WEST PARK HOSPITAL NAMES EMPLOYEE, MANAGER OF THE YEAR

CODY, Wyo. — Two employees were recognized at the West Park Hospital holiday party in December with manager and employee of the year awards for 2011.

Plant Operations and Environmental Services Director Tim Waldner was named manager of the year.

Waldner and his family moved Cody in 2008 from Minnesota, where he was named employee of the year in 2006 and was runner-up for the award in 2005 at Cook Hospital.

In addition, Waldner was the WPH Shades of Planetree employee of the quarter for Quarter III of 2010.

Initially hired as Plant Operations director, Waldner took over management of the Environmental Services Department in 2010; he had supervised the same two departments in his last position at Cook Hospital.

His peers and staff praised his supervision of his departments as well as his leadership through the many facilities upgrades and construction projects he has overseen since coming to WPH, such as the installation of new chiller units, installing two new generators, acting as the hospital’s liaison during the construction of the hospice house and his ongoing work with the modernization project.

“Tim has been a great asset to West Park Hospital, especially during this time of significant physical plant and facilities upgrades,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “The hospital and the community are lucky to have such a talented and dedicated individual.”

The top three nominees from a managers’ vote were submitted to the WPH Senior Leadership Team, which selected Waldner as manager of the year.

The employee of the year was chosen from the four “Shades of Planetree” employees of the quarter for 2011: Janice May, Lynette Barsness, Liz Vail and Tamara Young. Employees nominate their peers for employee of the quarter by submitting a narrative about a specific instance when they observed the nominee going out of his or her way to put the patient first. Employees then vote on their favorite story, and the nominee with the most votes is recognized as employee of the quarter.

The WPH Board of Trustees reviewed those four Shades of Planetree stories about the four employees of the quarter, minus any identifying information, and chose Liz Vail the employee of the year for the following narrative:

“When an out-of-town visitor had a detour into the CCU and later Acute Care, Liz learned that he and his wife were paying $50 a day to a campground to keep their RV there while he was in the hospital. Liz offered to let the couple park the RV on her property and provided them a hook-up. Her husband even drove the RV to their house, as the wife didn’t feel comfortable doing it.”

“It really shows the extent of the Planetree patient-centered culture at WPH,” Chief Clinical Officer Lynette Barsness said. “This is an example of how many of our employees, like Liz, represent the Planetree philosophy.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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RON MEEKER APPOINTED TO WPHD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CODY, Wyo. — The West Park Hospital District Board of Trustees appointed Ron Meeker to fill a vacant seat at its November/December meeting Dec. 13.

A seat on the board opened up when Graham Jackson stepped down in October.

“Cody is my home, where I grew up and raised my family, and the hospital and schools are the foundation of any community,” Meeker said. “West Park Hospital supports a wide variety of specialists and provides many services not normally found in a town the size of Cody. I think the trustees have been proactive in their approach tothe complex and changing field of health care,

which has benefited the hospital, the greater medical community and residents of West Park Hospital District and beyond.”

Meeker, co-owner of Meeker Insurance Agency, previously has served on community boards for Olive Glenn Country Club, Cody Youth Recreation, Cody Volunteer Fire Department, the Chamber of Commerce and the Stampede Rodeo.

“I believe you have to give back to the community you live in,” Meeker said of his service. “It’s an honor to give back to an organization that offers so much to Cody and the region.”

In addition to Meeker, WPH trustees also interviewed Bill Wiltse and George Whitlock.

“All three were good candidates,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “Ron will be a nice addition to the WPH board based on his many years of experience serving on other Cody community boards and organizations.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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HOSPITAL, LTCC CANNOT ACCEPT POINSETTIAS DUE TO LATEX ALLERGY

CODY, Wyo. — While poinsettias are popular this time of year, West Park Hospital cannot accept delivery of the plants.

The restriction includes WPH facilities such as the Long Term Care Center, Cedar Mountain Center and Spirit Mountain Hospice House.

Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family of plants, as is the Hevea brasiliensis (the Brazilian rubber tree), which is the primary source of natural rubber latex products.

“Although severe latex allergic reaction is unlikely from a poinsettia, we’re taking a proactive approach to our patients’ and visitors’ safety, just as we have in the past with latex gloves and balloons,” WPH Chief Clinical Officer Lynette Barsness said.

“The latex is found in a circulation system within the plant and is not secreted until the system is accessed by breaking a leaf or injuring the plant in some manner,” Kevin J. Kelly, M.D., writes on the American Latex Allergy Association’s website.

There are two prominent types of reactions to latex, according to the American Latex Allergy Association:

• Type I: an immediate hypersensitivity reaction to one or more proteins in natural rubber latex. Histamine is released, causing systemic symptoms that can include anaphylaxis and death.
• Type IV: a delayed response that typically occurs 48 to 96 hours after exposure. This is frequently a reaction to the processing chemicals used in manufacturing natural rubber latex. A Type IV reaction is generally localized to the area of contact and can be referred to as allergic contact dermatitis, T-cell-mediated allergy or chemical allergy.

Symptoms resulting from latex allergies range from rashes and skin irritation to breathing problems, blood-pressure drops and anaphylaxis, which can lead to death.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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COMPUTER UPGRADE WILL BENEFIT WEST PARK HOSPITAL PATIENTS

CODY, Wyo. — After a long and intense period of behind-the-scenes planning, training and testing, West Park Hospital will upgrade its computer system at midnight Dec. 1.

West Park Hospital currently uses Meditech Magic, and the Meditech 6.0 upgrade will benefit everyone from patients to health care providers to medical records to billing.

Benefits to patients include improved safety, systemic efficiencies, communication, privacy and security, said WPH information technology director Sharon Phelps.

“While patients might not notice any significant changes, the new system is more user-friendly for providers and staff and has increased capabilities,” Phelps said.

And while WPH has invested significant time and effort into making the transition as smooth as possible for patients, the staff is asking for patience as employees get used to the new software.

