Your clinical days at Benefis will center on the work that matters most: diagnosing and managing complex autoimmune and inflammatory conditions in patients who genuinely need your expertise. The practice serves a predominantly inflammatory patient population, with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis, and fibromyalgia representing the core case mix. The current locums provider, who has worked with this patient population for nine years, describes these patients as "really, really sick" and has found deep satisfaction in the complexity and challenge they present.
This is not a practice where you will spend your days managing straightforward cases. Patients travel significant distances to see you because rheumatology coverage in Montana is scarce. Many arrive with advanced disease, delayed diagnoses, and conditions that require sophisticated clinical reasoning. If you entered rheumatology because you enjoy diagnostic puzzles and long-term patient relationships built around managing serious illness, this practice will deliver that experience daily.
You control your schedule and patient volume. The practice has historically seen up to 30 patients per day, though current volume sits at approximately 16 patients daily. There is substantial unmet demand in the community, and you can grow the practice at a pace that aligns with your definition of good medicine. If you prefer a higher-volume practice, the referral base exists to support it. If you prioritize longer appointments and deeper patient relationships, the organization will support that model as well.
Your clinic space includes three dedicated exam rooms within the Internal Medicine department, placing you alongside a collaborative group of 14 physicians spanning Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Sleep Medicine. This integration creates natural referral pathways and collegial support for complex patients with multi-system disease.
The facility provides everything a modern rheumatology practice requires without the hassle of coordinating care across multiple locations:
The onsite infusion suite operates as a turnkey resource for your biologic and infusion therapies. The suite sees approximately 20 patients per day across all specialties and can accommodate any infusion therapy you wish to offer. Adding new agents requires only administrative approval rather than building new infrastructure. Your infusion patients remain under your roof, with nursing staff who understand rheumatologic conditions and can monitor for infusion reactions with appropriate expertise.
The infusion team includes registered nurses, certified medical assistants, and pharmacy technicians who work closely with the specialty pharmacy to coordinate prior authorizations, medication delivery, and patient scheduling.
Your clinic is supported by a dedicated RN who understands rheumatology workflows and can assist with patient triage, medication management, and care coordination. Rheumatology providers at Benefis consistently report high satisfaction with the support structure, and the organization is committed to staffing your practice appropriately.
If you desire additional clinical support, Benefis will hire an Advanced Practice Provider to work alongside you. Whether you want an APP to manage stable follow-up patients, expand access for new referrals, or provide coverage during your time off, the organization is prepared to recruit and support that position. You would have the opportunity to mentor and train this provider to practice rheumatology according to your standards.
Fibromyalgia and chronic pain conditions can consume a rheumatology practice if boundaries are not established. At Benefis, you have a primary care pain clinic and a dedicated pain management team available for referrals. This allows you to focus on inflammatory and autoimmune disease while ensuring your chronic pain patients receive appropriate specialized care.
For physicians who find satisfaction in education, the practice offers teaching opportunities with Internal Medicine residents and medical students who rotate through the department. You can shape the next generation of physicians' understanding of rheumatologic disease, from the subtle early signs of inflammatory arthritis to the systemic manifestations of connective tissue disorders.
The oncology group at Benefis maintains a clinical trials department that could potentially support rheumatology research initiatives. While not currently active in rheumatology trials, the infrastructure exists if you wish to explore clinical research as part of your practice.
Approximately 80% of the patient population carries government insurance (Medicare and Medicaid), reflecting the demographics of the region. The remaining 20% represents commercial insurance. This payor mix is typical for practices serving rural and semi-rural populations and does not affect your compensation, which is based on guaranteed salary with productivity incentives.
Your clinical practice at Benefis offers the rare combination of high-acuity, intellectually stimulating cases; complete autonomy over your schedule and practice style; and the infrastructure and support typically found only in academic or large metropolitan settings.