SHD Reun 409 - Shodair Children's Hospital

SHODAIR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Welcome
From the Administrator
It is spring in Montana and a time of
great renewal. It's a time when the birds return
from their long trip south, the children are finally
able to go outside without bulky coats, and the
plants and trees begin to bloom. Another aspect of
spring in Montana is our wildly unpredictable
weather. It can be warm and sunny one day, and
then a spring snowstorm can blow through,
plummeting temperatures forty or fifty degrees and
blanketing the landscape with numerous inches of
snow the next. These spring storms are short lived,
and we know that summer is close at hand.
Here at Shodair Children's Hospital, we are
constantly in a state of renewal. We assess our
programs and processes to see how we can
improve to continue providing high quality
services to children and families across the state.
Our clinical staff, in both psychiatry and genetics,
led by the medical staff, continually reviews and
changes our programs to meet or exceed the
standard of care in both areas. Through this
re-evaluation process, we are able to offer
state-of-the-art services right here in Montana.
As of this writing, we are in the middle of our
budgeting cycle. Shodair has been effected by the
economic downturn just as everyone else has
been across the nation. As the financial stability of
some families deteriorates, they become stressed;
incidents of abuse, neglect, and emotional problems
rise. This comes at a time when some families have
lost health insurance coverage in conjunction with
the loss of a job. Throughout Shodair's long history,
we have been able to provide services to those
who don't have the means to pay for them.
We are able to do so thanks to the kind support
of the people of Montana.
Jack Casey
Shodair Children’s Hospital
Administrator
Additionally, we are able to provide services
because of support we receive from the Montana
Legislature. This session, HB 71, sponsored by
Representative Diane Sands (D - Missoula), is vital
to Shodair's ability to provide services to
Montana's Medicaid population. This bill
provides funding to hospitals to bring their
Medicaid reimbursement levels closer to the cost
of services. The Legislature has also been very
supportive of the Montana Medical Genetics
Program and the Newborn Screening Program,
a partnership between Shodair and the Montana
Department of Public Health and Human Services.
At this time of great uncertainty for many, our
spirits have been renewed by the unwavering
support of our generous donors and members
of the Legislature, and we look forward to
many more seasons of serving Montana's
families together.
Sincerely,
John P. Casey