and Heidi Gildred started Project Giveback with a $500,000 donation and recently pledged an additional $600,000. Combined with Sam and Sherry Scott’s donations totaling $750,000 over the last two years and the 700 individual contributions from the local community, a total of $3.3 million has been raised toward the $10 million needed to build the new hospital. Narrow hallways, patient privacy, and outdated medical equipment made it impossible for the MVH&C to meet the requirements required to remain a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). CAH facilities receive cost-based reimbursements from Medicare which helps them to remain solvent. However, because the existing facility no longer meets the minimum standards required to qualify as a CAH, the greater Madison Valley area would be without any emergency clinic/hospital unless new requirements were met. About The Madison Valley Hospital & Clinic The Madison Valley Hospital opened in the summer of 1950. Over the following six decades, it expanded in size and services a total of seven times. The most recent expansion took place in August 2006 with the inclusion of a Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner extension temporarily housed adjacent to the existing hospital, awaiting a dedicated space in the new facility. Additionally, the new hospital will be 36,470 square feet and will connect to other facilities and specialists globally through a telemedicine network so that an X-ray, CT, blood draw, or other type of diagnostic test can be conducted in Ennis while analysis and interpretation can be enhanced by specialists in other medical facilities anywhere in the world. JGA Architects and Engineers of Billings, Mont., has been engaged to design and engineer the new Madison Valley Hospital Clinic. Dick Anderson Construction from Great Falls, Mont. is the general contractor. The first phase of the medical facility is expected to be complete by the fall of 2008. For more information on the building project or to make a contribution, call 406-682-5923. About Project Giveback The Madison Valley Hospital opened in the summer of 1950. Over the following six decades, it expanded in size and services a total of seven times. The most recent expansion took place in August 2006 with the inclusion of a Computerized Tomography (CT) scanner extension temporarily housed adjacent to the existing hospital, awaiting a dedicated space in the new facility. Additionally, the new hospital will be 36,470 square feet and will connect to other facilities and specialists globally through a telemedicine network so that an X-ray, CT, blood draw, or other type of diagnostic test can be conducted in Ennis while analysis and interpretation can be enhanced by specialists in other medical facilities anywhere in the world. Launched in July 2006, Project Giveback was initiated when Sun West Ranch Developers Ted and Heidi Gildred pledged an initial $100,000 donation to the MVH&C that required a matching $100,000 fundraising effort by the community. For every $100,000 raised by the community and every additional Sun West Ranch property sold, the MVH&C was eligible for $100,000 donation from the Gildreds. The project was so successful, the Gildreds pledged and additional $600,000 in June 2006.
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