Obstetric care, especially specialized care, is limited in rural communities. On reservations in Montana, it’s nearly nonexistent.

A collaborative agreement between Logan Health, Glacier County, and the Blackfeet Reservation is keeping some emergency services operating along the Hi-line. The agreement is a rarity and has stirred up renewed interest in the creation of healthcare consortiums to help keep critical care facilities operating in rural Montana. Listen to the podcast to hear Ryan Pitts from Logan Health, Rich Rasmussen from the Montana Hospital Association, and state Representative Geraldine Custer discuss why these types of collaborative efforts might be the future of rural health care.

As the state continues to grapple with an EMS shortage, college programs are exploring ways to expand and enhance the state’s pool of first responders.