“It’s like driving an unfamiliar car,” Phelps said. “The basic functions are still the same – all cars have a steering wheel, a gas pedal and a break – but each car drives a little differently, and all the features work a little differently and are in different places.”

While West Park Hospital was already in the process of planning and implementing a technology upgrade when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed, the act aided WPH and technology vendors alike by setting clear, standardized goals for health care technology to meet selected health outcomes. As an incentive to spur movement toward electronic records and transmission of data, significant funds are available to health care providers and facilities who meet those outcomes within the next four years.

That act includes two vital components that have aligned a fractured mix of health care IT stakeholders: standards and funding. The act creates standards of “meaningful use” for health care technology and reinforces those standards with stimulus funding for systems that meet the meaningful use criteria.

Meaningful use — as defined by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, a committee comprised of physicians, health care IT professionals and other stakeholders — includes dozens of specific criteria and reporting requirements that have been developed in order to drive four broader goals:

• Improve patient safety
• Improve quality by measuring performance and outcomes
• Better manage and prevent chronic conditions in all populations
• Share information to reduce redundancy and health care costs

Using an electronic medical record will fundamentally change the way health care is delivered.

“Moving data from paper to electronic is more than just about how we’re storing the information; it’s also about how we’re using it,” Phelps said.

With paper-based medical records, only one medical professional can use the record at a time, which creates a linear process where the record passes among doctors, ward clerks and nurses. With and electronic medical record, any authorized person can access the record at any time, making the process much more efficient and allowing near real-time access to information such as lab results, medication administration, physical therapy results and nursing documentation.

“It’s the difference between getting a book from the library, where there’s only one copy that has to be circulated, and being able to access information on the Internet at any time regardless of who else is viewing it,” said Jay McKiernan, IT project manager for West Park Hospital.

An electronic medical record also gives physicians and other caregivers a better understanding of a person’s overall health. An electronic medical record takes data and consolidates it into information, which gives caregivers the knowledge to make informed decisions about a person’s overall health or treatment.

“Blood pressure as a single piece of the puzzle doesn’t mean much, but if you combine that with other puzzle pieces like medications, allergies, health history and lab results, then providers can start to see the big picture,” McKiernan said.

The transition to Meditech 6.0 is the first step in an ongoing process of upgrading WPH’s technology. Moving forward, the hospital is adding other modules to 6.0, including time and attendance, home health and physician orders.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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NATIONAL PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH RECOGNIZES HOSPICE BENEFITS

CODY, Wyo. — When physician Dame Cicely Saunders founded the first modern hospice in 1967 in England, she likely had no idea the impact she was making on medicine.

The result was a movement to deinstitutionalize and empower patients to help direct their
end-of-life care.

Those goals are reflected in November 2011’s National Hospice and Palliative Care Month theme, “We Listen, We Care.”

“Hospice care focuses on providing patients a better quality of life,” said Laureen Joest, director of West Park Hospital’s Spirit Mountain Hospice. “To do that, we take into account the end-of-life wishes of the patient and their family, and support them with an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals, including nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, a spiritual counselor and trained volunteers.”

Hospice care — also referred to as comfort care or palliative care — seeks to alleviate symptoms of a disease or illness, such as pain or nausea, but does not provide curative treatment.

Since the Medicare hospice benefit was enacted by Congress in 1982, the number of patients served by hospice care in the U.S. has increased from 25,000 to more than 1.56 million, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

And while use and awareness of hospice care is growing there are some surprising facts and common misconceptions about it.

• Hospice may prolong life: A 2007 study documented that hospice patients lived 29 days longer than those who had the same disease but did not choose hospice care. A 2010 study published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” also showed that the average patient who started Hospice care early would live 2.7 months longer than those receiving standard care.
• Wyoming leads the nation: By 2030, The Cowboy State is projected to have the third-highest percentage of residents older than 65 years in the country, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging.
• Hospice is not just for cancer patients: When hospice was introduced in the United States in 1974, many of the patients were cancer patients. But over the years, people with other life-limiting diagnoses have also been served by hospice providers. In 2009, 60 percent of hospice patients in the United States had non-cancer diagnoses, including heart disease; dementia; lung, liver or kidney disease; stroke; ALS; or other debilitating illnesses.
• Volunteers are the backbone of hospice: The U.S. hospice movement was founded by volunteers, and even though hospice has since become professionalized, volunteers remain a crucial part of the interdisciplinary hospice team. Volunteers spend time with patients and their families, provide clerical and other services that support patient care, and volunteers participate in fundraising efforts and annual events such as “LoveLights” in December. Spirit Mountain Hospice has more than 50 community members who volunteer to serve our patients and their families in various ways.
• Who Pays for Hospice? The vast majority (83 percent) of hospice patients are covered by Medicare. Private insurance covers about 9 percent of patients, and Medicaid covers another 5 percent. Self-pay and other sources account for 1.5 percent of payments received, and there are 1.6 percent of patients who cannot pay but receive hospice care because of generous contributors, fundraisers and memorial gifts.
  

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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ARTISTS DONATE MORE THAN $50,000 IN ORIGINAL WORKS TO HOSPICE

CODY, Wyo. — When Buffalo Bill Historical Center curatorial assistant Laura Fry first was asked to assist Spirit Mountain Hospice in hanging art at the new hospice house, she didn’t know what to expect.

“I didn’t know if it would just be framed posters or what,” she said. When she arrived at the house on Monday to help arrange and hang the artwork, she was pleasantly surprised.

Thanks to support from the local art community, spearheaded by artist Vivian McCord, the house will be adorned with more than $50,000 in original works.

McCord first heard about the hospice house through Marty Coe, who organizes the Cody Medical Foundation’s annual fundraiser, which

this year donated the proceeds toward the house’s healing gardens. Hospice employees Linda Harbron and Linda

Housel then approached her regarding the project. McCord began contacting artists, some of

whom she knew and some she was meeting for the first time.

“It’s been a really fun project for me,” she said. “When you see blank walls as an artist, you get kind of giddy.”

