News & Events

By Russ Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS It isn’t about you. I think one of the most important things that we, the medical community, are failing to impress upon society, is that it isn’t about you. We’ve beaten the horse, ad… more

By Elizabeth Farnsworth, MD, PhD, Pediatrician Teenage moods are a popular topic in tv shows, social media parenting groups, and even comedies. The quick fluctuation from happy to sad, excited to mad seems baffling to adults, many of whom do… more

Cynthia Decker-Riddle, OD Joins the Great Falls Clinic Vision Center July 8, 2020 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Cynthia Decker-Riddle, OD, optometrist, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our Vision Center team. Dr. Decker has… more

Rafael Martinez, DO Joins the Great Falls Clinic Hospital Emergency Department July 6, 2020 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Rafael Martinez, DO, Emergency Medicine, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our ER team. Dr. Martinez… more

Benjamin Keggi, DO Joins the Great Falls Clinic Family Medicine Department June 25, 2020 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Benjamin “Ben” Keggi, DO, to our Family Medicine team. Dr. Keggi is a Great Falls, Montana native… more

By Elizabeth Farnsworth, MD, PhD, Pediatrician Nothing is quite as refreshing as a glass of cold water on a hot summer day. Warmer days come along with increased time outside, especially for children. With all the fun from being outside,… more

Getting ready for the new school year and sports? Great Falls Clinic Pediatrics can help! Did you know that we offer sports physicals at no additional cost to you if done at your general well-child exam? Avoid the summer rush… more

by Great Falls Clinic Pediatrics Ouch! Nobody likes to hear that sound from their child, and it can be especially distressing when it’s due to an insect bite. As the weather in Montana warms up, the number of insects increases,… more

by Great Falls Clinic Pediatrics I have been surprised by the number of families who do not use sunscreen for their children! Here is Montana we may not get as many sun-filled days as in southern states, but we can still… more

May 26, 2020 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Julie Kuykendall, MD and Lisa Edmister, APRN-CNM to our Women’s Health team. Dr. Kuykendall and Lisa will work together to begin and expand the Great Falls Clinic’s Women’s… more

The expectation of adding a newborn to your family can be a period of excitement as well as apprehension. There seems to be so much to do and learn and so little time! Parents may have several questions, some of… more

By Russ Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS I received a message from my mother last night, telling me that my brother was going to be coming to spend the night, and bringing his daughter. She was going to “spray them with… more

by Nicole White, MS, RN, CPNP We are entering an unprecedented time full of uncertainty and worry in this country. The COVID-19 virus has caused many changes for the families of this community. It can be especially stressful as parents… more

By Russ Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS Novel coronavirus 19, aka COVID-19 has already become a topic of intense media scrutiny, perhaps with some justification. One of my frustrations as a clinician, is the extent of sensationalist, trash news through which… more

By Russell Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS I love healthcare students. When it’s an option, I’ll only allow student nurses to give my annual flu shot. Whenever I could, I precepted the student RNs in the telemetry unit. I was a… more

February 28, 2020 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Dustin Riddle, DPM, DC, MHA, to our Podiatry team. Dr. Riddle will work alongside Dr. Andrew Lindekugel in the Great Falls Clinic Specialty Center Podiatry Department. Dr. Riddle… more

By Russell Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS It’s February, and we’ve already had weeks below zero. It’s a leap year, so if this February is anything like last February, we get to look forward to an extra day of record cold… more

By Russell Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS “Mad vapes, bro”. I’m at a stoplight again, and the car next to me is billowing vapor, like a steam-powered locomotive. I think it looks a little ridiculous, but some “vape enthusiasts” intentionally modify… more

By Russell Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS It always comes as, “there’s one more thing”. It’s almost always the real reason for the appointment. “Wait, there’s one more thing…” We’ve been talking for many minutes, I’m reviewing my findings, actions and… more

Eric Sievers, DNP, FNP-C Joins the Great Falls Clinic Hospital Emergency Department December 3, 2019 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Eric Sievers, DNP, FNP-C, to our Emergency Department team. Eric is a Montana native and has… more

By Russell Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS Like a 19th century snake oil salesman, CBD (Cannabidiol) oil has rolled into town and is promising “natural” cures to everything under the sun. “Scrapes, aches, pains – pains in the butt? Gather round,… more

Elizabeth Farnsworth, MD, PhD Joins the Great Falls Clinic Pediatrics Team July 24, 2019 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Farnsworth, MD, PhD, pediatrician, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our pediatrics team at the… more

Andrew Blackman, MD Joins the Great Falls Clinic Orthopedics Team June 1, 2019 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Andrew Blackman, MD, orthopedic surgeon, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our Orthopedics team. Dr. Blackman is… more

