News and Community

October 2019

We are excited to announce that Nina Beach and Dee Gilson were recognized at the Annual Wyoming Nurses Association Nursing Summit & Convention in Lander earlier this month.

Nina Beach, AOCNP, Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing –  This award is conferred on an Advanced Practice Nurse who has developed an innovative and unique approach to the provision of nursing in their practice setting. The APRN can be nominated for providing a positive impact to patients or peers in the work setting, or for the provision of autonomous practices.  This nurse will have served as a role model for other APRNs.

Nina says, “I am very humbled by being chosen as the recipient of the excellence award.  The profession of being a Nurse Practitioner has been truly amazing and has been a career that has given me the flexibility to be a mother and a wife.  During this chapter of my life, working in Oncology again, I truly feel blessed and privileged to walk with patients and their families during their cancer journey.  I am so lucky to work with Dr. Ratterman, Tommi Ritterbusch, and all the Welch Cancer Center Staff and to have the support of the administration of Sheridan Memorial Hospital to help grow this Nurse Practitioner role to be able to serve more cancer patients in northeast Wyoming.”

Dee Gilson, CNOR, Excellence in the Workplace –  This award is conferred on a Registered Nurse who has developed an innovative and unique approach to nursing theory and knowledge in any practice setting. The Award may be given to a Nurse Administrator, Educator or Nurse who provides direct nursing care. They will be recognized as a role model of consistent high-quality nursing practices. This nurse will have created an environment of professional autonomy and control over their nursing practice.

Dee says, “I feel so honored, and I also feel I cannot do enough to support my colleagues and organization.  I am very grateful to be able to work at Sheridan Memorial Hospital and to serve our patients and staff.  As a nurse leader, I cannot say enough about the high caliber of nurses and nursing leaders we have here in Sheridan and their commitment to high quality nursing care every day.”

In addition, Lacey Johnson, SMH Director of Nursing, was elected to serve on the Wyoming Nurses Association Board as Northeast Region President. She will sit on the WNA statewide board 2019-2021.

“It was definitely a surprise, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Johnson said. “My goal will be to get the nurses from our northeast region involved in the legislative process so we can effect change for the betterment of our patients and hospitals.”

Please help us congratulate Nina, Dee and Lacey.

September 19, 2019

Hospital Foundation Receives Challenge Gift from the William F. and Lorene W. Welch Foundation to Support Cardiac Care

Interventional cardiology technology is evolving rapidly with new advancements and innovation to improve care.  A recent $150,000 gift from the William F. and Lorene W. Welch Foundation is the initial donation of a $300,000 equipment campaign to support the purchase of two lifesaving pieces of equipment for the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, the IntraSight 5 and the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump. 

This state-of-the-art technology upgrade will be used by the cardiologists at Sheridan Memorial Hospital and improve patient care enabling them to make a more accurate diagnosis and provide the treatment.  The IntraSight 5 allows the cardiologists to see pictures of the heart that are not well seen by other methods.  And the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump helps the heart pump more blood and supports a regular rhythm.  It is vital for patients during surgery and if transportation to a higher level of care is needed, it converts to a mobile unit which fits in the helicopter. 

“The Welch Foundation has supported community health care for many years—since the first gift for the Patient Wing expansion in 1996,” said Welch Board Member Bill Ebzery.  He added “Ensuring everyone in our community has access to high level health care right here close to home is a priority for the board when looking at funding opportunities—a price cannot be placed on emergency care.  We are proud to be a contributing philanthropic partner with the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation.”

According to Cody Sinclair, Chief Development Officer, “The Foundation is grateful to the Welch Foundation for its leadership in supporting excellent patient-centered care in Sheridan.  This generous gift toward our cardiology program is exciting.  Having matching funds ensures a donor’s dollar goes twice as far to support care for everyone in our community.  You want the best when it comes to your cardiovascular care, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.  Our job at The Foundation helps ensure vital equipment is available to our team, lowering the patient risk and improving safety.”
 
