Colette Mild

David Mark

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The name will change, but the mission of the Heritage Health Center will not change in a merger scheduled to take effect June 1.

HHC, Powell’s seven-year-old community health center, will merge in June with One Health, a Montana-based health center expanding into Wyoming. Both HHC and One Health are federally qualified health centers.

With the merger, the legal name of the entity — Heritage Health Center — will give way to One Health.

“But some branding will have both logos, so the spirit of HHC will still be maintained,” said Colette Mild, chief executive officer of Heritage Health Center. “Our philosophies remain the same, and our commitment to the community and our patients will not change.”

With a staff of 30, HHC is based in Powell but has satellite clinics in Greybull and Lovell. 

“This merger will increase our patients’ access to health care services, including behavioral health, dental, vision and pharmacy,” Mild said. “We are excited to expand our current offerings and add other services.”

One Health is headquartered in Hardin, Montana, and has seven Montana clinics in Ashland, Hardin, Miles City, Glendive, Lewistown, Chinook and Harlem.

One Health began its expansion into Wyoming in the fall of 2021 with the purchase of a building in Sheridan. The Sheridan clinic is set to open in the summer of 2022.

“This expansion helps build an integrated health care delivery system throughout east central Montana and northern Wyoming,” said Dr. David Mark, CEO of One Health. 

The merger with HHC comes about after a shared identification of health care challenges in the region, a deliberative process involving One Health and Heritage Health Center, Mark said. Those challenges include high levels of chronic disease, lack of access to behavioral health and substance abuse treatment, provider shortages and an aging population. 

“Bringing our two organizations together will boost our ability to meet these challenges,” Mark said. “In short, we’re better together.”

He emphasized that what community members most need and love about HHC and One Health will not change.

“Both will continue to offer all existing programs and services, and with each other’s help, will expand those services over time,” Mark added.

A board of local community members provides direction to ensure One Health remains true to the specific needs of each area, Mark said. 

Mild will have a new role in the One Health organization. She will become vice president of business operations and finance for the entire One Health operation and all its sites.

“I will maintain a Powell office, as will all staff currently working in Powell,” she said. “We have already posted several new positions with One Health that will be housed in Powell or one of our other Big Horn Basin sites.”

The recent purchase of the former Fitch Building in Powell will provide additional space for Heritage One Health operations in Powell. HHC presently has 3,300 square feet of working space in the 100 block of North Bent Street in Powell. In the Fitch building, Heritage One Health will have 11,000 square feet of usable space.

Remodeling of the Fitch building to accommodate a health care clinic is a next step. A RFQ (Request for Qualifications) will go out soon for architectural services, and design work will begin after a selection is made. A capital campaign may be initiated to secure needed funding.

“We are hoping to be moved in next summer or fall (2023) if we are able to secure funding, and construction can be coordinated in the current market,” Mild said.