Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Summary Episode Featuring Stephanie Everett, Administrator of Mountrail Bethel Home and CEO of Mountrail County Medical Center
Release Date: August 8, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host [B] engages in an insightful conversation with Stephanie Everett, the Administrator of Mountrail Bethel Home and Chief Executive Officer of Mountrail County Medical Center. Recorded live at the 15th annual meeting, the discussion delves into Stephanie’s extensive background in healthcare, the significant initiatives she has spearheaded, the challenges facing the healthcare sector today, her leadership philosophies, and the role of technological innovations in transforming healthcare delivery.

Stephanie Everett’s Background and Role

Stephanie Everett begins by sharing her professional journey within the healthcare industry:

"My background in healthcare has actually been in the revenue cycle portion and the credentialing portion for providers for like 20 years."
(00:47)

With two decades of experience in revenue cycle management and provider credentialing, Stephanie transitioned from Texas, where she worked with chiropractic services, to North Dakota. Her move was catalyzed by a familial connection and a subsequent opportunity:

"I was pregnant at the time with my third child and he [her father] was like, so I think you'd be great at the foundation director job."
(00:47)

Despite initial hesitations due to personal commitments, Stephanie embraced the role in 2013 and expanded her responsibilities over time. By 2018, she took on the dual role of CEO as the organization prepared for leadership transitions. Her tenure as CEO commenced amidst the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic:

"I became the CEO administrator on March 3, and of course, Covid hit March 16. So it was like trial by fire."
(02:51)

Key Initiatives and Achievements

Over the past year, Stephanie has led several transformative projects aimed at expanding and enhancing the services offered by Mountrail County Medical Center and Mountrail Bethel Home. Highlighting these initiatives, she shares:

"We added on a brand new rural health clinic... a CT scanner and services onto the ER... assisted living, an executive conference room, and the Bethel Chapel."
(03:02)

One of the most ambitious projects underway is a $53 million nursing home construction started in July. This facility is set to include enhanced services such as MRI suites, specialist clinics, infusion suites, and pharmacy suites:

"We're actually adding seven more units onto our assisted living because we have a waiting list of 27."
(04:05)

Stephanie expresses immense pride in these accomplishments, emphasizing their impact on the community and the organization’s capacity to meet growing healthcare demands.

Challenges in Healthcare and Strategic Responses

Stephanie identifies staffing as the foremost challenge currently plaguing the healthcare sector, particularly within nursing homes:

"Staffing. As everybody says, staffing... the nursing home keeps me up at night."
(04:16)

She elaborates on the difficulties of maintaining adequate and qualified care staff, especially for residents requiring continuous and specialized attention. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding value-based care payment models presents financial and operational challenges:

"What does that payment model look like? None of us really know because it's so brand new."
(04:16)

To mitigate these challenges, Stephanie highlights efforts to leverage technology where possible, such as using AI for administrative tasks, while acknowledging the irreplaceable need for hands-on care:

"AI is great for certain things like dictation for our providers... but you need the ER nurses, you need the CNAs."
(04:16)

Leadership Insights

A pivotal leadership lesson Stephanie has embraced is the importance of genuinely listening to her team:

"Listen to your team. Don't just ask questions because you think that's just what they want to hear."
(05:55)

She underscores that every concern, no matter how minor it may seem, holds significance for her staff. This approach fosters trust and ensures that the leadership remains aligned with the team’s needs and insights. An illustrative example involves addressing the physical therapist’s concerns regarding the ongoing $53 million building project:

"But it's important to our physical therapist departments and you know, you have to listen and we all have to."
(07:28)

Through such interactions, Stephanie demonstrates a commitment to collaborative problem-solving and adaptive leadership.

Digital Healthcare and Technological Innovations

Acknowledging the rapid advancements in healthcare technology, Stephanie recognizes that her organization needs to catch up to optimize operations and patient care. A primary focus is the overhaul of their Electronic Health Records (EHR) system:

"We want to get a new EHR system. Our EHR system is very cumbersome... it's affecting our AR days."
(08:18)

She envisions a more streamlined EHR that not only enhances data accuracy but also integrates analytical and AI capabilities to support value-based care initiatives:

"If I was able to have a data or a dashboard that all my staff could look at quickly every morning... that'll just allow us to do the best patient care possible."
(08:18)

Stephanie emphasizes the potential of technology to transform healthcare delivery, provided it is effectively embraced and implemented.

Conclusion

Stephanie Everett’s leadership at Mountrail Bethel Home and Mountrail County Medical Center exemplifies resilience and proactive engagement amidst the evolving landscape of healthcare. Her focus on expanding healthcare services, addressing staffing challenges, fostering open communication, and embracing technological advancements positions her organizations to deliver exceptional care to their communities. This episode offers valuable insights into the complexities of healthcare management and the strategies employed to navigate them successfully.

Notable Quotes:

• "I became the CEO administrator on March 3, and of course, Covid hit March 16. So it was like trial by fire." - Stephanie Everett (02:51)

• "We want to get a new EHR system. Our EHR system is very cumbersome... it's affecting our AR days." - Stephanie Everett (08:18)

• "Listen to your team. Don't just ask questions because you think that's just what they want to hear." - Stephanie Everett (05:55)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from Stephanie Everett’s interview on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, providing valuable knowledge for healthcare professionals and stakeholders alike.