McCord said nearly all of the artists she reached out to were excited to be a part of the project. A few, like Reid Christie, even had planned on donating a piece to the hospice house before being contacted, she said.

“This is just one more example of how the community has overwhelmingly supported this project,” Harbron said. “Because the house was designed to have a home-like atmosphere, having local, original pieces really adds to that. Along with the architecture and furnishings, they really complete that atmosphere.”

The goal of having the BBHC involved was to honor the professional array of artworks with professional and thoughtful placements.

After reviewing the collection of donated works, Fry tried to match each piece to a spot that would highlight it without crowding the space or the art. And while she recognized the purpose of the house is the enjoyment and comfort of the patients, she also placed pieces with preservation in mind, such as keeping works on paper out of direct sunlight to reduce fading.

“Because these are all original artworks in a public space, you have to consider how the area is used,” she said. “The last thing you want is someone to put an elbow through a $5,000 painting.”

And while McCord has been able to round up about 30 works, including paintings, a hand-tooled cedar vase, a mosaic quilt, a mosaic birdhouse and an etching, she’s expecting even more to trickle in as the house opens and begins operation.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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WEST PARK HOSPITAL NAMED TOP-100 CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL

CODY, Wyo. — West Park Hospital is one of six Wyoming hospitals named to the National Rural Health Association’s list of the top 100 critical access hospitals in the nation. There are more than 1,300 critical access hospitals nationwide.

To create the list, the NRHA worked with iVantage Health Analytics to measure 56 broad-based indicators measuring everything from patient experience to financial health to quality measures. According to the NRHA and iVantage, these indicators indentify hospitals that are best prepared to succeed under 2010’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The indicators are grouped into three categories:

• Market strength, which includes competitive strength, intensity, size and growth factors.
• Value-based strength, which includes quality, outcomes, patient perspectives and cost and charge indicators.
• Financial strength, which includes income statement and balance sheet ratios most predictive of long-term sustainability.

WPH Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillan credits the staff for receiving the honor.

“Because the survey covers such a broad range of indicators, it really is a reflection of our entire organization,” he said. “Being named to the list is great recognition of the high standards our employees strive to on a daily basis. This recognition, along with achievements such as our modernization project, the first hospice house in the Big Horn Basin, Yellowstone Insurance quality award and recent physician recruiting successes — notably cardiology — really make us feel like we’re on the right track.”

Critical access hospitals are facilities designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for special reimbursement from those programs because of the hospital’s importance to the area it serves. Many critical access hospitals are located in rural or mountainous communities where access to care is limited by distance and/or geography.

Critical access status represents a $4 million value to WPH, according to a recent analysis reported to the West Park Hospital District Trustees. Without that special reimbursement, current services would have to be scaled back, with some procedures likely eliminated completely, said CFO Pat McConnell.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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MASSAGE THERAPY OFFERS MORE THAN JUST RELAXATION

CODY, Wyo. — Marilyn Montville has been suffering from chronic pain since she broke her back in a car crash at age 19. That was before an unrelated spine surgery seven years ago and the onset of fibromyalgia, a neurological disorder that causes muscular pain and tenderness.

She had tried massage occasionally in the past, but not as a therapeutic treatment.

But after visiting Pamela Montuy at West Park Hospital’s Massage Therapy Services Department, she has become an advocate of massage as an alternative pain-management therapy. Although it took several sessions to produce results, Montville said she has experienced an increase in her range of motion, better circulation, less of a need for pain medication and generally felt better.

“I was a skeptic at first,” Montville said, “but the results I’ve achieved through massage therapy speak for themselves.”

A hamstring injury sidelined longtime runner Sara Bailey, and massage therapy was an integral component of her recovery.

“Along with stretching, deep tissue massage has become an important part of my injury-prevention routine,” she said.

Along with personal testimony, research has shown that massage therapy has real physical and mental benefits, including lowering blood pressure, reducing heart rate, decreasing stress hormones, promoting better sleep, reducing anxiety and improving concentration, to name a few.

“Massage offers a wide range of modalities, or techniques, that range from gentle to aggressive,” WPH certified massage therapist Cody Tatum said. “Gentle modalities such as Swedish, reflexology or Healing Touch might be right for one person, while more aggressive therapy like deep tissue, sports massage, injury massage or trigger point therapy might be more appropriate for another. Because of that range, massage can benefit clients from those who are preparing for a marathon to those who are just winding down from work.”

The physical, mental and emotional benefits are reasons why a hospital offers massage therapy, according to Planetree Coordinator Dawn Garrison.

“In addition to seeing the public and staff, our certified massage therapists provide complimentary massages to mothers-to-be and pre-surgery patients,” she said. “Complementary Therapies is one of the 10 components of the Planetree patient-centered philosophy because of the proven benefits of alternative therapies like massage and Pet Therapy.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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WPH RECOGNIZED FOR QUALITY, PATIENT SAFETY

CODY, Wyo. — Yellowstone Insurance Exchange recently recognized West Park Hospital with the Jeff Martin Award for Excellence for the second consecutive year.

West Park Hospital was one of three facilities out of 23 in the insurance exchange that earned the award for its performance on specific national measures of health care quality and risk management. Member hospitals throughout Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico and Utah were eligible to apply for the awards.

Criteria for the Jeff Martin Award for Excellence include implementation of patient safety practices; education of the hospital board, staff and physicians; and performance on national quality-of-care standards.

“This award is a nice recognition of something that we work to improve every day,” Quality Management Officer Vicki Carrafa said. “We think it shows that patient safety is an important part of our organizational culture at West Park Hospital.”

“While all of our staff deserve credit for helping create a culture or safety, Vicki has put together a quality- and performance-improvement program that other hospitals look to for best practices,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “She also spent extensive time and effort completing and submitting the extremely thorough and detailed award application.”

Yellowstone Insurance Exchange is a member-owned insurance company providing professional liability insurance to member hospitals. West Park Hospital is one of 14 founding members of the exchange in 2003.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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CARDIOLOGIST, INTERNIST JOIN WEST PARK HOSPITAL

CODY, Wyo. — Despite nationwide struggles recruiting specialists and primary-care physicians to rural communities, West Park Hospital’s medical staff has continued to grow.

