A Century of Excellence: Where Rural Healthcare Achieves National Recognition
Stepping into Barrett Hospital & HealthCare means joining an institution with over a century of dedication to rural healthcare excellence. Founded in 1922, this 18-bed nonprofit Critical Access Hospital has evolved from a frontier medical outpost into one of the nation's most decorated rural healthcare facilities, earning an unprecedented seven Top 20 Critical Access Hospital awards from the National Rural Health Association and 14 consecutive Top 100 recognitions from the Chartis Center. The hospital's 72,000-square-foot main campus, enhanced by a recent $5.6 million expansion completing in November 2025, provides state-of-the-art facilities where you'll practice anesthesia with equipment and resources that rival many larger institutions.
As one of Beaverhead County's largest employers with over 270 staff members and 40+ providers, Barrett Hospital anchors healthcare delivery for Southwest Montana's vast rural landscape. The facility's comprehensive service lines—including emergency care, general surgery, orthopedics, urology, OB/GYN, and specialized programs like cancer infusion therapy—all depend on skilled anesthesia services to operate effectively. Your CRNA expertise becomes the critical link enabling these services to thrive locally, preventing families from making the 65-mile journey to Butte or the 105-mile drive to Bozeman for surgical care. The hospital's recent deficiency-free CMS Health Certification Survey (2023) and Gold Seal Accreditation in Mammography demonstrate the commitment to excellence that permeates every department.
102-year legacy of continuous service to Southwest Montana, creating deep community trust and loyalty
Seven-time Top 20 Critical Access Hospital among 1,300+ CAHs nationwide, validating exceptional quality standards
$5.6 million specialty clinic expansion opening November 2025 with 10 new exam rooms and integrated care environments
270+ employees and 40+ providers creating a robust medical community in rural Montana
Emergency Department with 3,610 annual visits providing 24/7 coverage with dedicated ER physicians
Comprehensive service lines from primary care to specialized surgery, all supported by your anesthesia expertise
Medicare cost-based reimbursement ensuring financial stability through the Critical Access Hospital designation
Barrett Hospital Foundation support funding advanced equipment, technology, and recruitment initiatives
Deficiency-free 2023 CMS survey demonstrating unwavering commitment to quality and regulatory compliance
Understanding Critical Access Hospitals: What Makes Barrett Hospital Special
As a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), Barrett Hospital operates under a specialized federal designation that recognizes its essential role in maintaining healthcare access for rural communities. This designation provides unique advantages for both the hospital and the physicians who practice there.
Critical Mission: Critical Access Hospitals were established through federal legislation to ensure that rural communities maintain access to essential healthcare services that might otherwise be economically unsustainable.
Qualifying Characteristics:
Located in Dillon, Montana, serving rural Beaverhead County and surrounding regions
Situated 65 miles from St. James Healthcare in Butte and 105 miles from Bozeman Health, ensuring Barrett is the primary surgical facility for thousands of residents
Provides 24-hour emergency services with dedicated ER physicians
Limited to 18 staffed beds (under the 25-bed CAH limit), ensuring focused, personalized care delivery
Maintains average length of stay under 96 hours for acute care patients
Financial Advantages:
CAHs receive cost-based reimbursement for Medicare services (21.1% of revenue) rather than prospective payment systems
This reimbursement structure ensures financial sustainability despite serving a rural, often elderly population
Participation in the 340B Drug Pricing Program provides access to reduced pharmaceutical costs
Strong payor mix with 66.6% private/self-pay insurance demonstrates economic stability
CRNA Practice Benefits:
More personalized practice environment with manageable surgical volumes across four specialties
Greater influence on anesthesia protocols and department development
Broader scope of practice including complete autonomy with regional anesthesia
Meaningful role in ensuring surgical and obstetric access for underserved populations
Direct reporting to C-suite leadership, ensuring your voice shapes hospital strategy
Community Impact:
Barrett Hospital serves as the healthcare anchor for Dillon and all of Beaverhead County
Reduces travel burdens for rural residents requiring surgical care or deliveries
Established transfer relationships with tertiary centers in Bozeman, Missoula, and Salt Lake City
As one of the county's largest employers, supports local economic vitality
The hospital's progressive culture embraces innovation while honoring its rural heritage, recently launching Montana's second urology clinic in Butte and expanding cancer infusion services to eliminate travel for chemotherapy patients. The Barrett Hospital Foundation's robust support through community galas and donor investment ensures continuous technological advancement and recruitment of top talent like you. With participation in ACOs including Caravan Collaborative Pathways and Frontier Medicine Better Health Partnership, plus integration with Epic EMR and Carequality HIE, you'll practice in a technologically sophisticated environment that maintains the personal touch of rural medicine.
Barrett Hospital exemplifies the Critical Access Hospital model at its finest—financially stable, technologically advanced, and deeply connected to its community. For CRNAs, this represents the rare opportunity to practice with complete autonomy while being part of an institution that's nationally recognized for excellence. Here, your expertise doesn't just support surgical services; it ensures an entire region maintains access to the surgical and obstetric care that defines a thriving rural community.