By Russell Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS My wife hates healthcare. She hates the dentist. She hates primary care. She seriously hates medical specialists. A ranch-girl, raised with a father whose end-of-life plan is a one-way trip into a random gully… more

Antonio Santin, MD, FACS & Montana Plastic Surgery Center Joins the Great Falls Clinic March 1, 2019 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to announce, the affiliation of the Montana Plastic Surgery Center and Dr. Antonio Santin with the… more

By Russell Herring, DNP, FNP-BC, CSCS As a new prescriber, there are some patient trends that I may still be naïve to, but I was an Air Force officer and I’ve been around the block and I didn’t just fall… more

Clayton Jones, CRNA Joins the Great Falls Clinic Anesthesia Department January 17, 2019 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Clayton Jones, CRNA, to our Anesthesia team at the Hospital and Surgery Center. Clayton is experienced in delivering high… more

Great Falls, Montana, December 17, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to announce that this holiday season they will be giving back over $25,000 to the local businesses of Great Falls, Montana. The Clinic has purchased and distributed… more

This month’s “The Clinic Times ” newsletter highlighting the Great Falls Clinic’s employee of the month, new provider information, health news and more. CLICK HERE to view and download PDF version.

WE INVITE YOU TO BE A PART OF OUR PATIENT AND FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL! Enhancing the patient experience is about focusing on healthcare through the eyes of others.  We request your partnership and invite you to join our new Patient… more

This month’s “The Clinic Times ” newsletter highlighting the Great Falls Clinic’s employee of the month, new provider information, health news and more. CLICK HERE to view and download PDF version.

McKinley Hallfrisch, PA-C Joins the Great Falls Clinic Family Medicine Team  October 24, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome McKinley Hallfrisch, PA-C, back to north central Montana and to our Family Medicine team at the Main… more

This month’s “The Clinic Times ” newsletter highlighting the Great Falls Clinic’s employee of the month, new provider information, health news and more. CLICK HERE to view and download PDF version.

Maddie Johnson, PA-C Joins the Great Falls Clinic Immediate Care Center October 29, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Maddie Johnson, PA-C, to the Great Falls community and to our Immediate Care Center at the Specialty… more

Trevor Evans, CRNA Joins the Great Falls Clinic Anesthesia Department October 8, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Trevor Evans, CRNA, to our Anesthesia team at the Hospital and Surgery Center. Trevor is experienced in delivering… more

Russell Herring, DNP Joins the Great Falls Clinic Northwest Family Medicine Team September 24, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Russell Herring, DNP, to the Great Falls community and to our Family Medicine team at the Northwest… more

This month’s “The Clinic Times ” newsletter highlighting the Great Falls Clinic’s employee of the month, new provider information, health news and more. CLICK HERE to view and download PDF version.

Use the link below to view the Great Falls Clinic’s current joint replacement surgery outcome results. joint-replacement-surgery-results-great-falls-clinic-8-31-18

This month’s “The Clinic Times ” newsletter highlighting the Great Falls Clinic’s employee of the month, new provider information, health news and more. CLICK HERE to view and download PDF version.

Paul Meiners, DO Joins the Great Falls Clinic Pediatrics Department July 31, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Paul Meiners, DO, pediatrician, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our Pediatrics department. Dr. Meiners recently completed… more

Brandon McCafferty, MD Joins the Great Falls Clinic/Ophthalmology/Vision Department June 29, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Brandon McCafferty, MD, ophthalmologist, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our Vision department. Dr. McCafferty is a Great… more

Thomas Scruggs, CRNA Joins the Great Falls Clinic Anesthesia Department June 4, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Thomas Scruggs, CRNA, to our Anesthesia team at the Hospital and Surgery Center. Tom is experienced in delivering… more

Cardiac cath lab coming to Great Falls Clinic in 2018 March 16, 2018 – Dr. Jorge Castriz and Dr. Michael Ritchie, both interventional cardiologists at the Great Falls Clinic, are excited to announce Great Falls Clinic will bring a cardiac… more

Becky Wozniak, DNP Joins the Great Falls Clinic Family Medicine Team March 20, 2018 – The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Becky Wozniak, DNP, to the Great Falls community and to our Family Medicine team at the Specialty… more

Shawn Crook, DO, Joins the Great Falls Clinic Anesthesia Team The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Shawn Crook, DO, to the Great Falls community and to our anesthesia team at the Hospital and Surgery Center. Dr. Crook is a board… more

Andrea Withey, RDN, Joins the Great Falls Clinic Endocrinology Department The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome registered dietitian, Andrea Withey, to our Endocrinology team at the Main Clinic. Withey will join the endocrinology team to expand diabetes care and… more

simple math, right? Well, that about explains the look I sometimes get when trying to explain prostate cancer screening to some of my patients. The topic can be hotly debated, controversial, and confusing even to medical experts. Yet, as a… more