Cardiologist Andrew Rashkow, M.D., and internist Richard Anderson, M.D., both will begin seeing patients in the Cathcart Health Center on Oct. 3.

According to an April report by the American Hospital Association, “Specialist shortages are significantly more pronounced in rural areas than in urban areas. … Specifically, specialties such as general surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists,

rheumatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians/ gynecologists, psychiatrists and general internists are in particularly short supply in rural areas.”

“We feel that despite national trends, West Park Hospital and Cody are an attractive place to practice medicine,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “Some of that relates to the recreational and family activities available in the community and surrounding area, but an equal part can be attributed to our outstanding medical community and foresight of the WPH trustees investing in things that attract highly-qualified and experienced physicians, such as infrastructure, technology and new hospital services. The new and expanded Cathcart Health Center has proven to be very

beneficial in our recruitment efforts.”

While the need for a heart specialist in the Big Horn Basin and a love for the outdoors drew Dr. Rashkow to Cody, Dr. Anderson was one of the first two internists to practice in Cody when he started in 1978.

“When I was away, I kept contacts in Cody, as well as many patients from the Big Horn Basin, and always hoped I would have a chance to return,” Dr. Anderson said. “West Park Hospital has given me an opportunity to continue serving my patients in a great new location at the Cathcart Health Center, and I anticipate continuing those relationships at my new location.”

Dr. Anderson is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and is board-certified in internal medicine.

“Cody is a great fit for me, personally and professionally,” Dr. Rashkow said. “I look forward to filling the Big Horn Basin’s need for a heart specialist as well as enjoying all the outdoor activities Cody Country has to offer.”

Dr. Rashkow has 24 years of cardiology experience and is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology. In addition, he has special qualifications in pacemakers and defibrillator s.

Drs. Anderson and Rashkow don’t officially start until Oct. 3, but appointments are available immediately by calling 578-2980 for cardiology or 578-2975 for internal medicine.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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WEST PARK HOSPITAL IS A TIER I PROVIDER FOR SCHOOL INSURANCE

CODY, Wyo. — In order to keep cost-effective, quality care close to home in the Big Horn Basin, West Park Hospital has signed an agreement with school district health-insurance provider WISE to become a Tier I provider.

In an effort to cut costs, WISE — the health insurance administrator for Cody and Powell schools as well as 26 other districts in the state — instituted a tiered structure for health care providers. School employees who choose Tier I providers pay less out of pocket than those who choose Tier II providers. Initially, there were no Tier I providers in the state of Wyoming.

“The goal of the school insurance trust was to cut costs by negotiating as a group,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “We’re happy to reach an agreement we think will benefit local educators and school employees as well as satisfy our obligation to taxpayers in West Park Hospital District.”

The West Park Hospital District Board of Trustees and WISE were able to come to an agreement making WPH a Tier I provider effective July 1.

“The discounts we can give to any insurer are governed by more than just our desire to provide cost-effective local care to residents of the Big Horn Basin,” West Park Hospital CFO Pat McConnell said. “Things like contracts we already have in place with other insurers, the risk of signing a multi-year contract with a flat discount amid fluctuating supply costs, as well as other financial and legal variables also come into play. It can become very complicated.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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EMPLOYEE SURVEY SHOWS HIGH MORALE AT WPH

CODY, Wyo. — Working at West Park Hospital quite possibly saved Violet Splitstone’s life.

An employee of WPH for nearly nine years, she had open heart surgery in 2005 to replace a valve. Her insurance through the hospital paid for all but $5,000 of the $96,000 procedure.

“I appreciate the insurance because without it, I would have never had the surgery,” Splitstone said. “Ninety-six thousand dollars is a lot of money.”

Beyond paying for the procedure, her benefits at WPH allowed her to take three paid months off to heal and rehab her heart through her accrued paid time off and
extended illness days.

“I like working here regardless,” Splitstone said, “but the benefits are a big draw.”

Jen Gould decided to apply for a job at WPH because of the therapy her autistic daughter received through the hospital’s rehab services department.

“I see it as a chance to give back to the community and organization that provided so much to my family,” she said. “The staff here has been fabulous.”

“Happy workers make happy customers” is a familiar theme in business, including the health care industry. One way to help ensure West Park Hospital provides high-quality, patient-centered care is to attract highly-qualified and trained employees. And while recruiting those candidates is necessary, retaining them as long-term employees is equally important.

“One of the themes of our Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care is caring for the caregivers,” Planetree Coordinator Dawn Garrison said. “That allows them to devote their full attention to our patients, residents, visitors and families.”

Results of a February staff-satisfaction survey show a large majority of employees are engaged with their work and feel appreciated at West Park Hospital. Eighty-three percent of WPH staff completed the survey administered by HealthStream, which provides services exclusively to health care organizations.

Overall, 92 percent of employees feel satisfied working at West Park Hospital, compared with HealthStream’s national database average of 85 percent.

In addition, WPH employees were more satisfied than average in key indicators reflecting satisfaction with supervisors and senior leadership, engagement with their jobs and the hospital, opportunities for hiring and promotions, quality and competency of the organization, and pay and benefits.

“Our pay and benefits package is one thing we’ve really worked to improve after it was identified as a weakness in our last employee-satisfaction survey,” Human Resources Officer Dick Smith said. “We were excited to see that investment has paid dividends, with 79 percent of our staff currently satisfied with pay and benefits, compared to a HealthStream average of just 67 percent.”

WPH in the past year also has hired internal candidates for six management positions, which Smith said helps keep qualified and experienced employees at WPH.

“If we can’t offer our staff possibilities for advancement and growth, they’re likely to go somewhere that offers that,” he said. “That includes education and training opportunities in current positions as well as advancement within the organization.”

And while it’s important to celebrate successes, Smith said part of the value of conducting the surveys is identifying areas for improvement.

