What kind of services can a critical access hospital provide?
A critical access hospital would be able to provide a broad range of vital healthcare services, including inpatient and outpatient care that Sublette County residents previously had to travel over 60 miles to receive.
The critical access hospital model works for Wyoming's rural communities. Congress created the critical access hospital designation through the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to reduce the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities. Of the 27 hospitals in Wyoming, there are 16 a total of critical access hospitals in Afton, Basin, Buffalo, Cody, Doulas, Kemmerer, Lovell, Lusk, Newcastle, Powell, Rawlins, Sundance, Thermopolis, Torrington, Wheatland and Worland.
SERVICES
The following are examples of services that a critical access hospital could provide in Sublette County.
Care of complicated, non-critical infections
Pneumonia
Pyelonephritis (kidney infections)
Diverticulitis (intestinal infections)
Cellulitis (skin infections)
Osteomyelitis (bone infections)
Management of Acute Intractable Pain
Kidney stones
Acute low back pain
Colitis
Acute Respiratory Treatment
COPD Exacerbation
Asthma Exacerbation
RSV Pneumonitis
Acute Management of Congestive Heart Failure
Alcohol Detoxification
Post Trauma Observation
Head Trauma – Concussions, brain bleeds
Chest Trauma- pneumothorax
Facilitation of Orthopedic Surgical Services
Hip Fractures
Stabilization /Observation of acute mental health crisis
Another added benefit would be the ability to care in-house for involuntary admissions (Title 25) that currently are required to be sent out of the county. This costs Sublette County a significant amount of money each year, that could instead be saved by providing that care at our own facility. Last year, Sublette County spent $120,000 for Title 25 transfers, surpassing its budget of $60,000.
Inpatient/Outpatient infusion therapy
Chemotherapy for cancer or rheumatological disease
Blood transfusions
Outpatient IV antibiotics
Outpatient IV infusions for osteoporosis, severe iron deficiency