Clark Fork Valley Hospital

03/05/2026

It was a great day yesterday at CFVH to inspire youth and highlight careers in healthcare! The halls were buzzing with lots of energy when the Plains Elementary first graders joined us for a visit. The students learned about movement and frequency waves.

Their time spent in the Rehab department included an obstacle course featuring jumping, balancing and tossing, a tens unit utilized for therapy and learning about the spine and how injury can impact movement.

Then...it was off to meet some of our Imaging professionals who walked them through several hands-on stations representing ultrasound and frequency waves. Ultrasound on a hard-boiled egg caught their attention along with hitting tuning forks off the table and then placing them in water to create a wave effect.

02/20/2026

Our MyHealth Lab Screening Program is available year round and offers reduced rate screening options at CFVH and all of our Family Medicine Network office locations in Thompson Falls, Plains and Hot Springs. No appointment or provider order necessary.

For more information and screening options, visit https://www.cfvh.org/services/laboratory/

02/20/2026

Say goodnight to screens for better sleep.

Could your smartphone be keeping you up at night? Are late nights on your laptop messing with your sleep hormones?

Many of us spend a lot of time looking at screens. If it happens to be near bedtime, the artificial blue light our devices emit has the potential to disrupt our sleep. It makes us alert when we should be getting sleepy.

5 ways to reduce your exposure to blue light.

02/20/2026

Snow packed roads. Black ice. Low visibility. Montana winters create unpredictable driving conditions, and while many of us are heading home, emergency workers are heading toward danger.

Firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, tow truck operators, and road crews work just feet from passing traffic in some of the harshest conditions of the year. They can’t control the weather, but drivers can control their speed.

When you see flashing lights ahead:

🔹 Slow down immediately
🔹 Move over to the next lane if safe
🔹 Give responders room to work

Winter roads increase stopping distance and reduce traction. Slowing down isn’t just courteous, it’s critical because a little space saves lives

You can do your part this winter. Slow down. Move over. Keep Montana’s emergency workers safe.
www.moveovermontana.org

02/19/2026

Are you taking breaks throughout your day? It can be a helpful practice to help you tame your stress.

02/19/2026

Babies spend a lot of their time sleeping. As a parent, one of your most important jobs is to make sure the place your child sleeps is safe. That means choosing a safe crib. It also means using safe bedding.

Here are 10 things you can do to help keep your baby safe in his or her crib.

Here are 10 things you can do to help keep your baby safe in his or her crib.

02/18/2026

Have high Blood Pressure? You can improve your health.

Our upcoming Managing Blood Pressure - FREE Hypertension Control Course begins March 10th. It will include weekly class sessions for 8 weeks that will help you manage your blood pressure by focusing on nutrition, physical activity, stress management and more.

Participants will receive a FREE blood pressure cuff, course book, cook book, exercise bands and several other tools and resources to help manage blood pressure.

Learn More: https://www.facebook.com/share/17p9JPYidu/

02/16/2026

High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a common health condition. According to the American Heart Association, more than 100 million people in the U.S. have it. You can have high blood pressure without knowing it because it usually has no symptoms. For this reason, it's called the silent killer.

It's important to prevent high blood pressure if you can—and manage high blood pressure if you have it. Over time, high blood pressure harms your heart and arteries, and increases your risk for cardiovascular disease. It is preventable with a healthy lifestyle, even if it runs in your family.

Ready to manage your Blood Pressure better? - FREE upcoming Blood Pressure Course at CFVH -

These weekly classes, held on Tuesdays for 8 weeks, will help you manage your blood pressure by focusing on nutrition, physical activity, stress management and more.

02/10/2026

Crushing chest pain is the stereotypical heart attack symptom. But other symptoms can be subtle. Dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea and unusual fatigue can all signal this medical emergency. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, a trip to the ER could be a life saver.

02/06/2026

Collecting Valentine’s greetings, notes and post cards for our LTC residents in this Hearts around the States Valentine’s Challenge.

Spread the love and kindness this holiday❤️💕!
Hoping to shower our residents will all the love and hopefully get a message from all 50 states.

Please send to: CFVH Long Term Care
PO Box 768, Plains, MT 59859

02/05/2026

Have you heard? DOT Physicals are offered at our Plains and Thompson Falls Family Medicine Office locations here in Sanders County.

Call the office nearest you for more information or to schedule your appointment: Plains - 406-826-4810, Thompson Falls - 406-827-4442.

Certified DOT Examiners include Alicia Knecht, DNP, FNP-C in Plains and Jennifer Strine, PA-C, MSCP in Thompson Falls.