“This is a snapshot of how our employees feel about the organization right now,” Smith said. “Achieving our strategic goal of being the employer of choice in the Big Horn Basin is an ongoing process, not just administering and reviewing periodic surveys.”

Departmental results are shared with each manager, as are toolkits provided by HealthStream with best practices and ideas for improving weak areas and building on strengths within the departments.

Beyond the employee-satisfaction survey, Smith said other indicators the hospital monitors also indicate high staff morale. For instance, the nursing vacancy rate (a measure of open nursing positions) over the past 12 months is 4.5 percent, compared with a benchmark of 13 percent, which is based on national data. The overall hospital vacancy rate is 2.6 percent, also compared with a benchmark of 13 percent.

In addition, 28 percent of WPH employees have been with the hospital for more than 10 years, and another 20 percent have between six and 10 years’ tenure, extraordinary figures for any industry, much less health care, Smith said.

“Health care is an especially competitive employment market, and keeping our employees happy benefits our organization, our patients and our community,” he said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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2011 NURSES WEEK AWARDS RECOGNIZE PATIENT-CENTERED CAREGIVERS

CODY, Wyo. — Three caregivers were honored by their peers recently during celebrations for National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week begins May 6 each year and ends May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday.

Marlene Sanders Nurse of the Year: Elizabeth Wenke
Wenke is a registered nurse with the Acute Care Unit.

Wenke was nominated because “She is a terrific nurse, conscientious, caring and compassionate. She is a wonderful mentor and preceptor, always professional, calm and caring with students and coworkers. She always puts the patient first and is their best advocate. Her sweet gentle disposition is highly effective with her patient care and

coworkers alike.”

The award is named after a former WPH emergency department nurse manager who was a compassionate and skilled nurse, mentor and teacher, all of which are reflected in Wenke’s nomination.

Sue Foor, Anna Geiszler and Janice Helvey also were nominated.

While National Nurses Week officially only recognizes nurses, the committee that oversees the awards has chosen to include all direct patient caregivers, such as nursing assistants, surgical techs, unit clerks and environmental services staff who work in patient areas, with a specific category open these nursing “partners.”

“Delivering high-quality, patient-centered care takes a team effort,” said Chief Clinical Officer Lynette Barsness. “Because of that, the Nurses Week committee has decided to recognize caregivers who support our nursing efforts, as well as registered and licensed nurses.”

The Cathy Jansma Partner in Nursing Excellence: Julie Finley
Finley is a unit clerk with the Acute Care Unit.

According to her nomination, “She is very organized and keeps the staff organized also. Julie acts promptly to patients needs, whether it be a call light or some other need. She is calm in stressful situations, reliable and consistent. She is compassionate with patients and families, making sure they are taken care of at all times. She is a pleasure to work with.”

Jacque Harvey and Rhonda Cordes also were nominated.

The award is named in honor and memory of a former WPH nursing assistant.

Nominees for the two Marlene Sanders and Cathy Jansma awards had

to meet specific criteria developed for each award by the WPH Nurses

Week committee.

Long Term Care Center Nurse of the Year: Janice Helvey
The Long Term Care Center named Helvey its nurse of the Year on May 4, during the annual Mother’s Day Tea.

This year, Janice Helvey, RN, was the winner because of her Planetree attitude of putting the residents and their families first as well as her team-oriented attitude at work. Janice has been at WPH for 5½ years, the past 2½ at the LTCC.

Helvey’s nominations included comments such as, “You always hear

residents and family members say, ‘Oh thank goodness Janice is our nurse today, she’s just wonderful.’”

“In addition to staff, residents and families nominate and vote for the LTC Nurse of the Year, which makes it a special honor,” LTCC Administrator Jeanne Kaiser said.

Shellie Boucher Hermans, Mary Boswell, Bertha Brandon, Mary Ann Desson, Bethany Hillshafer, Kristie Hoffert, Jennifer Paxton, Carolyn Pierce, Melissa Tannehill and Cheryl Wall all were nominated as well.

Nurses Week unofficially began in 1953 when Dorothy Sutherland of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare sent a proposal to President Eisenhower to proclaim a "Nurse Day" in October of the following year. The proclamation was never made.

In 1974, President Nixon proclaimed a “National Nurse Week.”

In February 1982, the AMA formally acknowledged May 6, 1982, as "National Nurses Day." The action affirmed a joint resolution of Congress designating May 6 as "National Recognition Day for Nurses." President Reagan signed a similar proclamation in March of that year.

The ANA in 1990 expanded the recognition of nurses to a weeklong celebration, declaring May 6-12, 1991, as National Nurses Week.

In 1993, the ANA designated May 6-12 as permanent dates to observe National Nurses Week in 1994 and in all subsequent years.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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NATIONAL CANCER SURVIVORS DAY OBSERVED IN PARK COUNTY ON JUNE 9

Cody, Wyo. — Park County will be celebrating its second annual National Cancer Survivors Day on June 9 with a free ice-cream social at 6 p.m. in the Biblio Bistro at the Park County Library.

National Cancer Survivors Day is an annual, worldwide celebration of life that is held in hundreds of communities throughout the
United States, Canada and other participating countries. Participants unite in a symbolic event to show the world that life after a cancer diagnosis can be meaningful and productive.

The first Park County event, in 2010, was a product of the West Park Hospital Healing Interventions Planetree Team, whose mission is to develop goals and strategies related to food and nutrition, spirituality and other complementary and integrative therapies that may assist healing.

“For chronic illnesses, much of the healing occurs outside of health care facilities, so we thought it would be helpful to bring an event like this out into the community,” said Ellen Burbank, who chairs the Healing Interventions Team. “The hope is that this can provide spiritual and emotional healing for all of those who participate.”

“Anyone living with a history of cancer, from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life, is a cancer survivor, according to the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation,” said Jill Welch, owner of Welch Wellness, which is sponsoring the event along with West Park Hospital. “But we would encourage anyone who has been touched by cancer — caregivers, family members, friends of survivors, health care professionals — to come share their joys, challenges, courage and stories.”

