Benefis Northeast

10/01/2025

Congrats to our team in Lewistown!

Meet the faces of Benefis Lewistown! 💙 Our incredible staff is ready to welcome you at the brand-new Benefis Lewistown clinic.

Join us tonight from 4–6 PM for a Community Open House—tour the space, enjoy some food from local food trucks, connect with our team, and celebrate this exciting chapter in local healthcare with us!

We can’t wait to see you!

09/30/2025

"For Tia K***z, Trauma Outreach and Injury Prevention Specialist at Benefis Health System, the realistic mannequins provide invaluable hands-on learning opportunities that traditional training methods cannot match."

Simulation in Motion Montana brought advanced medical training to Logan Health in Shelby, using high-tech mannequins to train rural hospital staff

09/30/2025

Please welcome Dr. Camie McCaffree! Dr. McCaffree is a physician who provides emergency medical care. She is a former U.S. Army officer who thrives in the fast-paced world of emergency medicine. While growing up in rural Montana, her initial passion for medicine was helping animals, but she grew fond of the human connection and became interested in the wide range of procedures and techniques used in emergency medicine. She recognizes that there is a large spectrum of care provided in the emergency department. “Sometimes you are building a rapport with your patient and ensuring their questions are answered as you get to the root of the problem,” she says. “Other times, family members need as much care and connection as your patient does. You adapt to each patient and each situation to provide the best possible care.”

In her free time, Dr. McCaffree enjoys doing “anything outdoors.” Her favorite activities include hiking and running with her dogs. She is also excited to return to Montana to be close to family and get back into snowboarding.

https://www.benefis.org/find-a-provider/profile/?id=366

09/29/2025

Opening up about your mental health journey—good, bad, or messy—creates space for healing. Let’s make silence a thing of the past. Start a conversation. Be the difference.

09/28/2025

There were days when Gina Fuller watched her tiny daughter, Kendra, in the Benefis Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and wondered if she would ever bring her home or if life would ever feel normal again.

Kendra was born at just 2 pounds, 1 ounce, and spent 89 days in our NICU. Her twin brother, Trevor, was bigger and stronger at first, but he tragically didn’t survive. Gina and Kendra's father, Jim, remember the compassion of the care team who guided them through those terrifying days and even attended Trevor’s funeral in Helena — a gesture the family never forgot.
Now, more than 20 years later, Kendra has returned to the NICU, but this time as a Montana Tech nursing student completing her clinicals. Her experience as a former patient and the daughter of NICU parents gives her a unique ability to connect.

“All the parents do such a good job in what is a scary situation,” Kendra said. “My parents were terrified.” Her mom agrees: “If I had met someone like Kendra back then, it would have been really good for me.” Jim recalls calling fellow NICU families “Gen Pop” because of how much they bonded through the shared experience. He says, “We were all scared to death. To see her thrive now is a cool thing.”

Today, Kendra brings empathy and hope into the same halls where she once fought for her life. She represents the strength of NICU babies, the dedication of their families, and the lasting impact of our caregivers.

09/27/2025

At Sletten Cancer Institute, we stand united in raising awareness for the many types of cancer that touch our patients, families, and community.

This September, our team wore the colors representing:
💛 Childhood Cancer
💜 Uterine Cancer
🧡 Leukemia
🎗️ Lymphoma
💚 Ovarian Cancer
💙 Prostate Cancer
💜 Thyroid Cancer

Together, we honor those fighting, remember those we’ve lost, and support research for a brighter future.

09/26/2025

Join us from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Fire Station 1 (105 9th St. S.) in Great Falls for a free car seat check!

Our team will help you check your child’s car seat and make sure it meets the new safety law that goes into effect Oct. 1. For questions, call Michelle with Buckle Up Montana at 406-788-6012.

09/26/2025

Kathryn Hill, 19, passed away at Benefis Peace Hospice in 2024. The home atmosphere with space for her family and "brave" and "empathetic" staff helped the Hill family through the experience. "My job as a mom was to give Katie a beautiful life, which she had, and to give her a beautiful death," Elizabeth Hill said. "That brings me so much peace, knowing we did that in the best way possible, the way she wanted it."

Elizabeth shares her story to help other families understand how Benefis Peace Hospice can make a hard time better.

09/25/2025

We are heartbroken to share that Benefis podiatric surgeon Dr. Andrew Lindekugel has passed away unexpectedly. He was loved by his patients and colleagues at Benefis, and our hearts go out to everyone who cared about him. He will be so missed.

Dr. Lindekugel improved the mobility - and lives - of many patients at the Benefis Foot and Ankle Clinic of Montana.⁠ He joined Benefis in 2020 and was part of our community since 2017, specializing in podiatric surgery, peripheral nerve repair, clubfoot correction, and wound care with more than 15,000 visits during his time here.

Patients appreciated that Dr. Lindekugel explained their care plan in a way that was easy to understand, easing the stress that often accompanies surgery. Patients praised his sense of humor and kindness, calling him "personable and thoughtful."

09/25/2025

Big feelings call for big creativity. Mercy Flight has unveiled its new Peds Plane — a child-sized toy airplane designed to make the hospital a little less scary for kids and families experiencing emergencies.

Manager of Respiratory Therapy and Mercy Flight Safety Officer Crystal Todd found the plane and made it “Mercy Flight official,” complete with tail number N406PEDS to match the helicopter.

The Peds Plane project also includes Benefis badges that say "Future Flight Crew," coloring pages, wings, stickers, and more. Scott Schandelson, manager of Mercy Flight, assisted with supplying the mini flight suits. The Peds Plane's tail number is N406PEDS, echoing the helicopter's digits.

"One of the things about our program is we are always thinking of ways to make the hospital less intimidating for kids and families," Crystal said. Siblings June and Daniel, whose mom is a Mercy Flight RN, tested the plane this week with lots of giggles.

Crystal has walked children from the ICU and Emergency Department to occupy them when a loved one needs a procedure or to talk with a doctor. The kids get excited to see the Mercy Flight helicopter, and many have told her, "I want to help people when I grow up, too."

09/24/2025

Through unexpected chapters that unfold in your life, Benefis Health System is here when you need us. We are committed to providing excellent care for Montanans — a living promise we have kept for 133 years and counting. We celebrate with our patients and their loved ones through first heartbeats and comeback stories. We reach new heights together, and we grieve final pages with compassion and dignity. With state-of-the-art technology and teams that fight for you, we're here so you can be there for those who need you.

09/24/2025

The purplegold.mt food truck will be outside Benefis Foundation (1200 25th St. S) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 with 10% of sales benefiting the Goodnow Healthy Aging Center! Hope to see you there!