'We need your help': A message from St. Peter's Health caregivers

Brooke O'Neil COVID

Photo by Thom Bridge, Helena Independent Record
Intensive care unit nurse Brooke O’Neil takes a moment to herself after caring for a COVID-19 patient in December.

September 1, 2021

Dear Community:
 
It’s us again – the caregivers from St. Peter’s Health. We shared an urgent message with you in early November 2020 encouraging everyone to mask up, avoid gathering in groups and take other important prevention measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Our message now?

 “We need your help, again, Montana.”

Today, as we see COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge after vaccination rates have flattened, we’re asking for your help again. If you’re not vaccinated and eligible, please get vaccinated. It’s safe, free and readily available in our community.
 
Most importantly, vaccines are the most effective tool we have in the fight against COVID-19.
 
Early in the pandemic, we didn’t have many tools to help fight the new virus. We all made significant sacrifices to slow the spread and save lives. Now, we know that vaccines not only help slow transmission, but also help prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death. Today, well over 90 percent of people in hospitals across the country due to COVID-19 complications are not vaccinated.
 
Vaccination efforts during the past seven months continue to confirm that vaccines are safe and effective. In the U.S., over 180 million people are fully vaccinated, including hundreds of thousands of health care workers. On Aug. 23, the FDA granted full approval of the Pfizer vaccination.
 
The unvaccinated population leaves thousands of people—including children—more vulnerable to the virus. Continued spread encourages dangerous mutations like we’re seeing with the much more contagious Delta variant, which is causing a surge of hospitalizations and deaths among the unvaccinated across our country. It is not uncommon recently at St. Peter’s to have half, or more than half of our ICU beds filled with people experiencing complications from the virus, and a quarter of our medical floor beds.
 
When someone is hospitalized with COVID-19, we use all the tools we have to make them better again, but by the time someone unvaccinated is exposed, we’ve lost the most effective tool in our fight against the virus: vaccination. 
 
That’s why we’re asking for your help again. Please get vaccinated if you haven’t. While we may want to be done with COVID-19, the virus isn’t done with us.
 
As always, we’re in this together and together we’ll get through this.
 
