Dr. Frank Newman Rural Health Award

Providing healthcare to rural communities throughout Montana, Dr. Gallea and Jennie came to the conclusion that limited resources, difficulty recruiting staff, especially specialized staff, and infrequent high acuity events presented challenges to rural healthcare, impacting their ability to provide consistent high quality patient care. They searched for a solution that was efficient and effective both fiscally and through patient outcomes. They discovered the CALS program developed in Minnesota. They invested their time and resources to research the CALS Program and in 2012 traveled to Minnesota to take a CALS course. They determined the new program was well suited for Montana’s rural healthcare facilities, to improve clinician skills and build confidence to improve patient outcomes. Dr. Gallea and Jennie worked with the Minnesota CALS program to become certified instructors and brought the program back to Montana. They have tirelessly recruited, trained, and mentored healthcare clinicians to be CALS Instructors. They have acclimated their knowledge and skills to utilize their creativity to build training materials that provide a realistic, simulated learning environment for course participants to enhance knowledge and skill acquisition. They have traveled throughout Montana, teaching and transporting course equipment in anything large enough that would roll down the road. They adapted their teaching to present courses in a variety of environments that reflect the uniqueness of rural Montana. Through their tireless commitment to mentor rural healthcare clinicians to gain knowledge and improve skills, they continue to reflect Dr. Frank Newman’s spirit in their service to rural communities and healthcare throughout Montana.