October 17, 2017 by Dr. Gregg Pike, Orthopedic Surgeon & Amanda Murray, RN, WCC, Orthopedic Destination Center Coordinator The direct anterior approach is a less invasive approach that highlights benefits such as a shorter incision, decreased length of stay, and… more

Robert Henderson, MD Joins the Great Falls Clinic to assist Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Patients The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome board certified internist, Robert “Bob” Henderson, MD, to our Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Departments. Dr. Henderson will work… more

Gluten: Friend or Foe? Recent research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention / Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health 2017 Scientific Sessions suggests that eating more gluten may be associated with a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes…. more

Local Great Falls Clinic Laboratory Recognized For Quality Laboratory Services Great Falls, Montana, May 25, 2017 – Great Falls Clinic Laboratory has met all criteria for Laboratory Accreditation by COLA, a national healthcare accreditation organization.  Accreditation is given only to… more

by Dr. Nicholas Bonfilio, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon & Amanda Murray, RN, WCC, Orthopedic Destination Center Coordinator Knee and hip replacements are two of the most common elective surgeries performed in healthcare today. Before deciding to have a total joint replaced,… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Michael Ritchie, MD, to the Great Falls community and to our cardiology team. Dr. Ritchie is a board certified interventional cardiologist, is set to join the Great Falls Clinic Heart Center practice January… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Sharon Lyons, FNP, to the Great Falls Clinic hospitalist team. Sharon will join fellow hospitalists, Dr. Bob Maynard, Dr. Sherry Hong, PA Tim Sinton and FNP Aly Hinderager. Sharon has over five… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Ellen Sparks, MS, PA-C, to our Cardiology department and to our team. Ellen will work alongside Dr. Jorge Castriz in Cardiology at the Heart Center located in the Specialty Clinic. Ellen is… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Kelly Underhill, MD, to our Clinic Cancer Care and Radiation Oncology Department. Dr. Underhill treats both benign and malignant disease in her practice, and has a particular expertise in breast, gynecologic and… more

Great Falls Clinic Announces Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Services We are pleased to inform all Medicare patients that the Great Falls Clinic offers Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (MAWV). Here at the Great Falls Clinic, we believe the annual wellness visit… more

by Dr. Charles Wilson, MD, General Surgeon Erectile dysfunction becomes more common as men age. Very often, erectile dysfunction is a marker for poor cardiovascular health. But it does not have to be a normal part of aging. Men decide… more

July 26, 2016 Great Falls Clinic Providers Move to Specialty Center The Great Falls Clinic Hospital opened in early January this year and as planned, the Immediate Care Center and Family Medicine department will relocate to improve access for emergent… more

July 10, 2016 Great Falls Clinic provider transitions practice to Dermatology The Great Falls Clinic continually strives to enhance services and access to primary and specialty care. Currently Katie Brown, PA-C, formerly at the Northwest Clinic, has transitioned to working… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Ashley Wach, PA-C, to the Great Falls community and to our Walk-In Department in the Immediate Care Center. Ashley has experience in pediatric through geriatric family practice, urgent care, and emergency care…. more

Welcome to our Patient-Centered Medical Home! We are pleased to announce we are now a certified Patient-Centered Medical Home! Three of our locations have been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for achieving the status of Patient Centered Medical… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Jennalie Guthmiller, FNP, to the Great Falls community and to our Family Medicine team at the Northwest Clinic. Jennalie specializes in diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic healthcare and treatment plans for acute and… more

By Dr David Kluge Summertime in Montana means a bustle of activity.  For many, that activity includes heading to the mountains or lake to take in the beautiful scenery of Montana.  That also means getting back to nature.   For some,… more

The Great Falls Clinic Hospital recently invested in a da Vinci Xi ™ Surgical System – expanding robotic surgery options in our community. What does that mean? And what is the da Vinci Surgical System? The da Vinci Surgical System… more

Great Falls, Montana, May 11, 2016 – A hospital is more than a place where people go to heal, it is a part of the community that fosters health and represents hope. From providing treatment and comfort to the sick,… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Kenneth Evans, Au.D., to our team. Dr. Evans will work closely with Otolaryngologists Dr. David Kluge and Dr. Brian Thomas at the Great Falls Specialty Center to provide comprehensive hearing services.  Dr…. more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Tina Woldtvedt, MPT, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our Physical Therapy department. Tina will join physical therapists, Patti Jo Lane, PT, Julie Bliss, MPT, Lisa Grossman, PT and Donna Parker,… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Kevin McCafferty, MD, to our new Emergency Department team. Dr. McCafferty has over 31 years of emergency medicine experience and is excited to continue helping patients in the Great Falls community. Dr…. more