Sincerely,
 
~ St. Peter’s Health Caregivers

  • A Rasmussen RNC 
  • Aaron Gams ICU RN
  • Aaron Padilla RN
  • Abby Hunthausen, RN
  • Abigail Todd NP
  • Adam Plate, MD
  • Addy Barrett, RN
  • Al Weinert MD
  • Alexa Graff RN
  • Alexia Caldwell, RN
  • Alice Luehr DNP, RN, CNN
  • Alissa Abentroth, MD
  • Allison Bowlby RN BSN
  • Alvera (Vera) Englund ,LPN
  • Amanda Evans, RN-C
  • Amanda Sell, MSN, RN, CCM
  • Amanda Tyler RT (R)(M)
  • Amberlee F Ferrier
  • Amy Emmert, RN
  • Amy Nelson, RN 
  • Andrea Groom, M.S., APR
  • Andrea Hedblom, PA-C
  • Andrea Mow, D.O.
  • Andrew C Michel, MD
  • Andrew Cupino, MD
  • Andrew Gilbert MD
  • Andy Coil, DO
  • Angie Poole, RN
  • Ann Lansing MS CRNA
  • Anna Kratz
  • Anne Anglim, MD, MS
  • Anthony Green 
  • Anthony Pierini, RN
  • April Lemieux
  • Ashlee Bentley, RN
  • Ashley Carpenter
  • Ashley Coggins, D.O.
  • Ashley Salmon 
  • Barb Slunaker RHIA
  • Bennett MacIntyre
  • Bernadette Miller, LCPC - Behavioral Health with Primary Care
  • Bethany White, CNA
  • Betsy Williams, RNC
  • Beverly Roope FNP-C
  • Bill Carr, RPh
  • Bill Ramsay, Critical Care Paramedic
  • Bill Tonidandel DMD,MD
  • Bill Treharn CRCST,ST
  • Bobbi Soper, RN
  • Bonnie Frey CNA
  • Brad Hornung RPh
  • Bradley Dick, MD, FACR
  • Brandon Newgard, MD
  • Brenda Lockington PA Director
  • Brenna Scofield, DNP, FNP
  • Brett Amestoy
  • Brett Duvall
  • Brian Jensen, RRT
  • Brian Lee, MHA
  • Brian McKeown, CPC
  • Brian Robinson
  • Brian Robinson
  • Brianna Goettel
  • Bridgid Crowley, MD
  • Britany Hoover RNC-OB
  • Britt Ballinger, NP-C
  • Brittany Lee, RNC
  • Brooke Clinch 
  • Bruce Tyler
  • Cailin Martello RN, CGRN
  • Caitlin Gallagher, MD
  • Callie Riggin, MD
  • Carey Phelan, DNP
  • Carissa Hatling
  • Carissa Petty, RNC 
  • Caroline Hammond, RNC
  • Carrie Mitton RN
  • Casey Kyler-West
  • Cassie Searle, PA-C
  • Cassie Warren RN
  • Cathy Hoveland, LPN
  • Cathy Lay, MD
  • Cecily Townsend
  • Chad Coulter, PharmD
  • Chad FitzGerald, Pharm-D
  • Channa Richardson, RPh
  • Charles Harmon, M.D.
  • Charlotte Skinner, RN-C
  • Cherie Bieber
  • Cheyann Gillespie, CNA 
  • Chloe Marsh Ortho Tech
  • Chloe Marsh Ortho Tech
  • Chris Caniglia, SLP
  • Chris Korow, Software Engineer
  • Christi Davis, TLAP
  • Christina Hudgens, MD 
  • Christine Erickson, LPN
  • Christopher Dumont RN
  • Christy Reiss
  • CINDY BEBEE, PBS
  • Cindy Bultena, MSN, RN
  • Cindy Garcia, Patient Billing Services
  • Cindy Johnson, Medical Coder
  • Cindy Von Bergen,  Medical HUC
  • Claire West, RN 
  • Cooper Lanier
  • Courtney Baldwin, BSN, RN
  • Courtney Radke, RN
  • Cynthia Overturf, RDN, CDCES, BC-ADM
  • Dale Koch, PT
  • Dana Osborne, MD
  • Dana Roberson, RN
  • Danielle DuBose Phlebotomist/Lab Tech
  • Danielle Redfield NP
  • Darby B,CMA 
  • Dave Ellis
  • David A. Krainacker, MD, PhD
  • David Boggs, MD
  • Dawn Denegar Nutrition
  • Dawn Gallinger, PhD
  • Dawn Hannawalt, Patient Access
  • Dayna Benson
  • Deb W. LPN
  • Debbie Berg, CLS
