Setting a Higher Standard by Debbie Woodland In the blossoming industry of caregiving, some caregivers and facilities clearly stand above the rest. Montana Advanced Caregivers (MAC) in Billings is setting a higher standard of care for their patients. Jason Smith and Rich Abromeit pride themselves on the motto “Where Patients are our Family.” It truly is a family atmosphere when you visit their location on Moore Lane in Billings. Patients are welcome to come in and see the garden and learn the process of cultivating some of the best medicine possible. MAC is striving to be a resource center of education and their clients come from all walks of life and their ages range from 18-92. The partners offer integrity at every level. “It’s our obligation to produce quality medicine on a continual basis,” said Smith. “And we have a really good bed side manner with the patients. It wasn’t just ingrained in me the way I was raised but also when we were doing home delivery. I had come over here from another state not knowing anybody. Your patients become your family, especially when you are accepted into their homes and they invite you to their family functions, or they call you when they are at the hospital or when they’re on their death bed.” The pair initially set up in Roundup. Most of their patients were in Billings and they offered delivery service to each one of them. They decided the move to Billings would eliminate some of the travel on icy roads and they could service their patients better. They put in for their city business license in November 2009 and received it on May 6, 2010 - the same day the moratorium was established in Billings. They beat the clock by 4 hours. Considering some of the events that had taken place during that time in Billings, i.e. the fire-bombings and the city council’s decision to number the amount of canna-businesses, the caregivers have had to overcome some obstacles. Prior to moving into their current location they went around and talked with the neighbors to be sure they were comfortable with this type of business in their area. Surrounded by a VFW club, a church, a fitness center and an appliance store, you don’t notice anything out of place in the cul-de-sac, and everyone is friendly. At the time of interview, preparations were being made for a Special Olympics event to be held in the parking lot shared jointly. “We went around introducing ourselves to the neighbors before we even leased the place,” said Smith. “I felt like there was an obligation there.” ”It’s not like we asked their permission,” added Abromeit, “but we visited with them and asked them how they felt about it. Most of them are “live and let live” just like other Montanan’s around here.”
Jason Smith and Rich Abromeit pose in their facilty. Photo by Montana Connect.
MAC strives to educate the community, as well as their patients. They have an open door policy with their patients and welcome them into the garden or to assist with trimming. If the patients are growing their own medicine, MAC has made themselves available to offer advice and answer any questions the patients may have. “We’re more of a patient resource center here,” said Smith. “We let our patients tour our garden. It’s their plants as far as I’m concerned. Just because we’re raising them and doing everything, it’s still their plants. We wouldn’t have them there if they didn’t assign us as their caregiver. So, they don’t just pick up their meds here, they do trimming here, if they want. They can bring their plants in. Most people would be afraid of what they’re going to bring into our garden. If you’re on top of your garden you’re going to be all over it. You know--act like a bug and go over it as if you were one yourself. To me, if you let them (the patients) all go through, I’m all for it because if you have closed doors, it raises questions and suspicion. We want them to know exactly where their medicine is coming from, they get the hands on, they get to trim it and carry it out. They know it’s grown right here.” Patients return because of the family atmosphere at MAC. A patient ”Joe” (unidentified for fears of losing his job) likes the open and educational atmosphere that MAC