To support this project and make your dollars double, please visit sheridanhospital.org/foundation or Click Here

September 19, 2019

Hospital Foundation Receives Challenge Gift from the William F. and Lorene W. Welch Foundation to Support Cardiac Care

Interventional cardiology technology is evolving rapidly with new advancements and innovation to improve care. A recent $150,000 gift from the William F. and Lorene W. Welch Foundation is the initial donation of a $300,000 equipment campaign to support the purchase of two lifesaving pieces of equipment for the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, the IntraSight 5 and the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump.

This state-of-the-art technology upgrade will be used by the cardiologists at Sheridan Memorial Hospital and improve patient care enabling them to make a more accurate diagnosis and provide the treatment. The IntraSight 5 allows the cardiologists to see pictures of the heart that are not well seen by other methods. And the Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump helps the heart pump more blood and supports a regular rhythm. It is vital for patients during surgery and if transportation to a higher level of care is needed, it converts to a mobile unit which fits in the helicopter.

“The Welch Foundation has supported community health care for many years—since the first gift for the Patient Wing expansion in 1996,” said Welch Board Member Bill Ebzery. He added “Ensuring everyone in our community has access to high level health care right here close to home is a priority for the board when looking at funding opportunities—a price cannot be placed on emergency care. We are proud to be a contributing philanthropic partner with the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation.”

According to Cody Sinclair, Chief Development Officer, “The Foundation is grateful to the Welch Foundation for its leadership in supporting excellent patient-centered care in Sheridan. This generous gift toward our cardiology program is exciting. Having matching funds ensures a donor’s dollar goes twice as far to support care for everyone in our community. You want the best when it comes to your cardiovascular care, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. Our job at The Foundation helps ensure vital equipment is available to our team, lowering the patient risk and improving safety.”

To support this project and make your dollars double, please visit sheridanhospital.org/foundation or Click Here

September 2019

The FY2019 Community Benefit Report is now available. As the healthcare needs of the Sheridan community continue to grow and diversify, through continuous improvement, we strive to continually meet these needs and provide excellent patient-centered care every day. Our vision: “When people think of excellent healthcare, they think of Sheridan,” clearly states the reputation we aspire to achieve. 

As you look through this report covering the last fiscal year, you will see the commitment Sheridan Memorial Hospital has to our community.

September 19, 2019

The Women’s Health Department Team at SMH appreciates the new bilimeter The Foundation funded with community gifts. The Bilimeter is a special tool that is used to measure concentration of bilirubin in newborns with wavelengths instead of a blood draw. Too much bilirubin is a common condition in newborns and early screening will allow babies to receive appropriate treatment.

To learn more about the other projects our Foundation is currently working on Click Here.

Representatives from the Cardiac Cath Lab — recipients of Heart Failure training

August 19, 2019

The Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation has funded nursing scholarships and clinical education for staff members since the successful Educational Endowment was initiated in 2003.  This year, 16 nurses and clinical staff members at Sheridan Memorial Hospital will receive funding for educational scholarships, conferences, and specialty program development. The program’s goal is to strengthen excellent patient-centered clinical skills at our community hospital.

In addition to the 16 individual scholarships, two group scholarships were funded.  The first is a hospital-wide interactive educational module.  It will provide training on Heart Failure as well as ECG recognition.  These modules will be coordinated by the nursing managers and the hospital Education department and will go out to all clinical staff who see cardiac patients.   

The second scholarship funded is for a lactation course.  It will be coordinated through the hospital’s Women’s Health Department for hospital staff and others throughout the community who work with new moms and babies. 

Shelley Meier, was selected to receive the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. and Marion R. Cato Endowed Scholarship. Shelley began her healthcare career in 2016 at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.  When presented with the surprise scholarship award, Shelley was deeply moved, “Since receiving my RN degree at Sheridan College, my work with patients at the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Wound Care Clinic has been so rewarding.  It really is an honor to be a nurse and to help our community members navigate their care.  I follow their care closely and am able to provide education and see their improvements.  It is so rewarding.  In the future, after I complete my Bachelor in Nursing through the University of Wyoming, I plan to pursue a certification as a Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse.  I also have a desire to go on and become a Nurse Practitioner.  I love what I do and giving back to the community is very important to me, a career as a nurse and healthcare professional is a perfect fit for me.  I am so excited to be selected as the recipient of the Hospital Foundation’s Cato Scholarship.  This will help in more ways than you will ever know.  Thank you again for your confidence and this award.” 

