Our History

With the need for additional facilities the construction of a 50-bed hospital was completed in 1920. In 1944, a west wing was constructed to serve as the nurses' dormitory. A few years later, this building was converted to patient services, and the capacity of the hospital was increased to 104 beds. In 1969, an intensive care unit was built, which attached to the original buildings built in 1920 and 1944.

Looking ahead from 1956, the governing board and management at Bozeman Deaconess saw the growth that would come to the Bozeman area, and used that foresight to purchase 500 acres of land in the Hillcrest area. The need for a retirement community became obvious in the 1960s, and a portion of the site became Hillcrest Retirement Community. By the 1980s the downtown hospital had grown old, obsolete and crowded and trustees realized it was time to put the Hillcrest site to its primary use. Construction of the current hospital, located on Highland Boulevard, was completed in 1986. In response to requests for office space by area physicians, attached medical office buildings were constructed. Highland Park 1 opened in early 1990. Highland Park 2 was fully occupied by July 1992.

With a continued need for additional medical offices, Bozeman Deaconess Health Services opened Highland Park 3 in 1998. While its primary function was to provide additional medical office space, the three-story medical office building also houses the Cancer Center (newly integrated and renovated in 2007), the Dialysis Center and Outpatient Services. Highland Park 4 was completed in 2005. The five-story building is home to medical offices and a combined facility for physical therapy, occupational therapy, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and a wound center. Advanced Medical Imaging, a state-of-the-art outpatient radiology center owned by Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Intercity Radiologists, opened on the first floor of Highland Park 4 in September 2005. Perioperative Services (formerly Day Surgery) and PACU (Recovery Room) are now housed on the second floor, along with the Bozeman Deaconess Sleep Disorders Center. The offices of Bozeman Deaconess Women's Specialists and Synergy Medical Spa opened on the fourth floor in 2008.

Bozeman and Gallatin County continue to experience rapid growth, and with that growth comes an increased demand for services. In 1999, two additions to the existing hospital building were completed. The 'new' 10-bed emergency department opened in October 1999, providing additional space and increased patient privacy in a state-of-the-art facility. Plans are underway to expand the emergency department, doubling the size of the unit. A new surgery suite was constructed in 2005, and two new OR suites added, to meet the increased number of surgeries performed at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.

Space within the hospital that formerly housed the business office and emergency department, as well as a portion of the emergency department addition currently house the Patient Registration Center, endoscopy and expanded radiology services. The Cardiac Cath Lab opened in 2003 offering diagnostic catheterizations to 500 patients. In 2005, a specialist in interventional cardiology joined the medical staff at Bozeman Deaconess. In 2009 a new state-of-the-art Vascular Lab opened where radiologists and cardiologists offer minimally invasive procedures to treat vascular disease and blockages.

New nursing stations have been constructed. Patient information is now more up to date, more accessible, and more accurate thanks to bedside electronic patient charts. Mobile computers allow doctors, nurses, and other clinical staff members to easily document vital signs, assessments, and patient care notes and medication administration.

Obstetric delivery rooms were renovated and remodeled to provide delivering mothers with new amenities in updated facilities. The nursery was expanded and reopened in 2008 with a central workstation that gives nurses access to new electronic heart, respiration, and oxygen monitors. New "giraffe" baby warmers not only provide comfort and isolation for premature babies or those with complicated conditions, but also feature built-in resuscitation systems ensuring emergency care is instantly at hand at all times.

Patient rooms and corridors have been remodeled as well. In the first twenty years Bozeman Deaconess Hospital has been at its Highland Boulevard address the number of employees grew from 425 to 1,000. In 1986 there were 60 physicians on medical staff; today more that 125 physicians representing nearly 30 specialties have medical staff privileges.

In May 2006, Phase I of a new integrated Cancer Center opened to treat the ever-growing number of cancer patients in our community. Phase II was completed in November 2006. Hillcrest Senior Living Neighborhood for independent and assisted living opened 32 new Aspen Pointe apartments in 2006.

During 2006, Bozeman Deaconess Health Services-the not-for-profit umbrella organization that owns and operates Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Bozeman Deaconess Health Group, Hillcrest Senior Living Neighborhood, Highland Health Park and satellite outpatient clinics-made the decision to put the capital assets in the 400 undeveloped acres it owns to work helping keep basic health care affordable. The first project planned, The Knolls, is for 78 residential cottages and bungalows in the Hillcrest Neighborhood that will be age-qualified for people 55 and over. Bozeman Deaconess Health Services has also purchased property in Belgrade for future medical services and in 2009 relocated Patient Financial Services, Bozeman Deaconess Health Group offices and Hospice to 1600 Ellis.

In 2011, Bozeman Deaconess Hospital will celebrate 100 years of serving the community.