hospitals

A new report shows that nearly half of metro areas in the U.S. – including some in the Mountain West – have only one or two health systems controlling all inpatient care. Experts say that’s driving up the prices that patients have to pay.

The Labor, Health and Social Services Committee’s top subject during this interim was how to increase the number of labor and delivery and maternity health care professionals in the state. This, after the state lost three labor and delivery units over the past six years.

Operating room personnel in Casper couldn't clean their limited supply of surgical instruments, leading to contingency plans to send patients to other area hospitals if they run out.

The Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee took on this issue as an interim topic. Testimony from health and state officials paint a picture of decreasing deliveries, difficulty recruiting and retaining OB-GYNs, and closures of labor and delivery units in the state.

Hospitals throughout Wyoming will receive 143 ultrasound imaging devices. Plus the University of Wyoming (UW) will provide training opportunities so physicians can use the devices to the best of their ability.

Cody’s hospital recently launched the first hospital-owned medical transport program in the state. First Flight of Wyoming will serve the Greater Basin Region with medical flights out of state.

Cody Regional Health is adding a new program to their Women’s Health and Nursery Department. With this addition, infants will be examined by doctors in Denver and Billings through video and audio to provide recommendations for treatment or evaluate the need to transfer them to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Cases of pediatric RSV are spiking around the state. RSV is a virus that is usually seen around this time of the year, but this year has been worse than usual. Hospitals in Colorado have set up a triage center where all hospitals statewide have to report available pediatric beds.Meanwhile, Wyoming is experiencing a surge but not overcapacity said Cheyenne Regional Medical Officer Dr. Jeff Storey.

The pandemic amplified nursing homes' long-standing workforce issues. Those staffing shortages persist, as nearly a quarter of nursing homes in the U.S. report not having enough nurses or aides.

The Rawlins hospital will be ending its labor and child delivery services on June 15. This is a result of the pandemic putting the hospital in a financial crunch.