Construction begins on housing for medical residents
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RONAN – Medical school graduates rotating through St. Luke Community Healthcare will soon have a permanent housing facility to call home during their residency.
“Our biggest gap was in housing,” St. Luke CEO Steve Todd said adding that the gap is soon to close.
Construction on a 2,000-square-foot housing unit with two kitchens, living space and six rooms began this month on the south side of the hospital across the road from the Extended Care Facility. The concrete was recently poured.
“We anticipate it will be ready around the first of the year,” Todd said.
A combination of sources paid for the project. The St. Luke Community Healthcare Foundation contributed a portion of the cost with donations and fundraisers. The hospital also set aside funding for the project.
After graduating from medical school, students choose a location in the field of study that interests them to complete their required residency training. St. Luke focuses on rural medicine. Residents work alongside licensed doctors and staff to gain experience during each rotation, which is usually about six weeks, and they can utilize the housing facility during that time. Residents continue their rotations for three years.
“It’s a lot of stress coming to a new place,” Todd said. “The last thing we want them to worry about is trying to find a place to stay.”
St. Luke participates in the residency program through the Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana program with the hope of recruiting residents once they finish. The educational housing facility might attract even more residents and future doctors to the area.