According to Sheridan Memorial Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Barb Hespen, “Shelley is a joy to work with at the Wound Care Clinic.  Her continued progress toward her goals has been rewarding to watch, and our patients benefit from her dedication.  Shelley is focused on the mission of excellent patient-centered care, and has a very kind and compassionate outlook.  She is always willing to share her knowledge and information and contributes wherever she can as a skilled hospital team member.”  Director of Professional Services Cathy Bealer added, “Shelley’s dedication to her patients and area of expertise is amazing.  She is absolutely committed to quality with every single patient.  Her high regard for positive outcomes is evident in all her work.”

Past Cato Scholarship recipients include hospital Registered Nurses Melissa Ingalls, and Molly Greenelsh, and Internal Medicine Nurse Practitioner Kim Gilbert.

Christopher Prior, DO

August 19, 2019

When you first talk with Christopher Prior, the new Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine with Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine Practice, it is easy to tell he is a humble and kind man. However, when you look at his background, you see he has plenty of reason to boast. But he doesn’t do that. Instead, he talks about helping others and how his parents played an integral role in the compassion he conveys to his patients every day.

“I am the youngest of five and my parents taught us to have compassion for others and try to see where others are coming from,” Prior says. “To put myself in their shoes and understand their situation.”

Originally from New York, Prior says, “It sounds cliché, but, I have always wanted to help people. I wanted to be able take care of people when medical situations would arise.”

Prior is not new to the Sheridan community working the previous six and a half years at the Sheridan VA Medical Center as a staff physician.

“Being a Veteran myself, I am very honored to have served the men and women of our armed forces while at the Sheridan VA,” Prior stated.

Prior says his desire to join the SMH medical staff was an opportunity to treat the whole person.

“I am looking forward to this new opportunity. We have so many resources to support the patients here. It will allow me, as a physician, to do my job even better,” he says. “We have collaborative medical teams with administration support, medication assistance programs, and patient financial advocates on staff; it is great to see all this patient support.”

Prior will have a primary care focus in his new role with the SMH, but he has special interest in sports medicine and a strong background in trauma/acute care. His residency was in family practice and he ran a system of urgent care clinics in Colorado. He was also one of two physicians chosen for a fellowship in Primary Care Sports Medicine at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland.

Prior obviously has quite the distinguished career leading up to this point. The list of honors and awards is lengthy, including Physician of the Year a few different times, a National Defense Ribbon (twice), a Humanitarian Service Ribbon, an Overseas Service Ribbon (three times) and a Bronze Star in 2005; just to name a few.  

Even with all the accolades, you wouldn’t know it by just talking to him. He stays focused on others. This is evident by the time he gives back. Prior is a member of the Sheridan College School of Nursing Advisory Board, Sheridan County Soccer Association Board and the State of Wyoming Youth Soccer Board. He also coaches soccer in his “spare time.”

“My family is the most important part of my life,” he says with pride. “My wife is a nurse and we love raising our three kids here. The outdoors, friendly people and small town feel make this a safe and healthy place to raise our family and we love that.”

Cancer Shoot Event Coordinators Sherrie Johnson, Sally Labore & Tracy Landeis
August 8, 2019 

The organizers of an Annual Cancer Benefit Trap Shoot recently delivered a check for $4,200 to the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation as a result of funds raised at the 2019 Bob Prill Memorial Trap Shoot competition held at the Sheridan County Sportsmen’s Club in June.

Committee members Tracy Landeis, Sally Labore, Trudy Brice, Sherrie Johnson, and Kathy Lundberg planned and coordinated the fundraiser with all proceeds going to help patients at Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Welch Cancer Center.

