A new chapter in rural healthcare is unfolding in Harlowton, Montana, where construction is underway on a cutting-edge medical facility designed to meet the community’s growing needs. The new building for Wheatland Memorial Healthcare is expected to be completed by February 2026 and will replace a facility that has served the area for over seven decades.

Originally opened in 1951, the current hospital has evolved from a full-service medical center into a critical access facility, providing essential services to the remote region. However, its aging infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with the demands of modern healthcare.

“The care here really is critical,” said Terry Tellock, Director of Facilities at Wheatland Memorial Healthcare. “It's very important, especially for the children.”

For years, the facility has remained a lifeline for Harlowton and surrounding rural areas, providing both urgent and long-term care. Yet, the challenges of operating out of an outdated building have become increasingly apparent. Electrical systems, plumbing, and space limitations have created bottlenecks in patient care and efficiency.

“Time is catching up with us," Tellock admitted. "As the equipment has grown to meet certain codes, unfortunately our building has not."

The construction of a new, state-of-the-art medical facility is not just a structural upgrade—it’s a strategic investment in rural health equity. The facility is being built with evidence-based design principles, focused on improving patient outcomes through better layouts, newer technology, and streamlined operations.

“The efficiency we will gain, the state-of-the-art equipment," said Donna Neste, CEO of Wheatland Memorial Healthcare, expressing her enthusiasm for the project.

The new facility will continue to offer the full range of current services, including swing intermediate care, a critical offering for elderly patients who require support between acute hospitalization and long-term care. Neste noted that, on average, around ten patients are in swing care at any time—many of them seniors in need of continuous monitoring and rehabilitation.

Importantly, the hospital will continue to serve as a lifesaving option for patients in and around Harlowton, especially given the nearest alternative medical centers are in Lewistown or Billings, hours away by road.

“That access saves lives,” Neste said, underlining the critical importance of having medical services close to home.

This sentiment is echoed by Tellock, who emphasized the value of proximity in emergencies: “You don’t think about an emergency until there’s an emergency," he said. “Knowing that there’s a facility to take care of your needs in 10 minutes or 15 minutes is amazing."

In Montana, rural healthcare providers face growing pressure as many senior centers close due to changing Medicaid reimbursement rates. Against that backdrop, the decision to maintain all long-term care services at the new Harlowton facility provides hope and continuity for families in the region.

“Having access to high-quality healthcare close to home is a win,” Neste added.

The new building will also eliminate the inefficiencies of the current setup, which evolved through a patchwork of expansions and add-ons over the years.

“We will still continue to offer all of the services that we have here,” Neste said. “We just will no longer have to work across a series of structures that were built and added on over time.”

As the construction progresses, community members and staff alike are celebrating what the new facility will mean: not only a safer and more efficient space, but a renewed commitment to ensuring rural Montanans receive the care they need—without having to leave home.

Originally reported by Charlie Clepps in KRTV.