  To Our Patients, As you may know, the Great Falls Clinic Hospital will open its new location on January 5, 2016. As our community prepares for the introduction of a second emergency department in 2016, we wanted to jointly… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Aly Hinderager, MSN, BSN, APRN, FNP-BC, to the Great Falls community and to our hospitalist team. Aly will join fellow hospitalists, Dr. Bob Maynard, Dr. Sherry Hong and PA Tim Sinton. Aly… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Sharla Hart, MD, to the Great Falls community and to our new Emergency Department team. Dr. Hart has over six years of family medicine and over nine years of emergency medicine experience… more

Chris Grotbo, MSN, FNP-C and Leah Schwandt, PA-C Join the Great Falls Clinic Family Medicine Department The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Chris Grotbo, MSN, FNP-C and Leah Schwandt, PA-C, to the Great Falls community and to our… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Anna Earl, MD to the Great Falls community and to our Family Medicine team. Dr. Earl primarily focuses on preventive and wellness medicine for men, women and children; however, she also very… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome David Crossley, PA-C, to the Great Falls Clinic and to our Orthopedic department. Dave will join orthopedic surgeons Drs. Nicholas Bonfilio, Michael Bryant and Gregg Pike to expand services offered to all… more

Dr. Daniel Hodson Board Certified in Foot and Reconstructive/Rearfoot Ankle Surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery Great Falls Clinic Podiatrist Daniel Hodson, DPM was recently declared board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle… more

The Risk Solutions Magazine published their Summer 2015 Brink issue and it featured Great Falls Clinic along with two of our hard working employees: Haley Denzer and Melissa Anstey. A FRESH SET OF EYES How one clinic reduced risk and… more

PodiatryToday Issue Number: Volumne 28 – Issue 5 – May 2015 Author(s): William Fishco, DPM, FACFAS, and Ronald Ray, DPM, FACFAS   Point-Counterpoint: Should You Release Soft Tissues For A Bunionectomy featuring Dr. Ronald Ray, DPM Emphasizing examples of sound… more

Great Falls Clinic Providers Move to Main Clinic The Great Falls Clinic Replacement Hospital is scheduled to be completed late in December. In anticipation of the opening, several departments of the Great Falls Clinic Specialty Center will transition into new… more

WCET Journal Volumne 35 Number 1 – January/March 2015 Case Study: Nicolau syndrome Lori Henderson, RN, BSN Director of Nursing at the Great Falls Clinic Great Falls, MT Karen Zulkowski, DNS, RN College of Nursing, Montana State University of Bozeman… more

GOOD NEWS! GREAT FALLS CLINIC LABORATORIES  RECOGNIZED FOR QUALITY LABORATORY SERVICES The Great Falls Clinic Main, Northwest and ICC laboratories have met all criteria for Laboratory Accreditation by COLA, a national healthcare accreditation organization. Accreditation is given only to laboratories… more

By Nicole White, MS, RN, CPNP Northwest Clinic – 1600 Divsion Road 406-268-1600 Car Seats. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing car seats until age two. Children are frequently turned around early due to parents misunderstanding of the… more

With cases of pertussis being confirmed in Cascade County, we wanted to provide some additional information to educate our patients and the community. The City-County Health Department in Great Falls shared a fact sheet with us and we wanted to… more

Comprehensive Diabetes Program, Great Falls Clinic, LLP was recently named an accredited diabetes education program by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. This will allow residents in and around Great Falls, MT increased access to critical diabetes education services. Diabetes… more

Department of Transportation Mandates New Changes in Physical Exam Procedures The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, which establishes requirements for truck and bus drivers (Commercial Driver’s Licenses), has issued new and more stringent rules for Department of Transportation (DOT)… more

Written by: DR. DANIEL HODSON One of the most frequent questions I am asked as a Podiatrist is, “why feet?” In a world where specialization is much more the norm, and you can see a specialist for just about any… more

Great Falls Clinic announces plans for replacement hospital Written by Briana Wipf Tribune Staff Writer   The Great Falls Clinic announced plans Tuesday to build a facility adjacent to its existing Specialty Center that will house a 19-bed hospital, operating… more

January 27, 2014 Great Falls Clinic Announces Appointment of New Chief Executive Officer GREAT FALLS, MT – Vicki Newmiller, RN, BSN, MHA, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Great Falls Clinic, Great Falls Clinic Surgery Center, and… more

The December issue of Becker’s Hospital Review recently named Great Falls Clinic Hospital as one of hospitals in the United States at which the highest percentage of patients reported their pain was “always” well controlled! Becker’s garnered the data from the Hospital Compare… more

The Great Falls Clinic is pleased to welcome Thomas Alan Warr, MD, FACP (A Fellow in the American College of Physicians), to the Great Falls community and to our Clinic Cancer Care team. Dr. Warr will join medical oncologist Dr…. more