  • Deborah Matthis 
  • Debra Peterson RT
  • Dennis McAlpin
  • Devon Murray
  • Diana Lindstrand, Patient access
  • Diane E. Dean, CTR
  • Diane E. Dean, CTR
  • Diane Miller, CPC, CPC-H, CphT
  • Diane Nowak, M.D.
  • Don Cox, CPA
  • Don Schultz MD
  • Dr. Fred  C. Olson
  • Dr. Tiffany Kniepkamp, MD, FACEP
  • Dr. V. Lee Harrison
  • Drew Malany MD
  • Duane Thomas MD
  • Duanne Duane, PA Scheduler
  • Dwight Thompson, PA
  • Earl Book MD
  • Edward Peachey RN
  • Elaine Beaupre RN CEN
  • Elizabeth Grant, MD
  • Elizabeth Holper MD MPH
  • Elizabeth Miller 
  • Elizabeth Thomas, HTL
  • Elyse Demaray, RN
  • Emili Miller, MSW, SWLC
  • Emily Allen, LPN
  • Emily Bubbers,  MD
  • Emily Hedrick RNC
  • Emily Hedum, DO
  • Emily Sedgwick, RN
  • Emma Johnson, PA-C
  • Erica Buthod CNA
  • Erica Marxer RN OCN
  • Erin Carpenter, PharmD
  • Erin Green, DO
  • Erin Kimball, LTAP
  • Erin Large, RT(R)
  • Erin Peterson 
  • Gianluca Pisciarelli, BHU Director
  • Glenn Arlint Engineer
  • Guthrie Lewis, PA
  • GWENN ROGERS
  • Hannah Pocha
  • Hannah Sieracki, RN
  • Haylie Wisemiller, RN
  • Heather Mitton Patient Account Billing Representative
  • Heidi Bober RN CGRN
  • Heidi Simons, PharmD
  • Helen Schemm, RN
  • Hemanth Modadugu, MBA, MHA
  • Ilene Baumgardner, CPhT
  • Inna Bordewick PA-C
  • J.T. Hinman, PTA
  • Jack McMahon Jr MD
  • Jaelynne Harlan
  • Jaime Larese, RDN CTTS
  • Jaimie Bradley RNC
  • Jake Williams, PA-C 
  • James Bennett MD
  • James Mayberry
  • James Verlanic, MD
  • Jamie Seymour, BSN, RN
  • Jane O'Driscoll, PT
  • Jane Walker CRNA
  • Janet Gates RN MS
  • Janice Spencer Clinical Analyst
  • Jared Phelps, DO
  • Jarrid Watkins, RN
  • Jasmine Doom, CNA
  • Jayme Johnston,  Patient Access Specialist
  • Jayme Schneider
  • Jeff Radke, RN, CEN
  • Jenifer Dodge, MD, FAAFP, CMD
  • Jenn Doughty, RN
  • Jenna Cederberg
  • Jennifer Baker
  • Jennifer Colegrove, RDN
  • Jennifer Daly RN
  • Jennifer Gable, CCMA
  • Jennifer Marshall
  • Jennifer McKay, RNC
  • Jennifer Nye, RN
  • Jennifer Pappas
  • Jennifer Reinstadler, RNC
  • Jennifer Rude, CRCST
  • Jennifer Sinrud, RN
  • Jennifer Taylor BSN, RN, CCRN 
  • Jenny Bishop, RN
  • Jenny M. Chambers 
  • Jenny Taylor, Senior Director of Finance & People Operations
  • Jesica George, RT(R)
  • Jess Humber, RN
  • Jessica Bailey, MD
  • Jessica Bennett, RN
  • Jessica Lukenbill, RNC
  • Jessica M. Parson, MD
  • Jessica Smith, DO
  • Jill Wagenhals
  • Jim Tarver, MD
  • Joan Abramson PAS
  • Jodi Aschim, RNC
  • Jody Fletcher RN 
  • Joe Boule, CRT, RPSGT
  • Joe Murphy MD
  • John D Gleich
  • John Elliott, CBSPD
  • John Galt, MD
  • John Garcia
  • John Horning, MD
  • John Michelotti, md
  • Jonathan Griffin MD
  • Joseph DePaso RN-BC
  • Joseph Maslanka, CT,HT (ASCP)
  • Josh Hudgens, MD
  • Josh Payne, RN
  • Joshua Payne RN
  • Judy Buer, CCS, RHIT
  • Julie Kay TLAP
  • Julie Petre, PharmD
  • Julie Thompson RN
  • Julie Wyant
  • Julie Yates PBT
  • Justin Perry, MD
  • Justin Smith, MD
