Who We Are

Mission & Vision

The Yellowstone High Value Network enables independent healthcare providers to collaborate on clinical and operational initiatives, enhancing the quality of care, availability, and affordability in rural communities.

Yellowstone High Value Network Mission

A sustainable network of rural and independent Montana hospitals and clinics that enhances clinical quality, value-driven care, and community health through shared expertise and resources.

Yellowstone High Value Network Vision

Thriving rural and independent Montana healthcare providers, healthy Montana people, and vital rural communities.

Goals

Improve access to rural health care that is safe, high-quality, and person/family-centered. Reduce clinical variation by engaging clinicians in evidence-based clinical care processes; develop common continuing medical education and continuing education unit needs; and establish a clinician and administrator recruitment and retention service.
Expand healthcare services while increasing healthcare efficiency. Assess service availability (e.g., specialists, imaging, lab); determine opportunities for shared clinical and administrative resources; implement shared services; and explore shared population-health management opportunities.
Enhance community health and reduce rural disparities. Develop of a system of care that engages community-based organizations (e.g., social services, food pantries, transportation services, law enforcement); convene other healthcare providers across the continuum of care (e.g., tertiary care hospitals, specialists, public health, home health, emergency medical services, long-term care) to improve coordination and reduce duplication; and ensure inclusivity of those challenged by “dual-disparities.”
Increase rural healthcare organizational success in value-based payment contracts. Pool resources and aggregate covered lives for more effective financial-risk management; assess proposed value-based payment contracts; and develop financial risk-sharing models and contracting opportunities among Yellowstone HVN members.
Sustain Yellowstone HVN and its member organizations financially. Implement a minimal membership contribution from each member; expand Yellowstone HVN service offerings to members that deliver value; and implement a Yellowstone HVN financial sustainability plan after grant funding ends.

Core Values

Excellence

Patient-Centered Care

Innovation

Collaboration

Uniting Hospitals for a Healthier Montana

Yellowstone High Value Network

Members & Growing

Total Revenue

~$ 0 M

Member Employees

~ 0 +

Population Served

~ 0 K+

Medicare-Attributed People

0 +

Status of Rural Healthcare

Challenges of Rural Healthcare

In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, many of the most pressing challenges have led hospitals and physician groups to merge into larger health systems. These challenges include investing in advancements in diagnosis and treatment, controlling care costs, enhancing patient experiences, and fostering collaboration among clinicians. The fundamental reason behind this consolidation is scale. From enlarging patient populations and expanding physician networks to attracting top medical professionals – scale is often the answer. For independent, rural hospitals and clinics, achieving this scale can be an enormous undertaking. While merging with a larger health system is a viable option for some, many communities prefer to retain their local hospital’s undivided attention to cater to local needs.

Charting a Sustainable Path

The Yellowstone High Value Network was conceived in recognition of these challenges, founded on the principle that independent, rural hospitals and clinics can unite to address these issues and bolster their resilience while maintaining their independence. Through our network, independent, rural hospitals and clinics join forces on clinical and operational fronts, amplifying the accessibility, affordability, and quality of care in Montana’s communities. We are a beacon for more than 400,000 persons served, ensuring they receive nothing but the best care. The Montana Clinical Integration Network (CIN) was established to further enhance our collaborative efforts. This empowers our member hospitals to offer continuous care to patients across the network, from surgery and ophthalmology to mental health and obstetrics. The CIN’s Clinical Integration Committee, comprising a practitioner from each member hospital, supervises all clinical and quality initiatives.

Looking to the Future

Our exploration into collective solutions in areas like pharmacy, telehealth, IT, clinical staffing, and more is ongoing. Leading these ventures is our Business Integration Committee, a group of selected operations leaders from our member hospitals. This committee oversees our shared service offerings and serves as a collaborative platform for these leaders to address everyday business challenges and share resolutions. At Yellowstone High Value Network, our commitment goes beyond healthcare; it’s about building a sustainable future for communities. As we move forward, we remain dedicated to our mission, united in our vision, and grateful for the trust placed in us by our members and the communities we serve. The Montana Clinical Integration Network (CIN) was established to further enhance our collaborative efforts. This empowers our member hospitals to offer continuous care to patients across the network, from surgery and ophthalmology to mental health and obstetrics. The CIN’s Clinical Integration Committee, comprising a practitioner from each member hospital, supervises all clinical and quality initiatives.

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Leadership Team

Board of Directors

Kody Brinton

CEO

Daniels Memorial Healthcare Center
Scobey, Montana

Nick Dirkes

CEO

Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital
Glasgow, Montana

Christen Obresley

VP of Regulatory and Community Services

Northern Montana Hospital
Havre, Montana

Cody Langbehn

CEO

Central Montana Medical Center
Lewiston, Montana

John Bishop

CEO

Bitterroot Health
Hamilton, Montana

Tony Pfaff

CEO

Deer Lodge Medical Center
Deer Lodge, Montana

Ian Peterson

CEO

Pioneer Medical Center
Big Timber, Montana

Taylor Rose

CEO

Barrett Hospital & HealthCare
Dillon, Montana

Abby Lotz

CEO

Beartooth Billings Clinic
Red Lodge, Montana

Parker Powell

CEO

Glendive Medical Center
Glendive, Montana

Steve Todd

CEO

St. Luke Community Healthcare
Ronan, Montana