Benefis Health System is one of Montana’s largest tertiary centers, with Level II trauma designation, serving nearly all specialties except burns and organ transplants across a region the size of Kansas. The Heart & Vascular Institute, rooted in over 130 years of healthcare heritage, offers a modern, integrated facility built for coordinated cardiovascular care.
Your practice will be based in a new 20-exam-room cardiac clinic housing cardiac rehab, surgery, electrophysiology, interventional, and non-invasive cardiology—eliminating the fragmented care typical of multi-building systems.
The system includes 226 licensed hospital beds (Great Falls campuses) and over 3,000 employees providing comprehensive care from emergency services to hospice. With 440+ employed providers—a significant rise from 104 a decade ago—Benefis has created a fully integrated, physician-focused model that aligns incentives across specialties.
Your practice is supported by a fully developed cardiac program with advanced interventional, structural, and surgical capabilities. The cath lab offers PCI, Shockwave lithotripsy, rotational atherectomy, IVUS, FFR/iFR, OCT, and mechanical support (Impella, IABP). The structural heart program performs TAVR, ASD/PFO closures, Watchman, and MitraClip procedures.
Electrophysiology covers comprehensive arrhythmia management, including pulmonary vein isolation (pulsed field and cryoablation), atrial flutter, SVT, VT/PVC ablations, and full device services. Cardiovascular surgery completes 50 open-heart cases annually, and vascular surgery provides carotid interventions (TCAR), FEVAR, EVAR, and endarterectomy.
Benefis demonstrates verified clinical excellence and workplace quality. Becker’s Healthcare named Benefis one of the “Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare” seven times (2014–2019, 2024), the only Montana health system recognized, reflecting a strong culture supported by employee surveys and operational data.
Clinical outcomes exceed national standards, with Healthgrades ratings showing superior performance in coronary procedures, stroke care, and pulmonary care. Extensive accreditations and quality measures, particularly in cardiac care, ensure patients receive care meeting rigorous benchmarks.
Benefis extends care beyond Great Falls through regional clinics and critical access hospitals, bringing specialty services closer to remote communities. Helena hosts cardiologist John McHenry, while outpatient clinics in Choteau, Fort Benton, and Lewistown provide additional access, with opportunities for outreach cardiology clinics.
Benefis Teton Medical Center (Choteau) and Missouri River Medical Center (Fort Benton) offer emergency stabilization and basic inpatient care, transferring complex cases to Great Falls. A dedicated air ambulance program ensures rapid transport for urgent cardiac patients across the 14-county service area.
The health system's mission, "We provide excellent care for all, healing body, mind, and spirit", reflects the faith-based heritage of the founding institutions while embracing modern, evidence-based medicine. This mission translates to practical commitments like culturally sensitive care for Native American patients and over 30,000 home health visits annually.
The vision statement, "To be the best health system in Montana", is supported by leadership stability and continuous investment. For practicing cardiologists, this creates an environment where clinical excellence receives real support rather than conflicting with cost-cutting pressures.
The organizational culture emphasizes physician wellness and professional satisfaction. Physician turnover at just 5.4% demonstrates sustained commitment, reinforced by monthly leadership meetings, direct access to executives, and ongoing investment in facilities and staff.