  • Kady Richards, RN
  • Kaity Deaton, PharmD
  • Kalia Simkins, OBT
  • Karen Farrow,CCMA
  • Karen McCarl, CPC
  • Kari Badger PT
  • Kari Koehler, RN, MSN
  • Karrie Bird, LCPC, MHPP
  • Kassidee Blood, MLS ASCP
  • Kate Garton, BHCA
  • Kate Sigafoos, PAS
  • Katharine Strizich BA, RNC
  • Kathryn Lamach, SWLC
  • Katie Barbee, MSN, RN
  • Katie Gallagher
  • Katie Jorgensen, OTR/L
  • Katrina Howarth, RN
  • Katrina Maher, MD
  • Katy J. Wessel, DO
  • Kaycee Shires (RT) (R) (M)
  • Kayla Morris, CNA
  • Kayla Nicholson, BSN, RN
  • Kelly Adams, RT(R)
  • Kelly Brown, LPN
  • Kelly Hunt, MN,RN,CNL
  • Kelsey Kyle RN 
  • Kelsey Wiegand, RNC
  • Kendon Anderson
  • Kendra Lenhardt
  • Kerry Hale, MD
  • Kerry P Morgan RN OCN
  • Kim Kurokawa, RN, MBA, CCDS
  • Kimberly Pepper, BCC
  • Kishore Karamchandani MD
  • Kolene Gardner
  • Krishana Stoddard, HUC
  • Krista McEachern RNC
  • Kristin Henson CPT
  • Krizia Brooks, PAS
  • Kyla Peterson, PT, DPT, OCS
  • Kyle Moore, D.O.
  • Kyle Spaulding, RN
  • Kyle Waeckerlin EVS 
  • Lacy Walters, PA
  • Lanae Williams, PA-C
  • Laura Bennett, MS, PA-C
  • Laura Plaska, RN
  • Laurie Coverdell Hall
  • Lee Bowlby CMD
  • Lee Travis, MD
  • LeeAnne Yonchek, PA-C
  • Lena Phelps, PA-C
  • Leslie Wilson FNP-C
  • Linda Tyre Rhit
  • Linda Zderick, PT
  • Lindsey Darfler
  • Lindsey Grubb, CNA
  • Linsey Hollow, RNC
  • Lisa Lian, RN
  • Lisa McMahon RNC
  • Lorri Earley, LPN
  • Luanne Tangedal, MS, RN
  • Lyndsay Smith, BSW 
  • M.J. Sarah Riggs, BSN, RNC
  • Mallory Taflan, RNC
  • Mandi Andersch
  • Marcia Rohrer
  • Marcie Rahm, RNC
  • Marcie Rahm, RNC
  • Marcy Reher
  • Margaret F Schaefer
  • Margaret F Schaefer NP.
  • Marie Dominguez, MD Hospitalist
  • Marisa Hardy, RN
  • Marjean Heisler, PT, MPH
  • Mark Kreisberg, MD
  • Mark Mitchell
  • Marlene Steinberg PAS
  • Marsha Eklund
  • Martha Poell, LPN
  • Martin Neubert, PAC
  • Martin St. John, PharmD
  • Mary Kay Linke RT(R)(CT)(MR)
  • Mary Middagh, FNP
  • Mary Overturf BS/BA 
  • Mary Runkel RN CCM
  • MARY SMITH RN
  • Mary Stevens, PT
  • MaryAnn Beach, PA-C
  • Matt Backus
  • Matthew Aakre, CLSp(MB)
  • Matthew Hoezee CNMT, NCT, CT
  • Matthew Hoffman, DNP
  • Mattie Andersen, LCSW
  • McCall Elverum, RN
  • Megan Carr, RN 
  • Megan Lewis 
  • Megan Zawacki, PA-C
  • Meghan Muench, MLS
  • Melissa Gerving RN CPAN
  • Melissa Reed
  • Melissa Tyvand, RD
  • Merrill Taylor, RN
  • Metta Barnhart, RNC
  • Michael Mondloch MD
  • Michael Sanders, RN
  • Michael Strekall, MD
  • Michael Turner
  • Michael Ziegler, RN
  • Michele Johnson
  • Michele Pomeroy, Phlebotomist
  • Michelle Krings, RHIA
  • Michelle Rush, MBA, CPHRM, CHC
  • Mikael Bedell, MD
  • Mikell Vince, RN BSN
  • Miyoko Fisher
  • Molly (Ravi) McKinney, RN MSPH
  • Molly Blythe, RNC
  • Molly Heiman, RN
  • Molly Litchfield, RN, BSN, CNOR
  • Molly Steffan, RN
  • Morgan Smith MD
  • Morgan Teegarden, PA-C
  • Nancy Ellison RN
  • Nancy L. Baylor LPN
  • Natalia Hayes, RN
  • Natalie Clausing, PT, DPT