More than 11 million Americans are now living with and beyond a diagnosis of cancer. In the United States, almost half of all men and one third of all women are expected to be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Learning about this disease is crucial, because many forms of cancer can be prevented and many cured if detected early.

Major advances in cancer prevention, early detection and treatment have resulted in longer survival, and therefore, a growing number of cancer survivors. However, a cancer diagnosis can leave a host of problems in its wake.

Visit www.ncsd.org for more information about National Cancer Survivors Day.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP MAKE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN HOSPICE HOUSE A HOME

CODY, Wyo. — Family, clinical caregivers and physicians are all important parts of hospice care. And volunteers can help support all of them.

As construction on West Park Hospital’s Spirit Mountain Hospice House progresses, the need for volunteers to help support those patients, families and caregivers grows. Construction on the house

is expected to be finished in August, and occupancy is planned for September.

Linda Ellis, a volunteer since 1999, was introduced to hospice when Spirit Mountain Hospice cared for her parents.

“I vowed I was going to pay back what they did for me,” she said.

Ellis has a quick response to people who wonder how she can interact with dying, or “terminal” patients.

“Guess what?” she said. “We’re all terminal.”

Because of her experience with hospice, she feels a special bond with patients’ families and can empathize with their situation.

“I’m the one who comes out feeling blessed,” Ellis said.

It’s a common theme among hospice volunteers.

Suzanne Fixmer, a hospice volunteer for five years, said she gets as much out of volunteering as the families and patients through sharing stories, memories and forming a special relationship.

“It’s been a beautiful experience for me,” she said. “It feels wonderful to know how much they appreciate you.”

Love Murray, another longtime hospice volunteer, was looking for a cause after finishing her career.

“I don’t believe there’s such a thing as retirement,” she said. “I think volunteering with hospice is very important work. In addition, the training I get through hospice is helpful in other areas of life.”

Murray, like Fixmer and Ellis, enjoys building a relationship with the patient and their family.

“The patient contact is my favorite part,” she said.

“To die alone is not a pleasant thing,” Fixmer said. “If I can be there, I think it’s a great comfort to someone who’s nearing the end of life.”

If community members are interested in volunteering but not sure if they are ready to interact with patients they are encouraged to explore involvement in other areas.

The operation of the Spirit Mountain Hospice House will require additional support that wasn’t necessary for home hospice care.

With the inpatient house, volunteer needs will encompass “anything that you could imagine happening in a normal household,” said hospice volunteer coordinator and spiritual counselor Randy Leisey.

And while West Park Hospital will provide services such as clinical staffing, maintenance, housekeeping, laundry and food preparation, Leisey envisions volunteers supporting those functions with reception, facility care, food service, attending to family and staff needs and other duties, as well as patient interaction.

“It took the support and gifts of many people to make the house a reality,” Leisey said, “but a gift of time or expertise can be just as valuable as a cash donation. We’re looking for about 25 people who can make that gift.”

Spirit Mountain Hospice will be training volunteers from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July 7-8.

The training will cover:

• Overview of hospice care
• What volunteers do
• Learning to listen with love
• Physical care of the dying
• Understanding the spiritual needs of the patient and family
• Understanding bereavement
• Learning to give without hurting yourself (self care)

Medicare requires 5 percent of patient care come from volunteers. Medicare and WPH require that volunteers be screened, have current inoculations and complete an orientation to the hospital.

For more information about volunteering at the hospice house, call Leisey at 250-2149.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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CODY VOLUNTEER EMS EDUCATION FUND AWARDS $5,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

CODY, Wyo. — The Cody Volunteer EMS Education Fund has awarded $5,000 in scholarships to the following paramedics and EMTs and children of current and former volunteer EMTs.

• Darcie McColl, EMT Intermediate: Darcie has been an EMT at West Park Hospital for seven years. She will be studying nursing at Northwest College.
• Rick Binder, son of Julie Binder, EMT Intermediate: Rick is attending Union College in Lincoln, Neb., where he has been involved in the International Rescue and Relief (IRR) program. He is also considering studying to be a physician assistant.
• Katrina Rae Barnett, daughter of Dawna Barnett, First Responder: Katrina is attending Northwest College in Powell with a major in welding.  She hopes to one day start her own welding business.
• Amy Blake, Paramedic: Amy has been in the EMS field since 1999 and will pursue a career in nursing through Central Wyoming College and Casper College.
• Kaelin Roach, daughter of Denise Roach, EMT Intermediate: Kaelin will be attending college in Fort Lewis, Colo., in pursuit of an education as an outdoor counselor for troubled youth.
• Tim Newton, son of Chip Newton, EMT Intermediate: Tim plans on attending Northwest College in Powell and has an interest in life sciences and range management along with the possibility of training or coaching athletics.
• Shelly Kindt, EMT Basic: Shelly is enrolled in the LPN program at Northwest College. She is also pursuing a degree as an activities director.

Children of active EMS members, grandchildren of active EMS members being raised in the home of an active member, children of deceased active members, stepchildren of legally married active members and active members are eligible for a Cody Volunteer EMS Education Fund scholarship, which is supported through the generosity of an anonymous donor.

Funds are for tuition and purchasing books and equipment pertaining to an applicant’s desired field of study. The money can be used for any field of study except by active EMS members, who must use it for advancement in the medical field.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

'SILENT KILLER' LURKS IN THE U.S.

CODY, Wyo. — A silent epidemic is sweeping the U.S. It has few — if any — physical

symptoms and impacts one in three Americans, but it is also easily detected and treated. If leftunchecked, it can lead to problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.

The culprit is high blood pressure, or hypertension, and while the death rates from other preventable diseases have fallen, “from 1996 to 2006 the death rate from high
blood pressure increased 19.5 percent, and the actual number of deaths rose 48.1 percent,” according to the American Heart Association.

Experts recommend adults with consistently normal blood-pressure readings (around 120/80) have their blood pressure checked at least every two years. For people with consistently higher numbers (up to 139/89, or prehypertension), screening is recommended at least yearly. Those with consistently high blood pressure (140/90 or above) should consult their medical provider for treatment options.

