Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center Featured in National Broadcast
Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center is receiving national recognition for the vital role it plays in providing healthcare across northeast Montana after being selected for a public television documentary series highlighting rural hospitals throughout the United States.
The Scobey-based critical access hospital was recently selected for “Small Towns, Big Care: America’s Rural Hospital Impact,” a special multipart series from All Access with Andy Garcia. The nationally distributed public television program explores the challenges and successes of rural healthcare organizations while emphasizing the importance of maintaining local access to medical care in small communities.
A production crew spent the day at the health center on Tuesday, Aug. 4, capturing footage throughout the hospital and interviewing staff, patients and administrators.
The documentary crew highlighted a broad range of services offered by Daniels Memorial, including physical therapy, emergency care, longterm care, laboratory services, radiology and the clinic. The clinic portion of the feature focused on well-child visits, behavioral health services and care for older patients, illustrating the wide variety of healthcare services provided locally. Lauryn Nasby, executive assistant and marketing coordinator at the health center, said the purpose of the documentary is to showcase both the importance of rural hospitals and the challenges they face every day.
“The segment is basically just to highlight rural care and to show all the industry complications that fight against us,” she explained. “But, at the end of the day, we do persevere and we’re the critical access point for our community members who need quality healthcare close to home.”
Like many critical access hospitals across the country, Daniels Memorial faces ongoing workforce shortages, rising operating costs and ongoing reimbursement pressures. These challenges have forced many rural hospitals nationwide to reduce services or close altogether, leaving residents with lengthy travel times for medical care.
Despite those challenges, Daniels Memorial continues to serve as a regional healthcare resource for communities throughout northeast Montana.
“We have patients from Plentywood to Wolf Point and everywhere between,” Nasby said.
Daniels Memorial was selected after the production company contacted several rural hospitals nationwide. The hospital submitted an application describing its services, its role in the community and the importance of maintaining access to healthcare in northeast Montana.
The national spotlight comes as the health center prepares for one of the largest projects in its history, a new hospital designed to replace its aging facility. Built in 1950, the current two-story hospital has become increasingly difficult to adapt to modern healthcare needs. The existing layout also limits opportunities to expand services or accommodate newer medical technology.
Plans for the new 45,600 square-foot hospital include a significantly expanded physical therapy department, a larger medical clinic, an updated long-term care space, a heated ambulance bay and an improved emergency department with a dedicated waiting area.
The facility will feature a single-level design to improve patient movement, in-room oxygen in patient rooms and greater privacy for long-term care residents.
“The project is being used to show Daniels Memorial plans to remain in the community for generations to come,” Nasby said.
If construction begins this fall as anticipated, the new hospital is expected to open in 2028, providing expanded healthcare services for generations of northeast Montana residents.
The Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center segment is one of several rural hospital profiles featured in “Small Towns, Big Care: America’s Rural Hospital Impact”. The broadcast schedule has not yet been finalized. Airing dates will be announced as soon as they become available.