Landeis, one of the event organizers said, “This event has been successful in our community since 2015.  The current volunteer group that heads it up and makes it happen is very committed.  This year, we really wanted to recognize someone who played a significant leadership role with the Sportsmen’s Club and so we selected Bob Prill.  Bob passed away April 2018, and he had spent years and countless hours to ensure the Club was run properly and supported by our community.  The tournament has become a way to give back to cancer care because cancer really has touched us all.” Landeis added, “Everyone is dedicated to the cause and focused on the goal to ease the burden of cancer for our friends and family who receive care at the Welch Cancer Center.  We are happy to host this shootout and our volunteers make it all happen.  We would never had been able to pull it off without the team!”

“Working closely with these volunteers is an honor.  They really go all out to make it a safe and fun day for everyone.  With five successful Shootouts, we congratulate everyone who has participated and had a hand in the planning.  The Sheridan County Sportsmen’s Club is definitely a dedicated crew and now has raised and donated $16,270 to help ease the burden for our patients going through cancer treatment,” according Ada Kirven, Director of Donor Relations at the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation.

To learn more about cancer care at Sheridan Memorial Hospital…

August 2019

Medical bills don’t have to be scary. At Sheridan Memorial Hospital (SMH), our Patient Financial Advocates are available to help patients plan for current or upcoming medical expenses and gain access to financial assistance for various expenditures from medical procedures to medications.

According to Cheryl Relaford, Patient Accounts Manager, “It’s a fact that patients heal better if they aren’t stressed about their medical bills. There are several solutions available and our Patient Financial Advocates facilitate these solutions.”

“We have six individuals at the hospital to help patients navigate the financial side of their healthcare,” Relaford related, “We work really hard to connect patients with state, federal and private resources to help them mitigate their healthcare expenses.”

The financial advocates are located throughout the hospital – Welch Cancer Center, Women’s Clinic, the Outpatient Center and the lower level of the main hospital – to address needs in specific areas.

One of the specific needs that comes up often is covering prescription costs. The Medication Assistance Program (MAP) is an opportunity for uninsured or underinsured patients to receive help through free or reduced price drugs, including low co-payments.

“Through our Medication Assistance Program, we help patients apply for assistance through programs available by pharmaceutical companies,” Relaford explained. “The pharmaceutical companies then determine, through their processes, who qualifies based on the information submitted.”

Because we are working with outside entities on this application process, it can take some time for completion. Patients should allow up to 6 weeks for medications to be delivered.

“Through MAP we serve approximately 40 patients per month,” Relaford stated, “so the need is definitely evident in our community.”

While this is a free program, SMH does ask for a $5 donation to the program to help cover minor administrative expenses.

According to Relaford, “There are several opportunities for patients to access resources to help with medical bills and our financial advocates are just a phone call away.”

To set up an appointment for assistance through an SMH Patient Financial Advocate call 307-675-4620.

Pictured above, Ron Mischke (Left), Joe Wright (Right)

July 17, 2019

As one chapter may be coming to a close, Sheridan Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees will prepare to open another. SMH prepares to bid farewell to long-standing board member, Ron Mischke and welcome our newest addition to the board, Joe Wright.

With an overwhelming amount of gratitude and admiration does Sheridan Memorial Hospital bid farewell to long-standing board member, Ron Mischke (pictured to the left, above). With over a decade of service to our organization, Ron has officially hung up his Board of Trustee hat.

Having served in numerous committee and leadership roles amongst our board, Ron will leave a legacy and standard of excellence for all other board members who come after him. “Ron committed a lot of time and energy to his role. He is very loyal to this hospital, and we can’t thank or say enough about him as a person, as a mentor, and all the great things that he has done for this healthcare system. Not just in Sheridan but in the entire region,” says SMH CEO Mike McCafferty. “One of the things people might not know about Ron is that he took on leadership roles not only on our board but with the Wyoming Hospital Association.  He was instrumental in getting the hospital together to train hospital board members and bettering board governance across the state. These actions go to show his commitment to our profession and his leadership to make us stronger in all that we do.”

As a volunteer, Ron has spent countless hours dedicated to this organization and healthcare in our community. We thank him for his dedication and the example he has set for those around him throughout the region. The selfless hours spent were not his alone. We appreciate his wife, Renetta, for sharing her husband with us and standing by his side in support of Sheridan Memorial Hospital. They have passed along their kindness to their children, and we are lucky to have their entire family as a part of our Culture of Kindness.