In order to make such an important and simple screening readily available, West Park Hospital registered nurses will be reading blood pressures at the Planetree Health Resource Center in the Park County Library every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 9-11 a.m.

“Having the screenings at the health resource center benefits patients in a number of ways,” said registered nurse Trina Vanselow, who will be participating in the screenings. “In addition to hopefully negating ‘white coat hypertension’ by holding the screening outside of a health care facility, patients will have access to the materials in the health resource center right at their fingertips.”

“White coat hypertension” refers to a phenomenon when a patient’s blood pressure is high at the doctor’s office but in the normal range in everyday life and has been documented in the journal “Hypertension.”

“Getting your blood pressure checked regularly and maintaining a log of your readings is one of the simplest ways to take control of your personal health and wellness,” said registered nurse Ingrid Olson, who will be participating in the screenings. “Developing a baseline and history of what’s normal for you can also help you and your doctor in pursuing treatment options is you have hypertension.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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WPH SURGICAL CLINIC NURSE CERTIFIED AS A FIRST ASSISTANT

CODY, Wyo. — West Park Hospital Surgical Clinic nurse Denise Roach recently became the only WPH registered nurse to earn a first assistant accreditation, which allows her to assist Dr. Bill Evans during surgery.

A first assistant can help a surgeon by holding retraction, closing and suturing the incision and handling instruments, sometimes alleviating the need for a second surgeon in the operating room.

To earn the certification through the National Association or First Assistants, Roach completed about 100 hours of independent study, attended an intensive three-day workshop on suturing and completed

a 120-hour clinical internship supervised by Dr. Evans.

“Being able to assist on surgeries gives our patients a better continuity of care, which benefits them and us,” Roach said. “Now, I can follow our patients during all aspects of their care, starting with their initial office visit through the procedure and follow-up care.”

Roach had worked in the West Park Hospital surgical services department for 10 years before joining the WPH Surgical Clinic about two years ago.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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COMEDY EVENT BENEFITS WEST PARK HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

CODY, Wyo. — Comedy and classical guitar may not seem like a mix that would elevate a performer to the title of the “World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso,” but it has led Mike Rayburn to venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall and the Las Vegas Strip.

The West Park Hospital Foundation is bringing this world-class entertainer to Cody for “Laughter Is the Best Medicine,” a one-night comedy and music extravaganza.

Rayburn’s sophisticated and unique comedy style includes acts such as “Bruce Springsteen sings Green Acres,” “Led Zeppelin sings Dr. Seuss,” playing both parts of “Dueling Banjos” at the same time on the same guitar and seamlessly melding classical guitar with pop music, such as a song that incorporates “Greensleeves,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “YMCA” and “Chopsticks.”

“We’ve had a great response considering this is our first event,” said Graham Jackson, WPH trustee and foundation chairwoman. “It’s especially exciting because the proceeds will directly benefit West Park Hospital patients and families, Cody and the entire Big Horn Basin.”

The West Park Hospital Foundation has been in existence since 1997, but became active in 2008 with the hiring of a full-time director and the selection of a board of directors.

The foundation has supported projects such as the successful $3 million “Closer to Home” capital campaign to build a hospice house, WPH’s cardiac rehab program and WPH’s Long Term Care Center.

“This is a great event to not only see a world-class performer, but also to learn more about the WPH Foundation and how it supports our patients and community,” Jackson said.

Rayburn will perform at the Cody Cattle Company on Saturday, March 26 for one show only. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and social hour being at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. A cash bar will be available.

So far, 284 tickets have been sold, and seating is limited. Tickets are only available in advance by contacting West Park Hospital Foundation assistant Goldie Mandella at 578-2338 or foundation@wphcody.org. Tickets will not be available at the door. Cost is $40.

For more information about Rayburn, including samples of his music and comedy, visit www.mikerayburn.com.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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AS FACILITY AGES, PHYSICAL PLANT UPGRADES COSTLY BUT NECESSARY

CODY, Wyo. — Few patients, families or visitors ever see the vital organs of West Park Hospital: the boilers, chillers, electrical systems and plumbing that keep the facility running. In fact, even the hospital’s caregivers and providers probably never give the physical plant a second thought — until it malfunctions.

As the facility ages, WPH has had to make significant upgrades to its plant where it can, including moving to 480 power, purchasing and installing two new emergency generators and purchasing a new chiller.

“The board and administration are notified of needs by

department managers and budget

for large capital replacements as

far as five years out,” CFO Pat McConnell said. “The goal is spread those expensive items out so we don’t have several six- or seven-figure items that all need to be replaced in one year.”

The upgrades not only ensure continuity of services for WPH patients, but also can improve efficiency and save money but have a large upfront cost.

For example, two new chillers recently approved by the board of trustees cost $550,640. But through increased efficiency and cooling capacity, the payback time is estimated at three to five years. Of the two chillers WPH was relying on, one was 37 years old and the other 26 years old, and both had been repaired extensively.

In the spring and summer of 2010, WPH also purchased and installed two new 600-kilowatt Caterpillar generators and an upgraded electrical connection to the city’s power grid. WPH received a $462,500 grant from the State Loan & Investments Board to help offset the cost of the about $2.27 million project.

“It’s part of the cost of running a 24-hour, 365-day operation that supplies services that range from surgery to food service and laundry,” said Plant Operations Director Tim Waldner.

Another complication of running a 24-hour facility is that patient care must sometimes take a priority to maintenance. West Park Hospital’s main facility is 38 years old, as is the plumbing, electrical and other infrastructure.

“It’s impossible to shut down the laboratory for three weeks to replace all of the plumbing without affecting the ER, surgery, acute care and other departments that are critical to our patients,” Waldner said. “It’s the same with all clinical departments — if you take away one piece of the puzzle, you lose the whole picture.”

That’s where the modernization project not only provides new space for patient care, but also allows Plant Ops — once the clinical areas are moved out — to go into those aging areas and replace the infrastructure without burdening patients.

