News and Community

Sheridan Memorial Hospital has released its 2024 Christmas card, featuring artwork from the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Art Contest. Enjoy all the entries here.

The contest invited third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students from schools throughout Sheridan County to submit their artwork. This year’s theme, “Country Christmas,” inspired many creative and festive submissions, which were then carefully reviewed by a judging committee.

Orabelle Sweckard, a fourth-grade student from Woodland Park Elementary School, created the winning artwork, “Pigging Out on a White Christmas.” In addition to recognition on Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s 2024 Christmas card, Orabelle will receive a $50 cash prize.

When informed about her daughter’s achievement, Orabelle’s mother shared her excitement and said she looked forward to surprising Orabelle with the news after school.

Congratulations to Orabelle, and a big thank you to all the Sheridan County students who participated in Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s 2024 Christmas Card Art Contest!

By Sarah Dugan, supervisor of Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s financial advocate and medical assistance program

No one plans to need it, but health insurance becomes a vital asset when the unexpected occurs. Eventually, nearly all of us require medical care and insurance can help defray the costs.

Open enrollment for many types of health insurance is currently underway. While Medicare open enrollment ended Dec. 7, the timeframe to apply through the health insurance Marketplace is open and runs through Jan. 15. Though, if you want coverage to begin by Jan. 1, you must enroll by Dec. 15. In addition, if you currently have Medicare Part A but not Part B, you can enroll in Part B from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2025.

If you need — or want — to make changes to your health care coverage, now is the time.

For most individuals, this is the only time you can access the marketplace and see if you qualify for additional savings. Even if you think you don’t qualify, it’s often worth the time to examine your options. According to the federal government, new data shows that nearly 50 million Americans, or one in seven U.S. residents, have chosen coverage through the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces since January 2014. Most of those individuals qualify for lower premiums or even no monthly premium.

While cost typically plays the biggest role in choosing a health insurance policy, it should not be the only factor. Consider which plans cover your doctors and medications, and which plan’s deductibles and cost-sharing amounts won’t deter you from accessing care.

Also, while plans through the Marketplace have some consumer protections in place, plans offered outside the marketplace aren’t subject to the same rules and regulations. So, if you are considering a different kind of plan, check for gaps in coverage. Unilateral pricing plans, limited benefit plans and health sharing plans all present challenges for health care consumers.

If you’re unsure where to start or how to choose, you aren’t alone. Luckily there is help available.

Enroll Wyoming offers Navigators who can help you understand what Marketplace insurance is and why it may be a good option for you and your family. Navigators can also help you get quotes on health insurance costs and assist with your application on the Marketplace itself. To connect with a local navigator, see enrollwyo.org.

In addition, Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s financial advocates offer similar services. The advocates assist underinsured and uninsured patients in navigating federal and state health insurance programs and help enroll those patients in the programs for which they are eligible. The patient financial advocates provide financial counselors who assist patients to determine eligibility and to complete the application process. The convenient and patient-friendly process maximizes enrollment in certain government-sponsored health insurance programs, including Medicaid.

With help available and options to explore, now is the time to find a health care coverage option that works for you.

To learn more about our Sheridan Memorial Hospital Patient Advocates, visit https://www.sheridanhospital.org/billing-services/patient-financial-advocate/, or to speak with a patient financial advocate at SMH, call 307.675.4620. 

SHERIDAN – Sheridan Memorial Hospital (SMH) signed a memorandum of understanding this week with Northeast Wyoming Pediatric Associates (NEWPA) to join the SMH organization.

“The collaboration between Northeast Wyoming Pediatric Associates and Sheridan Memorial Hospital will allow our team to continue caring for children at the same high level we have for so many years, while also expanding access for families in need of care,” said Dr. Suzanne Oss, managing partner of NEWPA. “As our community continues to grow, we aim to expand how, when and where we’re able to care for children while ensuring we keep meeting and exceeding the expectations of families. This community deserves the highest level of care possible and we’re excited to join SMH in continuing that mission.”

Northeast Wyoming Pediatric Associates has operated as a private physician practice taking care of kids in our region for approximately 50 years. Drs. John Knepper and Barry Wohl were the original founding partners in the practice. In 2007, Dr. Wohl invited Dr. Knepper’s daughter, Dr. Suzanne Oss, to join the practice, and Dr. Michael Sanderson joined the practice in 2019. Dr. Oss became the managing partner in 2020 with Dr. Wohl’s retirement. Dr. Oss and Dr. Sanderson have continued the long-standing tradition of hard work, kindness and excellent care for our community.

In consideration of a multitude of changes within the healthcare industry, SMH has been engaged in strategic discussions with Drs. Oss and Sanderson over the past several years. Ultimately, SMH and NEWPA agree the best long-term strategy and way forward for the continued excellent care of children and adolescents in our region is to grow and work together.

“We are committed to ensuring we have a breadth of coverage for acute pediatric medical needs and plan to build capacity with pediatric recruitment,” said Mike McCaffety, CEO of Sheridan Memorial Hospital. “Furthermore, we will grow pediatric and family medicine points of access for our community to meet the day-to-day care that this practice has tirelessly provided over so many years.”

SMH and NEWPA will work over the next several months to ensure a smooth transition for patients, families and staff. NEWPA will continue to operate consistent with the outstanding care and customer service the community has become accustomed to in the same location they have always been.

Patients and families will continue to schedule appointments with NEWPA by calling 307.675.5555.