How Providence Montana Heart Institute is Improving Access to Clinical Research in Rural Montana 

Montana is known for its scenic rural and open spaces, mountain ranges, and vast distances of up to a full day’s drive apart.  

Many people live and work in Montana for these very reasons; however, for rural Montanans with complex heart conditions, these factors have historically meant that they must travel out of state to access the latest advanced care and clinical trials. 

A dedicated team at the Providence Heart Institute in Missoula, MT, is working to change that.  

Read on to learn about the institute’s work to bring world-class clinical research and the latest heart care and treatment options closer to Montana communities. Or visit the Providence Montana Heart Institute website.

Building Trust & Overcoming Barriers 

When a patient volunteers for an investigational device or drug trial, they may be asked to follow detailed protocols and return for follow-up visits. That could mean travel or other inconveniences.  

And yet, the Missoula-based institute sees follow-up rates above 99 percent in some studies, which is considered exceptional, especially in rural areas. 

According to Dr. Daniel Spoon, an interventional cardiologist and the division chief for the Providence Heart Institute of Montana, “that kind of follow-up in rural America only happens with trust, especially when it’s a nine-hour drive from Plentywood to Missoula, over two passes—and that’s on dry roads!”

“It’s no coincidence,” he adds. “It’s a testament to our patients and to the Institute’s deeply committed team of research coordinators, regulatory staff, and clinicians.” 

Even small details matter when it comes to building strong, trusting relationships with patients, explains Kelli Hoffman, manager of clinical research at the Institute. “Sometimes they can’t get here simply because they don’t have gas money. Understanding rural patients’ needs and looking at how to address those realities is part of improving access.” 

At the Leading Edge of Heart Device Research 

The team at the Institute is especially proud of their success in bringing early feasibility trials to the region, which sometimes means it is one of the first sites in the world to test new heart devices.

These trials are often highly selective, competitive, and technically demanding. But the potential benefits to Montanans have driven the team to excel in this area through the institute’s strong partnerships with patients and leading heart-device companies. 

According to Dr. Spoon, some of this work has already “changed our ability to take care of Montanans, and it’s improved people’s quality of life.” 

For an example, read: St. Pat's one of five global sites for groundbreaking APOLLO research trial 

The RESOLVE Collaborative

The institute is also expanding its vision through its role in RESOLVE, a rural research collaborative between Providence and the University of Montana. 

Announced in late 2025, RESOLVE is built around the idea of convening researchers and rural and Indigenous communities to co-develop research, share data, and translate ideas into real-world improvements in care.  

The program is currently fundraising and ramping up to support promising research projects in Montana and other rural areas.  

Learn more about RESOLVE: A rural health collaborative

A Return Home

For Dr. Spoon, this work is deeply personal. After years of training and practice out of state, he decided to return home to Montana—despite being told it might limit his career. 

Instead, it marked the start of a more fulfilling chapter. 

“I got to come home to do the best job on earth: improving the quality of life and health of Montanans,” reflects Dr. Spoon. 

Additional information: 

• Discover more Providence research stories and search for clinical trials at research.providence.org
• Learn more about the Providence Montana Heart Institute website. 
• Watch an interview with Dr. Danny Spoon about the Providence Institute for Clinical Innovation.