  • Nicholas Maffei, RN
  • Nicholas Stringer, CNA
  • Nichole Peebles
  • Nicole Clark, MD FAAN
  • Nicole Henley, Hospice RN
  • Nikki Templin, CCMA
  • Olivia Coburn
  • Orpha Smigaj RNC
  • Pam Sasser, RN, ONN-CG
  • Pamela Walter,RN
  • Patti Hunthausen, RT
  • Patti Moody, PAS
  • Paul Clark
  • Paul K Perry, DO
  • Rachel Lunday RRT
  • Raena Whitney
  • Raeya Finkle, Patient Service Tech 
  • Ray Strutzel, OTR/L
  • Rebecca Morgan PAS
  • Reesi Marquis, RN
  • Rene Ingram
  • Renee Olsen, CLS
  • Rhonda Baxter, LPN
  • Rhonda Hinrichs
  • Riki Emerson, RN
  • Rob LaClair MD
  • Rob Maher MD
  • Robert Blank 
  • Robert Smith DO
  • Robin Richardson
  • Rochelle Quist, MN, RN
  • Rose Frank
  • Ryan Rickman CSCT
  • Ryan Winn
  • Sam Hunthausen
  • Sandy Waeckerlin, Pre-registration
  • Sara Churchill, RN
  • Sara Hancock, Lead Technologist Assistant
  • Sara O'Connell, MD
  • Sarah Ahmann Crowley, RN
  • Sarah Elliott, RN
  • Sarah Fenton, MD, FACC
  • Sarah Pemble
  • Savanah Miller ,MHT 
  • Scott Pargot, D.O. 
  • Scott Poortenga RN
  • Serena Martinell, RNC
  • Sevda Raghib RN, MSN, MHA
  • Shaelyn Lantz, CMA
  • Shannon Doom Physical Therapy Lead Tech
  • Shannon Hovde, RNC
  • Shannon Walden, MT(ASCP), MS
  • Shari Hagengruber
  • Sharon Corcoran-Hedstrom, LPN
  • Sharon Kohles, CCS
  • Shayla Barraclough, PharmD
  • Shaylee Sell
  • Shelby Doss, Paramedic
  • Shelly Harkins MD
  • Sheri Renney  
  • Sherry Green 
  • Sherry Kosena BSN, RNC
  • Shirley Konrad   Prior Authorization Specialist
  • Sofie Borzadek, CCMA
  • Stacia Winslow, RN
  • Starla Blank, PharmD, BCPS
  • Stephanie Bauch, RN, BAN 
  • Stephen Mest, M.D.
  • Steven Forsman RN
  • Steven G. Matthes, SR. Director Diagnostics
  • Stormy Lantz, MN, RN 
  • Sue Ditchey-Hellems, CNM, APRN
  • Sue Edelbach
  • Susan Wandrych LPN
  • Tami Schmitt, HUC
  • Tamra Arensmeyer, MLS(ASCP)
  • Tara Mercer, RDN
  • TASA THOMPSON PAS
  • Tawni Potts, RMA
  • Taylor Flynn, CMA
  • Ted Lanier RRT
  • Teresa Boyd
  • Teresa Patten, RDN
  • Terri Stevens
  • Tessa McGree, RN
  • Theresa Jensen, RN, BSN
  • Theresa Metropoulos, SLP
  • Tiffany Morse, CPhT
  • Tiffany Selong, DO
  • Tiffany Sturdevant, RNC
  • Tim Casey, PTA
  • Tim Ferber, MA CCC-SLP
  • Tina Stern, LCSW
  • TJ Lanier, PharmD
  • Todd B. Wampler, MD
  • Tolly Patten, RDN
  • Tom Richardson, PharmD, BCIDP
  • Tom Strizich, MD
  • Toni Easton CMA
  • Tony Huot
  • Traci Tonkovich, RN
  • Tracy Dill, MD
  • Tracy Hansen RN
  • Trent Jensen D.O.
  • Trish Dick - Board Certified Chaplain
  • Veronica Terry 
  • Vicki Ruzicka RN
  • Vickie Caldwell
  • Vincent Serumgard
  • Vonnie Fulbright, PAR
  • Wade Johnson 
  • Wayne Rada, E.V.S.
  • Wietske Wilma Zomer
  • William Gallea, MD
  • William Harper MD
  • William Kussman, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
  • William Snider, DO
  • Zara Kunkler, MLS(ASCP)
     

Important note: We gave employees a short window to sign this letter so this does not represent all employees who support COVID-19 vaccination.