History

Four young doctors, already busy enough in their solo practices of frontier-type medicine, met under the leadership of Dr. E.M. “Pa” Larson, a general practitioner and surgeon, and decided to become a clinic of specialists. Thus, the Great Falls Clinic, the first group practice in Montana, and one of the first in the West, was born in 1917. Joined by a desire to improve medical care in North central Montana, these four general practitioners felt they could practice more effectively and efficiently through group practice. This pioneering tradition of medicine continues to thrive today at the Great Falls Clinic.


Our Founders

Dr. E.M. Larson, General Practice and Surgery Dr. P. F. Kearney, Obstetrics Dr. R. B. Durnin, Internal Medicine Dr. E. M. Porter, Orthopaedics


Timeline
Patient Centered, Physician Led

1917

Great Falls Clinic opens

1928

Great Falls Clinic moves to the Strain Building in Great Falls, Montana

1952

Great Falls Clinic moves to 1220 Central Avenue in Great Falls, Montana

1984

Great Falls Clinic moves to new Main Clinic at 1400 29th Street South in Great Falls, Montana

1989

Great Falls Clinic recruits the first Pediatric Cardiologist to Great Falls

1992

Great Falls Clinic recruits the first Neonatologist to Great Falls

1993

Great Falls Clinic recruits the first Perinatologist to Great Falls

1994

Great Falls Clinic expands the Main Clinic in Great Falls

1995

Great Falls Clinic introduces the region’s first stereotactic breast biopsy

1996

Great Falls Clinic partners with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana

1999

Great Falls Clinic opens the Great Falls Clinic – Surgery Center at 1509 29th Street South in Great Falls, Montana

2000

Great Falls Clinic opens the Northwest Clinic at 1600 Division Road in Great Falls, Montana

2000

Great Falls Clinic introduces region’s first “open” MRI

2003

Great Falls Clinic implements the region’s first electronic medical record (EMR)

2004

Great Falls Clinic recruits physicians for its new Hospitalist program

2005

Great Falls Clinic opens new Specialty Center and Clinic Cancer Care at 3000 15th Avenue South in Great Falls, Montana

2006

Great Falls Clinic and Essentia Health partner acquire Central Montana Surgical Hospital at 1411 9th Street South in Great Falls, Montana

2009

Central Montana Surgical HospitaI officially changes its name to Great Falls Clinic Medical Center

2011

Great Falls Clinic, Great Falls Clinic Surgery Center and Great Falls Clinic Medical Center partners with Nashville based Symbion, Inc. to support continued growth and development of healthcare services in Great Falls

2014

Groundbreaking for new Great Falls Clinic Medical Center replacement facility located at 3010 15th Avenue South

2015

Great Falls Clinic Medical Center officially changes its name to Great Falls Clinic Hospital

2015

Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation is created

2016

Great Falls Clinic Hospital Grand Opening January 5, 2016

2017

Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation receives $1 M seed donation to build Harold & Carmen Poulsen Legacy Housing patient housing

2019

Montana Plastic Surgery Center affiliates with the Great Falls Clinic

2019

Surgery Partners acquires Great Falls Clinic, LLP

2020

Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation breaks ground on Harold & Carmen Poulsen Legacy Housing facility

2021

Great Falls Clinic Legacy Foundation opens Harold & Carmen Poulsen Legacy Housing to patients

2022

Great Falls Clinic Surgery Center expansion is completed

2022

Great Falls Clinic Hospital breaks ground on new West Wing and Tower addition