Many know Ron is a role model and mentor to countless managers, leaders, and board members now serving our organization. He has left a legacy behind that will be hard very hard to follow, but it is with great excitement that the Board of Trustees welcomes Joe Wright (pictured to the right, above) as the man to fill his position as a board member. “We’re excited to welcome Joe to the Board of Trustees,” says McCafferty. “His many great attributes as a business leader in our community and Foundation Board member at the hospital are tremendous. He is thoughtful and has proven to make great decisions thus far.”

So we look forward to this new season at Sheridan Memorial Hospital and the future of our leadership. We know this will not be the last sightings of Ron, and it is just the beginning of what Joe will bring to Sheridan Memorial Hospital. The board members who serve our organization are individuals who genuinely believe in the work we do, the people we invest in, the innovation, and advancements possible at your community hospital. Thank you for the numerous hours, meetings, and time spent digging into the details with our leadership and helping to provide Medical Excellence – right here at home.

To learn more about our Board of Trustees & Leadership team, please Click Here.

From left to right:  ICU Clinical Staff Members:  Beverly Osborne, Lyndsey Nero, Lynn Grady, Alaina Bergstrom, Kat Condos

To advance healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes in our rural area, Sheridan Memorial Hospital recently installed new telehealth communication equipment in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU).  According to the American Hospital Association, telehealth solutions empower local physicians through access to specialists who work in partnership on diagnosis and a patient’s individual treatment plan.  The addition was made possible thanks to philanthropy and gifts from our generous community.

Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Addlesperger explains further, “This technology and a collaborative agreement with the Billings Clinic will enable our hospitalist physicians to consult with the critical care specialists in the Billings Clinic ICU.  The Billings Clinic physicians will be able to access our electronic medical records to review our ICU patients’ lab, x-ray and medical notes, as well as see and interact with the patient and the attending physician here in Sheridan through the telemedicine device. We believe this arrangement will ensure the best possible care for the most critically ill patients in Sheridan.  It allows patients who might otherwise have been transferred to Billings the opportunity to remain in Sheridan, close to their loved ones, avoiding the stress of being transported.  And, for those few patients who may need a higher level of care at the Billings Clinic, it will provide a more seamless transition of care.” 

To learn more about the Foundation and how you can help make an impact right here in Sheridan, click here.

May 22, 2019

On May 6th a new Nurse of the Year and Friend of Nursing were named during National Nurses Week.

Each year, Sheridan Memorial Hospital celebrates nurse’s week with several traditions. One of them is presenting two awards to outstanding staff: Nurse of the Year Award and Friend of Nursing Award. On May sixth an award ceremony was held in SMH and Chief Nursing Officer, Barbara Hespen presented the awards. These awards are given with the intent of recognizing outstanding professionals.

Nominations for the Friend of Nursing award are submitted by employees who want to recognize a non-nursing peer for their work in communication, attitude, responsiveness, and engagement as it relates to nursing.

Individuals Nominated for the Friend of Nursing Award were:
•    Nancy Rexroat
•    Bryan Opitz
•    Megan Sexton
•    Stephanie Williams
•    Amber Clearwater
•    Peri Sorensen
•    Anthony Aiello

The winning nominee’s application read, “This person is incredibly kind and easy to work with. Never has a “not my Job” attitude, working on many tasks that are not listed in their job description. Works very well with nursing professionals; checks in with nursing staff and “has their back” always done with kindness and respect. Every time a new employee is toured through the unit, and this person is present; they always greet them with a welcoming attitude and speak highly of the hospital and staff. It is amazing how the efforts of one individual can truly make a difference in how the unit runs. I think that we would all be lost without this person on our team.”

The 2019 winner of Friend of Nursing is Pharmacist Bryan Opitz.

Nominations for the Nurse of the Year Award are submitted by employees who want to acknowledge a peer for their excellence in the areas of quality, service, and compassion.

Individuals Nominated for the Nurse of the Year were:
•    Mary Hanft
•    Kasey Hansen
•    Alaina Dunn
•    Kourtney McRann

This winning nominee’s application read, “This person demonstrates service excellence because she is a very knowledgeable nurse who wears many hats.  She works tirelessly to ensure patients have an excellent experience. She is seen as a resource for all staff. She owns the role of ensuring patient safety, she does what is right for the right reasons. She is meticulous in her work, making sure everything is just right. She shows compassion to her patients and co-workers every day.

