MISSOULA, Mont. — Community Medical Center in Missoula is preparing to make significant changes to how pediatric intensive care services are provided, a decision that has sparked concern among dozens of nurses and physicians.
Hospital leadership confirmed that the hospital will transition away from its current Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) staffing model and instead provide pediatric critical care support through a 24/7 telehealth-based system.
According to Community Medical Center, declining PICU patient volumes over the past several years have made it increasingly difficult to sustain on-site pediatric intensive care staffing.
Under the new model, nurses, staff and clinical support teams will continue caring for what the hospital describes as “acutely ill” children with around-the-clock telehealth support from pediatric critical care specialists. Children requiring a higher level of care will be transferred to a children’s hospital outside of Missoula.
In a statement provided to NBC Montana, hospital officials said the transition will allow the facility to provide “safe, dependable pediatric critical care while maintaining continuity for both patients and care teams.”
However, the decision is facing pushback from medical professionals within the hospital.
A group of 45 nurses and physicians signed a letter to Community Medical Center leadership urging administrators to reconsider the change. In the letter, staff members argue that telemedicine physicians cannot perform bedside assessments during potentially life-threatening emergencies and expressed concerns about the impact the new system could have on patient care.
The letter also raises concerns about the burden placed on families whose children may need to be transferred for advanced treatment, arguing that travel requirements could separate patients from local support systems and potentially increase risks associated with care.
According to the letter, the new care model is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 1.
The development comes less than a year after another major healthcare change in Missoula. On Oct. 10, 2025, St. Patrick Hospital announced the closure of its obstetrics unit, citing external challenges that included declining birth volumes and workforce shortages.
At the time, staff members at St. Patrick’s Family Maternity Center also voiced concerns about the decision, sending a letter to hospital leadership regarding the closure and the short timeline for implementation.
NBC Montana will continue following developments surrounding Community Medical Center’s pediatric intensive care changes and what they could mean for families across Missoula and western Montana.