About Benefis

Nationally Ranked, with Care Close to Home

Benefis Health System serves about 230,000 residents in a vast, 14-county region. But we never forget that the best care is personal, and we treat each patient as we would a friend or family member. We’re here to help you live the best life possible.

Building on a Legacy of Compassion and Courage

The people who built what would become Benefis Health System made their way to a young Great Falls by rutted wagon tracks, steamboat, horseback, and foot. They set for us a path of community, selfless services, and faith in the future that continues to guide us.

Our history began in 1892 with the arrival of Mother Mary Julian and a small team of Catholic Sisters of Providence nuns committed to the “pious, joyful” work of caring for patients and who later established Montana’s first school of nursing.

In 1898, Methodists led by the Rev. William “Brother Van” Van Orsdel opened what became the Montana Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls, led to stable footing after a shaky start by nurse director Augusta Ariss, “The Florence Nightingale of Montana.”

On July 1, 1996, leaders of Columbus Hospital and Montana Deaconess Medical Center signed a merger agreement to form Benefis, recognizing that one strong healthcare system would better meet the challenges to come than two struggling hospitals.

Today, our system includes 226 inpatient hospital beds in Great Falls; numerous outpatient clinics; 400+ employed providers; more than 200 long-term care and assisted living units; two of Montana’s essential rural critical access hospitals; and many other services that improve the health of our community.

We serve a vast region of Montana, with our service area extending across 42,000 square miles, and our case management services are present in 94% of Montana’s counties.

National Recognition

We are committed to being the best health system in Montana, and it shows. Benefis has received various awards from leading rating organizations, and we surpass national standards in areas such as coronary procedures, stroke care, and pulmonary care, according to Healthgrades.

Benefis Named Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare by Beckers

Becker’s also recognized Benefis Health System as a top place to work in healthcare from 2014 to 2019 and in 2024. The list highlights hospitals, health systems, and healthcare companies that “go above and beyond to foster outstanding workplace culture” and commit to supporting their teams. Benefis was the only Montana health system included.

Learn More About This Award

Learn More About Benefis Health System

Our Mission and Vision

As the largest health system in northcentral Montana, we understand our responsibility to our patients and community. Our mission and vision make that clear:

Mission

We provide excellent care for all, healing body, mind, and spirit.

Vision

To be the best health system in Montana.

Comprehensive Care

Patients come to Benefis from across northcentral Montana for a wide range of care. Our health system includes the Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute, Heart and Vascular Institute, Spine institute, Orthopedic Center of Montana, women’s & children’s services, emergency medicine, and much more. In each specialty area, our patients get personalized care that considers not just their physical health, but their emotional well-being as well.

Benefis goes the extra mile with every aspect of our care. For example:

Our Emergency Department provides advanced care to help revolutionize the way we care for our most critical patients.
Our Native American programs ensure that our Native American patients and their families receive care in a culturally sensitive manner.
We provide more than 30,000 home health visits each year, extending our services into the most comfortable, convenient place possible for our patients.
Benefis providers engage in regional outreach, providing consultation through telemedicine and in-person clinics throughout northcentral Montana.
Our robust continuum of care includes everything from newborn care to home medical equipment and hospice care.
We serve more than nine out of 10 Montana counties with community-based outreach services.