Pre-Screening:

All Montana VA staff, contractors, patients, volunteers and visitors must be pre-screened for COVID-19 before entering a VA facility. This is a CDC and Veterans Health Administration requirement meant to help protect the health and well-being of Veterans as well as staff, contractors, volunteers and visitors.

Mask Wear is Required:

By direction of the CDC and VHA, anyone entering a VHA facility is required to wear a mask indoors. This includes staff, volunteers, trainees, and contractors regardless of vaccination status. Anyone who is not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 must also wear a mask after exiting a VA medical facility unless six feet of distance can be maintained between the unvaccinated individual and any other individual.

Medical grade masks should be provided at each Montana VA clinical location. All masks provided by MTVAHCS are FDA approved.

Outside of emergency situations, Montana VA strongly encourages each Veteran to wear a mask or try to utilize another means of obtaining services, such as telehealth. Face shields are not adequate when used alone and are not a sufficient form of infection control against COVID.

Please note there are always exceptions. However, if a Veteran refuses to comply with the masking policy, we may have to ask them to leave. If you have questions, or would like to discuss your specific circumstances, please reach out to the clinic staff prior to your visit.

Mask Courtesy:

At Montana VA, we all share in the responsibility of keeping Veterans, staff, and visitors safe. Please, politely remind others, and be gracious if you are reminded to wear a mask.

Hours - 24/7 

Lobby entrance:  Emergency Department 24/7

General visiting:  Inpatient Visitor Restrictions in Place

Updated December 29, 2021

Starting 12/29/2021, the below visitation policy is in effect: 

• Inpatient Veterans must be COVID negative to receive visitors.
• Veterans who do not have COVID may have a maximum of two visitors at a time. Visitors must attest to completion of COVID-19 vaccination (2 shots of Pfizer or Moderna or 1 shot of J&J completed at least 2 weeks prior to current date).
• No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed on the inpatient units. Exceptions to this policy may only be granted by the attending physician as a written order in a patient’s chart. Charge nurse must also agree that the exception will not disrupt the routine care of other patients.
• Inpatient visiting hours will be daily from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
  1. Visitors will have controlled access by entering only through the Emergency Department.
  2. Relevant family members coming for a patient discharge should be allowed to the bedside, regardless of the time, to facilitate the discharge process.
• Visitors must:
  1. Check-in and check-out with the AOD and attest to their vaccination status.
  2. Check-in at the nurses’ station.
  3. Always wear a medical grade face mask correctly (covering their nose, chin, and mouth) while inside a MTVAHCS facility. Cloth masks, gaiters, and face shields are not permitted.
  4. Wear a visitor badge at all times.
  5. Adhere to visiting hours.
  6. If asked to leave the premises, they must comply immediately.
  7. Understand that not following VA COVID guidelines and face covering requirements will result in immediate removal.

To reach patients or medical staff on the 4th floor, please contact the nurse’s station at 406-447-7940. To reach patients or medical staff on the ICU floor, please call 447-7950. This policy is subject to change.

MTVAHCS General Policy for Allowing Visitors

• All visitors and authorized contractors are required to follow MTVAHCS’s COVID mitigation polices. 
• Visitors must wear a medical grade face mask for the duration of the visit to the facility.  The medical grade face mask must cover the nose, chin, and mouth.  If the visitor is not able to follow the face mask requirement, they will be asked to leave the building. Face coverings must be medical grade. Gaiters, shields, or cloth masks are not permitted.
• Minors under the age of 18 years must follow CDC guidelines for masking and guidance. Minors over two years of age must wear a face mask.
• Visitors and caregivers are discouraged unless the person accompanying the Veteran is necessary for the care and transport of the patient.

• If a Veteran refuses to wear a mask, telephone or VVC should be offered. If a clinician determines the Veteran requires in-person care, offer a face shield. Ensure the Veteran may safely wait outside until they can be seen and leave as soon as the visit is completed. Staff interacting with the Veteran must use appropriate PPE.

Visitor Policy for RRTP/domiciliary/PTSD Unit

RRTP will allow residents to have visitors Monday through Friday from approximately 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the evening. On weekends, we will have identical visiting hours as the hospital which will be from 12:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

• Veterans are not allowed to miss programming for visitors.
• Veterans are not allowed to leave Ft Harrison Campus with visitors.

