Northeast Montana Health Services Adds New Providers To Staff

Northeast Montana Health Services has added two new providers to its staff over the past year — Kelsey Hauger, a family nurse practitioner, and Dr. Steven Murrell.

Haugo has been employed with NEMHS as a registered nurse for the last eight years. Haugo is now in practice as a FNP in Poplar at Riverside Family Clinic and Wolf Point at Listerud Clinic and Trinity Hospital.

She is a native of Scobey and grew up in a family of pharmacists. Having a mother with medical needs and working as a CNA in high school also influenced her to pursue a career in the medical field.

Haugo graduated from Montana State University - Bozeman and was first hired at NEMHS in February 2013. She is now returning as a family nurse practitioner.

She married two years ago and now has a one-year-old son. Hobbies include camping, golfing and getting to Fort Peck Lake in the summer.

Her goal is to provide ongoing care for her patients from diagnostic to treatment.

“I like the problem solving that goes into diagnosing. It’s like putting puzzle pieces together,” she said.

Her emphasis is on proactive health care, making sure to have yearly check-ups and following up on health care needs.

Murrell joined NEMHS in April 2020. He completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma and received his medical degree from the Medical University of the Americas in Nevis, West Indies, in 2007.

Murrell specializes in family medicine and obstetrics and is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He has also recently accepted the role of medical director at Faith Lutheran Home.

He was born in Oklahoma and has lived and practiced in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and, most recently, Minnesota. He had a thriving practice in Minnesota, but did not feel that was where his skills were most needed. Setting his sights on a more rural practice where he could provide vital patient care led him to Montana.

Murrell describes himself as a country doctor, caring for people from birth to death. His passion is obstetrics and his mission is to help make the birthing experience as natural as possible by providing an environment that focuses on comfort, love, security and safety. He wants to ensure every mother can look back on her delivery as a positive event. High touch, low tech is how Murrell describes his approach to childbirth.

He lives in Wolf Point with his wife and six of their 13 children. When he does have free time, he lives to dabble in wine making, gardening, playing the piano and singing. He also serves as a traveling clergyman for the United Episcopal Church of North America.

Murrell’s motto comes from Ephesians 5:16: “Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees.”