Benefis Health System Pauses Oncology Services in Helena
The hospital is redirecting cancer patients to its facility in Great Falls due to ongoing staffing shortages.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Cancer
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Benefis Health System has officially suspended oncology services at its specialty center in Helena. The decision follows a persistent inability to recruit a permanent oncologist to replace Dr. Carolyn Aks after her death in 2025.
Why it matters
The closure stems from the rising costs of using temporary locum tenens providers to maintain care. Without a full-time lead for the oncology program, the health system determined that continuing local operations was no longer sustainable.
Benefis Health System confirms that the current gap in oncology leadership remains unaddressed despite the previous use of locum tenens providers. Operations are currently consolidated at the Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls.
The players
Benefis Health System
This Montana-based healthcare network operates multiple facilities, including specialty centers and the Sletten Cancer Institute.
Dr. Carolyn Aks
She was a medical professional whose 2025 death created a permanent vacancy in the oncology program.
The details
The facility previously utilized short-term locum tenens medical staff to bridge the coverage gap in Helena, but officials stated these costs became financially unmanageable. Patients previously treated at the Helena location are now being directed to the Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls for their care.
Timeline
Dr. Carolyn Aks passed away in 2025.
Benefis Health System paused oncology services in Helena in October 2026.
Health Landscape
The redirection of patients to the Sletten Cancer Institute reflects the ongoing challenge of maintaining specialized oncology care in smaller regional centers. This move underscores the broader trend of healthcare consolidation where systems prioritize core facilities to manage costs and staffing.
Oncology patients in Helena will need to transition their care plans to the Sletten Cancer Institute in Great Falls. This shift necessitates longer travel times for treatments that were previously available locally.
The takeaway
Patients affected by this service pause should contact their care coordinators to facilitate the transfer of their medical records to Great Falls. The health system continues to prioritize the recruitment of a permanent oncologist to restore local specialty services in the future.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Cancer treatment and regional care standards.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KTVH.
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