The 2019 Nurse of the Year is Alaina Dunn, Cath. Lab RN.

These award winners deserve every ounce of recognition that they have received from these awards. They set the standard for medical excellence – right here at home, and they make Sheridan Memorial Hospital the best it can be for patients, employees, and community members.

Do you see yourself working with a team of outstanding nurses and friends of nursing? Consider applying for a nursing position by clicking here.

May 22, 2019

Written by Ian Hunter, MD at Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine 

I’m often amazed by how little patients fear the thought of a significant health event such as heart attack.  In contrast, the toughest rancher’s voice will quiver with terror when considering the idea of “living through a stroke.” 

There are many different types of stroke, and the consequences of having a stroke can be devastating.  Fortunately, the treatment of this common neurologic emergency continues to advance. 

Recently Sheridan Memorial Hospital has joined in partnership with the neurologists of Wyoming Medical Center (WMC) to improve stroke care in Sheridan.  Our Emergency Department is now equipped with a TeleStroke system which is activated when patients come in with stroke symptoms.

Neurologists from WMC can provide consultation for potential stroke patients any time of day or night. Through a specialized TeleStroke monitor, the patient’s history, physical exam, and neurologic imaging can be viewed real-time. The neurology stroke specialist then determines whether stroke “clot-busting” medications can be safely given and help our Emergency Department physicians decide whether patients should be transferred to another facility for additional procedures or admitted to our ICU locally. Additionally, WMC now offers interventional radiology guided blood clot removal for selected patients with large strokes, and the on-call neurologists help facilitate this process if needed. 

One of the key predictors of a good outcome for stroke is how quickly treatment can be initiated. This partnership significantly improves the timeliness of treatment with neurology consultation, and several patient’s lives have been affected positively already.

Kelly Lieb, an Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant in the Emergency Department, cared for a patient with stroke symptoms recently.

“A male patient presented to the ER by ambulance and was identified by the paramedics as having a possible stroke,” Lieb said. “We were able to consult with Dr. David Wheeler from WMC via TeleStroke technology within minutes. He was able to view images, speak with the patient, and identify a treatment plan with us in real-time. In this case, we were able to treat the patient and manage the symptoms on an outpatient basis without admission to the hospital and without transfer to a higher level of care. In this case, we didn’t have to utilize the “clot-busting” medication, and this neurologic consultation assisted with that decision.”

David Nickerson, MD, an emergency medicine physician, states that approximately 20 people have come through the ER in the past four months where the TeleStroke system has been utilized.

“This is a very big deal for the safety of our patients,” Nickerson said. “I have had one patient whose care changed because of the WMC neurologist’s recommendations. They had an excellent outcome, and all their stroke symptoms resolved. This new TeleStroke system will continue to benefit our stroke patients.”

May 15, 2019

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced on their Hospital Compare website that Sheridan Memorial Hospital has earned a 4-star rating. The rating is based on a series of quality indicators CMS measures in their 5-star rating system. This puts SMH in the top 20% of all hospitals across the country.

According to hospital Chief Nursing Officer Barb Hespen, the hospital achieved this 4-star rating ahead of schedule.

“Originally we had a goal of attaining 4-Star status later in 2019 or early 2020. This shows the efforts we are putting into improving our processes is working,” Hespen said. “This rating is a testament to all of the hard work and dedication that is put in by our staff and physicians every day.”

Since the start of the star rating system in 2015, CMS collects and compiles data from hospitals and uses that information to assign ratings from 1-5 stars. Much of the data comes from surveys of actual patients assessing their specific experience.  CMS uses the rating system to measure multiple facets of over 4,000 hospitals across the country to drive systematic improvements in care and safety for patients. The ratings are published on the CMS hospital compare website.

