Blackfeet Service Unit

Mission Statement

Blackfeet Service Unit (Blackfeet Community Hospital & Heart Butte Clinic) is improving the health care and well-being of the community and those in need by providing professional, compassionate, caring, and accessible health care through a continuous commitment to our patients and employees.

Behavioral Health is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Behavioral Health 24-hour Crisis Management Services
• Emergency on-call available.

Contracted Services

• Radiology, Mammography, Laboratory and Neuropathy Services
• Telehealth Services

History

First opened in Browning, Montana in1937, the Blackfeet Community Hospital has transformed into a cutting edge 110,000 square-foot, 28-bed comprehensive health care facility complete with a 64-slice computer tomography (CT) unit located within a fully digitized radiology and lab service department.

Outpatient dental and optometry services are available five days each week. The facility has inpatient pharmacy capabilities, as well as an automated outpatient pharmacy department. A women’s daily health center offers pre- and post-natal care five days each week and a 24/7 obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) department. Additionally, an operating room (OR) department provides surgical services for both outpatient and inpatient procedures.

The hospital offers a full-time diabetic clinic with daily podiatry consultations and boasts a sophisticated 12-bay emergency room equipped with a rooftop helipad transfer complex, along with an urgent care/ same-day appointment clinic that delivers emergent and urgent care. The facility contracts with larger medical centers in the northwest to meet the needs of patients experiencing severe trauma or requiring critical care.

Located in the western portion of the 1.5-million-acre Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Browning is home to more than 7,000 descendants of the Ampska Piikuni Nation and borders the crown jewel of our nation’s National Park System, Glacier National Park. The picturesque hospital sits in the shadows of the "Backbone of Mother Earth", or what is more commonly known as the "Shining" Mountains of the rugged Northern Rockies. Outdoor activities abound within a short driving distance, including world class fishing, hiking, camping, boating and skiing. Calgary, Alberta Canada is a short distance away. Amtrak rail services connects Browning with east-west travelers on a daily basis between Seattle, Washington and Chicago, Illinois on the historic Empire Builder route.

Blackfeet Community Hospital employs family practice physicians, pediatricians, OB gynecology and nurse midwives, ER physicians, family nurse practitioners, physician assistants, RPh's/pharmacists, dental officers, dental hygienists, respiratory therapist, physical therapists, optometrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health specialist, registered dietitians, and registered nurses, with a supporting staff in administration, dietary, facilities, nursing, health information, business office, and environmental health services.

The hospital also operates a small health clinic five days each week that is located 30 miles south of Browning in the community of Heart Butte, where a smaller staff of provider, pharmacist, registered nurse, and administrative support assistant provide direct patient care, including pharmacy, limited laboratory services, and general clinic services for the surrounding urban centers of Helena, Great Falls, and Butte, Montana.

The Blackfeet Service Unit is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC).

Housing

Housing is located on the hospital compound, but availability fluctuates depending on the staffing needs and the rotation of medical students and residents. Government housing is assigned on an individual basis by the housing committee at Blackfeet Community Hospital. There are single and two-bedroom units, and two- and three-bedroom homes that are situated around the hospital area. All are within walking distance of the hospital. Civil service personnel are responsible for rent and utility costs in government housing. Commission Corps personnel receive housing allowances that cover the cost of rent and utilities in government housing.

Staff also can elect to live in surrounding communities in East Glacier, which is 15 miles west of Browning or in Cut Bank, Montana, which is 38 miles east. Local realtors in those communities can be contacted regarding rentals or purchase of homes. The largest town on the reservation is Browning; A half hour away is Cut Bank, where one can find additional services and shopping.

Community

A close-knit community, it is not unusual for the whole population to gather together and cheer on the local school teams at sporting events. Local culture is presented in the Museum of the Plains Indian, the Blackfeet Historic Site Tour, and the Blackfeet Community College. Glacier National Park borders the western side of the reservation, providing unparalleled recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Blackfeet Nation

Blackfeet Country is located in the northwestern part of Montana that includes most of Glacier County. On the north it borders the Canadian Province of Alberta, Canada. The Blackfeet (Piikuni) belong to what is called the "Blackfoot Confederacy" where three other Tribes reside in Canada that make up this confederacy; North Peigan/Piikuni, Blood/Kainai and Blackfoot/Siksika. On the west it shares a border with Glacier National Park and elevation varies from a low of 3,400 ft. in the southwest to a high of over 9,000 ft. at Chief Mountain on the northwest boundary.

Visit the Blackfeet Nation Website Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov