WLM | health
Joel Johnson, SVMC Public
Relations Director, shared that a
community-approved, three-mill
levy on necessary equipment allowed
the North Lincoln County Hospital
Board of Trustees to move forward
with medical facilities that enhanced
services. Ushering in a new era under
the direction of CEO Steve Perry and
coining SVMC’s current name, the
hospital flourished. Perry later moved
on to healthcare on a statewide level,
with Charlie Button filling the position
of CEO to continue SVMC’s growth
and positive direction.
Many services are available for
patients in the region by both bringing
in new providers and pairing with
facilities in the region – helping small
communities bring the best in health
care to its rural population. Upon the
suggestion of a SVMC nurse certified
in chemotherapy, SVMC pursued
the addition of an Infusion Center.
Patients receiving chemotherapy
or antibiotics intravenously for an
extended period of time can now
be treated locally. The patient load
has exceeded the business plan,
doubling from day one to the end of
the first year. Dr. Amy Tomlinson,
an obstetrician/gynecologist added
in 2015, has been an invaluable
addition to SVMC, receiving many
compliments from patients. Two
full-time, general surgeons share
their time between nearby Bear Lake
Memorial Hospital and SVMC, and
orthopedic surgeons provide services
at SVMC, Kemmerer, Bridger Valley,
Evanston and now Cokeville. A
cardiac rehabilitation center was a
recent addition, with cardiologists who
visit the valley frequently and services
that spare travel time on patients
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Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Spring 2016
recovering from cardiac surgery.
The unit, opened in July 2015, was
operating at 90% capacity within the
first month.
In previous issues of WLM, we shared
how small Wyoming community
hospitals and medical centers are
utilizing e-medicine to provide 24 hour
care. Through an agreement with
Intermountain Health Care, a TeleIntensive Care Unit (eICU) monitors
Star Valley patients from Murray,
Utah. Avera Health of South Dakota
provides on-call pharmaceutical
support overnight, and tele-psychiatry
support is provided from Pocatello,
Idaho. University of Utah provides
critical tele-medicine support via
its Burn Center and Stroke Center.
“Our doctors have years and years of
experience, and having an expert on the
other end of the line as well is a huge
asset {to our patients},” Johnson says.
The latest in innovative and useful
medical equipment is a struggle for
every health care facility, large or
small. SVMC has been fortunate
through the years to receive multiple
grants for purchasing equipment.
Recently, SVMC received a $400,000
grant from the Leona M. & Harry
B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to
purchase a brand new CT scanner
for the Radiology Department. As
part of a grant program focusing on
rural states such as Wyoming, SVMC
was invited to apply after a search of