The specific performance indicators include measurements related to the following areas:
–    Re-Admission Rate – the rate at which any patient is re-admitted within 30 days
–    Harm Rate – the rate of harm caused by health acquired conditions (i.e., infections, falls or injury)
–    Patient Experience – ratings based on surveys completed by patients after their visit
–    Mortality Rate – the rate of patients who die within 30 days of a hospital discharge

While SMH meets or exceeds the national average on all of these measures, above average scores were seen in the rate of Re-admission and Harm. SMH meets the national average scores for indicators related to Patient Experience and Mortality rate.

“We are doing a great job in all areas,” said Hespen, “But we can always improve, and our strategic plan helps keep us focused on these indicators, so we continue to make progress for our patients.”
According to Hespen, the current SMH strategic plan sets an even higher goal.

“We are well on our way towards our goal of earning 5-star status, which means we are doing things right for our patients and really focused on delivering excellent patient-centered care,” Hespen added.

“Achieving 4-Star status ahead of schedule is a huge step in the right direction.”

March 20, 2019

It has been an exciting month around Sheridan Memorial Hospital as the Outpatient Center (OC) is now open and ready for business. Bringing outpatient services under one roof certainly provides a more efficient opportunity for patient access and better patient care.

The most significant move in this transition was moving the Internal Medicine practice (formerly Big Horn Mountain Medicine) into the new building, and everyone seems to be settling into their new offices.

“We are really excited to be in our new offices, and our patients love it,” said Tim Grollmes, Practice Administrator for Internal Medicine. “The patient flow is very efficient, and the providers find communication is much easier having nurses right outside the patient rooms. It is a very efficient set up for the patients and providers.”

Along with Internal Medicine, the Outpatient Lab is also open in the new building.
“If patients needed any lab work done when we were in our old offices, we had to send them across the street to the hospital,” Grollmes explained. “Now patients can simply go across the hall. It is much more efficient and easier access for our patients.”

Pictured above (right to left) Chief Development Officer Cody Sinclair, Internal Medicine Practice Administrator Tim Grollmes, Foundation Board Members Vicki Jorgenson, Rob Johnson, and Richard Garber. 

Patients can also get their wellness blood screenings in the Outpatient Lab instead of having to go to Urgent Care.

“Each year we process over 16,000 outpatient lab encounters and draw over 1,800 wellness screenings,” said Cecile Pattison, Community Relations Coordinator with the hospital. “Having them both in the same location is much more efficient.”
Wellness screenings are done year-round, weekday mornings by appointment from 6 – 8:30 am.

Also conveniently located in the OC are:
–    Ear, Nose and Throat
–    Women’s Clinic
–    Big Horn Surgical
–    Wound Care
–    Outpatient Radiology
–    Diabetes Education
–    Medication Assistance Program
–    Sidewalk Café

To see a complete list of these clinics and departments, along with their suite number and contact information, click here. 

Since the Auxiliary’s gift, almost two months ago, The Foundation has received various words of thanks from all departments who received a portion of this generous donation. With a mission “to provide comfort to and better the welfare of Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s patients,” The Auxiliary Board members voted on the opportunity that best exemplified their purpose. Their funds will enhance patient care in several departments including Radiology, Transitional Care Unit, Outpatient Surgery, Cath Lab, and Women’s Health. We take this opportunity to share one of those stories of the impact made to our Cath Lab.

A portion of the Hospital Auxiliary’s $23,500 donation made in February, will go towards new Audio Equipment in the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Cath Lab. Below, the Hospital’s Cath Lab and Interventional Radiology Manager Kristi Ramsey, RN shares the positive impact this gift will have not only for the staff working in this department but more importantly, the many patients receiving care.  Pictured below is the new hands-free system in use by Medical Imaging Technician, Marcus Pedroza.

“I want to say THANK YOU very much for supporting the Sheridan Memorial Hospital Cath Lab, but even more importantly supporting our patients.  The use of this equipment will allow the team to better communicate the immediate needs of each patient and the physician throughout their procedure.  It also allows us to provide the safest environment, by keeping the room doors closed and the air flow movement to a minimum, further decreasing the risk for infection.  The Auxiliary is an amazing group of volunteers, and we appreciate each one of them and the work they do throughout the organization every day.”

Thanks Again,
Kristi Ramsey, RN