When patients in rural Montana receive a cancer diagnosis, time matters. So does access to care.
Recognizing the challenges many patients face traveling long distances for treatment, a team of oncology nurses at Logan Health set out to improve the patient experience. Their solution was a nurse-led patient education program paired with a redesigned clinical workflow. It has expanded access to cancer treatment, reduced delays in care and earned national recognition from one of the world’s leading oncology nursing organizations.
The project was made possible through the dedication of Logan Health’s oncology team and support from the Logan Health Foundation and generous community donors who invest in advancing healthcare across Northwest Montana.
In April, the team was selected to present its work at the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Congress, an international conference representing more than 40,000 oncology nurses worldwide. What began as a submission for a poster presentation was elevated to a primetime podium presentation, a distinction awarded to only a small number of the conference’s highest-rated abstracts.
“It was incredibly rewarding,” said Brandy Thornberry, AS, RN, OCN, one of the project’s leaders. “We spent four years developing this program, and then we had the opportunity to share it with nurses from across the country and around the world. To be selected for a podium presentation at your first ONS Congress is a huge honor.”
The project grew out of a challenge familiar to many rural healthcare organizations.
Historically, patients beginning chemotherapy were required to attend lengthy one-on-one education appointments before treatment could begin. While important, those appointments often required patients to make additional trips to Kalispell, consumed valuable nursing resources and limited the number of new patients who could start treatment each day.
The oncology team saw an opportunity to create a better experience.
Over four years, nurses collaborated with physicians, clinic staff, leadership and Logan Health’s marketing team to develop a four-part chemotherapy orientation program. The video series introduces patients to the infusion center, care team and treatment process while providing education in a format patients can access whenever they need it.
The project was supported in part through Foundation-funded resources dedicated to improving cancer care and patient education. Community philanthropy helped make the program’s development possible and continues to support educational opportunities that allow Logan Health caregivers to bring innovative ideas back to Montana.
“We wanted to meet patients where they are,” Thornberry said. “When someone is newly diagnosed with cancer, they’re often overwhelmed. This gives them the opportunity to learn at their own pace, revisit information and include family members in the process.”
The results have been remarkable.
Since launching in January 2025, Logan Health’s infusion center has increased its capacity for new chemotherapy starts from approximately two patients per day to as many as six patients per day during periods of peak demand.
For patients, the impact goes beyond convenience.
Many no longer need to make a separate trip for chemotherapy education before beginning treatment.
“In our previous model, patients often had to come in days before treatment for education,” said Jenna LaRose, BSN, RN, OCN. “Now they can review the information ahead of time and arrive prepared for their first treatment. For patients who live hours away, that’s a huge benefit.”
The new workflow has also reduced scheduling delays and freed nurses to spend more time delivering direct patient care.
“If someone has cancer, they don’t want to hear they have to wait weeks to begin treatment,” Greg Linstrom, BSN, RN, OCN, said. “Our goal was to help more patients get started faster and make the process easier for them and their families.”
The program was built specifically with rural patients in mind. Educational videos are available on Logan Health’s website and in multiple formats, including DVD, USB drive and in-clinic viewing options, ensuring patients can access information regardless of internet connectivity or technology barriers.
The team’s work quickly drew attention from healthcare professionals across the country.
Conference attendees filled the presentation room and asked detailed questions about how the workflow was developed and implemented. Nurses from other rural organizations expressed interest in adapting the model for their own communities, including healthcare teams from Wyoming and other western states.
“What was exciting was seeing how applicable this model is for other rural healthcare organizations,” said Leah Scarmuzzo, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, AOCN, who mentored the project and helped guide its development. “The challenges we face in Montana are similar to those faced by rural communities across the country. Our team created something that can improve care for patients well beyond our region.”
The experience also reinforced something many conference participants did not expect: that a health system in rural Montana is innovating alongside some of the nation’s largest cancer centers.
“We came away realizing just how advanced many of our programs are,” Thornberry said. “We’re benchmarking against nationally recognized cancer institutes, and in some areas we’re doing things that surprised people. That was a proud moment for our team and for Logan Health.”
For Scarmuzzo, the project also highlights the importance of investing in caregivers and continuing education.
“Community support through the Logan Health Foundation plays a critical role in innovation,” she said. “Donor generosity allows our teams to pursue education, implement new ideas and continuously improve care for patients across Montana. This project is a perfect example of how that investment comes back to directly benefit patients.”
Several members of the team attended the conference, including Leslie Lidstrom, MA, in the Radiation Oncology department, through scholarships and educational support, allowing them to learn from peers nationwide while sharing Logan Health’s success story on a national stage. Leslie said, “It was rejuvenating to see over 3000 professionals come together with one common goal—to deliver exceptional patient care.”
Scarmuzzo also presented at the conference on the successful development of a rural BiTE (Bispecific T-cell Engager) therapy program that allows adult and pediatric patients to receive advanced cancer treatment close to home. The presentation highlighted the extensive planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, staff education, safety protocols, and standardized workflows required to safely administer this complex therapy in a community setting rather than referring patients to distant urban cancer centers. The session demonstrated that with the right infrastructure and coordination, rural health systems can deliver innovative, high-acuity cancer treatments safely and effectively. For Logan Health patients, this work expands access to cutting-edge therapies, reduces the burden of travel, improves continuity of care, and helps ensure that patients and families can remain connected to their local support systems while receiving specialized treatment.
As the team continues implementing new ideas inspired by the conference, they hope their work serves as a reminder that groundbreaking healthcare innovation doesn’t only happen in major metropolitan areas.
It happens when dedicated caregivers, supportive communities and generous donors work together with a shared commitment to improving lives.
Through the support of the Logan Health Foundation and the determination of a passionate oncology team, patients across Montana have greater access to timely, high-quality cancer care close to home.
And what began as a solution for rural Montana is now becoming a model that healthcare organizations across the country are looking to follow.
To learn more about Logan Health’s cancer care and team of specialists, please visit logan.org/cancer.