All visitors will be required to check in with the AOD at the front entrance near the Emergency Department.

• All Visitors will be screened by the AOD and given a wristband which indicates screening requirements were completed by the visitor.
• Visitors will then present to RRTP main entrance (Room 153)
• Nursing will let the Visitor in the main entrance, verify wrist band and reiterate expectations of staying masked
• Nursing will notify resident of visitor’s arrival.
• Masks are required for all, including those who decide to meet outside of the RRTP
• Options for meeting with Visitors
  • Outside
  • Main entrance
  • RRTP Library as a back-up only
  • If meeting outside no time restrictions other, then 4pm to 7pm.
  • If meeting inside the RRTP, visitors must stay in front entrance area or library, they are not allowed to be past the nursing station.
  • If meeting inside the RRTP, be conscious if there are other residents/visitors (more than one resident that may have visitor near the same time) that also want to meet inside. Letting a resident who is currently meeting with a visitor or has been for a while know that another resident is wanting to meet with visitor and give them an appropriate time frame of when they need to wrap up the visit or to finish the visit outside.
• Nursing Staff will continue to search bags of the visitors as has been the practice.
• If Visitors present to the RRTP main entrance without a wristband the visitor is to be redirected to the Hospital entrance next to the Emergency Department.
• Contact VA Police (Fort Harrison and Billings) or local authorities as needed.

Exceptions

For the health and well-being of a patient, the attending physician may limit, restrict, or deny visitation. We apologize for any inconvenience when this occurs, and appreciate your understanding that it may be medically necessary.

Cost: Free

Wheelchair availability: Fort Harrison VA Medical Center has wheelchairs available upon arrival for patients who need them to access the building.

Report an allegation of criminal activity

Contact the VA Police to report an allegation of criminal activity on VA property.

Fort Harrison: (406) 447-7911 EMERGENCY Line

                                (406) 447-7586 NON-Emergency Line

Van services for Veterans

DAV vans

Hours: Coming soon!

We work with Disabled American Veterans and county Veterans Affairs directors to provide transportation for Veterans and authorized caregivers to get to scheduled medical appointments.

Non-DAV van services

Many localities in the region provide other van services to Veterans.

Learn more about DAV and the other van services available in your county

Local transportation services

Fort Harrison Transit System

Hours:  Coming soon!

Bus - Coming soon!

Other services

Coming soon!

Beneficiary travel

Beneficiary travel benefits include round-trip transportation from your home to the medical center, mileage reimbursement, or special mode transport. 

Find out if you qualify for beneficiary travel benefits

Visitors are not permitted to stay overnight in the medical center itself. Here are some other options.

Nearby hotels

When booking, ask for the hospital rate. Many hotels have shuttle service to VA hospitals. Check with the hotel you’re staying at.

Hotel #1 - Coming soon!
Phone

NOTE: These links are provided for your convenience only. VA Montana Healthcare System does not endorse and is not responsible for the content on the linked web sites.

Visit Fort Harrison

The official tourism and promotion agency for Fort Harrison has up-to-date listings for area hotels, as well as activities, transportation, restaurants, shops and more.  Visit Fort Harrison

Food and drink

Medical Center Canteen

Visitors are welcomed to eat in the medical center Canteen, which is located on the main floor of the Hospital. We offer hot and cold entrees, beverages and desserts. 

Building 154
Main floor
Fort Harrison campus map
Hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MT

Vending machines

Located around the corner from the retail store, available for your convenience 24 hours a day.

Retail

The Retail Store 

We offer a full-service retail store with such products as electronics, cosmetics, toiletries, and clothing. The retail store is open to patients, staff, and caregivers, and is located on the main floor of the Hospital, adjacent to the Cafeteria.  Purchases are tax-free.

Building 154
Main floor
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. MT

Building 154
Third floor
Room 3-2
Hours: 24/7

Chaplains

When you’re admitted, you can request or decline visits by a VA chaplain. Our chaplains provide spiritual, pastoral, and emotional care for you and your family, in accordance with your own beliefs and practices. This includes locating clergy or religious leaders in the community for needs that our chaplain staff cannot meet.

Interfaith chapel

The chapel is open to anyone at any time for quiet meditation and reflection. The chapel also hosts regularly scheduled services for many denominations. 

Learn how to request chaplain services during your stay at VA Montana.

Use these maps to help you get around the campus.

• Fort Harrison campus map