“Obviously we’d prefer to without significant service interruptions to the vital services out patients and community rely on daily,” Waldner said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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ONLINE-ONLY APPLICATION PROCESS BENEFITS JOB-SEEKERS, WPH

CODY, Wyo. — The West Park Hospital website has long been a main resource for applicants, with job openings, job descriptions and information covering topics from

the benefits package to the Cody Country lifestyle to WPH’s corporate culture and Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care.

Often, job-seekers would research jobs, the hospital and the area on the website before printing out a paper application and mailing it or delivering it to WPH. But since September, West Park Hospital has only accepted job applications completed online.

There are a number of benefits to web-based applications for both applicants and WPH, according to recruiting coordinator Linda Veylupek.

“The online process helps candidates complete the application in a timely manner,” she said. “It also helps protect their privacy. The applications aren’t printed; they’re electronically routed to the relevant departments, so there’s less chance an application can be misplaced.”

In addition, a Social Security number isn’t required until a candidate’s references are checked, so many applicants won’t have to disclose that information at all.

Electronic applications also help reduce paper consumption.

“The online application is six pages long, and we receive about 900 applications a year through the WPH website – that doesn’t count outside sites like Career Builder,” Veylupek said. “So that alone saves almost 6,000 pieces of paper each year. The electronic applications also can be routed to multiple departments without having to make copies and are searchable
and retrievable for the year we keep applications on file, so
storage and recall is much easier.”

In order to facilitate applying online, WPH has created an “employment kiosk,” a dedicated in-house computer terminal for the public to use for browsing jobs or submitting their application.

“The employment kiosk is in a private corner of the cafeteria, where job-seekers can have a cup of coffee and tea while they apply,” Veylupek said. “It’s really meant for filling out the online application. There are no word-processing programs, and access is limited to the WPH website, so it’s not for creating a resume or looking up references’ contact information. Prospective employees need to have that information on-hand when they apply.”

The employment kiosk also can be a valuable tool in the recruitment process, Veylupek said.

“During the summer when we get a lot of visitors in the facility, and when they see our culture and our fabulous staff in action, it piques their interest and often people inquire about employment,” she said. “That’s when we want to capture them — right away, when they’re excited about Cody, rather than send them home with an application, where they’re less likely to follow through.”

Veylupek knows that technology can be a deterrent, but said there are resources available for prospective employees who are less comfortable with computers.

“As we progress in the digital age, all of our staff needs to have basic technological skills for job performance,” she said. “We recently set up an intranet system that will become our main form of internal communication, for example. Our clinical staff uses technology every day, and our environmental services staff use pagers. That being said, there’s almost always myself or someone in HR who is available to help applicants with the process.”

“The feedback we’ve received is that it’s nice to have available and it’s easy to use,” Veylupek said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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HOSPICE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON SCHEDULE

Cody, Wyo. — After reaching the goal of the $2.8 million in pledges and donations needed to break ground on a hospice house to serve the Big Horn Basin, progress has moved

quickly.

A public groundbreaking — attended by more than 100 donors, civic and community leaders, hospice families and patients, and residents — was held in October, and construction on the site north of the hospital on Canyon View Avenue began in December.

Currently, general contractor Sletten Construction is overseeing pouring the foundation and erecting the steel skeleton. Construction of the hospice house is expected to be completed in August.

Along with construction of the physical house, the foundation for operation of the hospice house also is being laid.

Linda Harbron, who stepped down as director of WPH’s Home Health and Hospice departments this summer to pursue clinical practice, has agreed to continue on in the capacity of hospice house coordinator, which involves putting together all of the administrative and clinical pieces mandated by the state and federal governments.

That includes developing policies and procedures, compiling budgets, acquiring licensures, writing job descriptions for new positions, interviewing potential staff and training new staff and volunteers in hospice philosophy and clinical procedures.

“We want everything to be in place and ready to open in September,” Harbron said.

To help achieve those ends, Harbron and select staff will be attending trainings at operational hospice houses during the spring and into summer.

Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne is scheduled for this month, followed by Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper in April or May. In June, they will travel to Denver for a two-day conference that will provide comprehensive education on hospice clinical regulations and standards of practice.

“We hope to bring back the best of the best practices in order to implement quality spiritual, emotional and physical care,” Harbron said.

At its annual fundraiser, May 20 this year, the Cody Medical Foundation will be raising funds dedicated to helping create a serenity garden, which was the only sustentative part of the house that had to be removed when project bids came in over budget.

The 10,000-square-foot hospice house will include eight private inpatient bedrooms with private bathrooms, family nooks and patios; meeting rooms; a living room; a kitchen/dining room; a small chapel; a nurses station; counseling rooms; a laundry room; 24-hour-a-day professional staff including registered nurses and certified nursing assistants; and additional staff such as social workers, chaplaincy and volunteers.

West Park Hospital will provide pharmacy, meals, medical supplies and administrative support.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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BOND ISSUE ALLOWS MODERNIZATION PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD

Cody, Wyo. — After the voters rejected a one-cent specific-purpose tax to pay for West Park Hospital’s modernization project during the Aug. 17 primary, the West Park Hospital District Board of Trustees directed administration to look at secondary financing options.

Despite the outcome of the primary vote, the board felt that project should continue to move forward because:

1. The modernization project
   is still needed
2. The voters rejected a tax, not the project itself
3. WPH is in better financial shape now than at the start of 2010
4. A tax was the cheapest and preferred option of paying for the project, but never the only option
5. The modernization project
   is the key phase of the three-phase facilities master plan

At its January regular meeting, the board decided that issuing tax-exempt municipal bonds was the best option out of several potential “Plan B’s,” including HUD, USDA,
tax-exempt revenue bonds, Build America bonds and bank loans.

That required getting underwriting and a securing a bond rating. In anticipation of a bond sale, WPH presented the modernization project and the organization to Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Rating Agency in October. The rating agencies look at indicators such as volume trends, average age of physical plant and days cash on hand to give an organization a rating. That rating affects the interest at which the bonds are sold and hence the overall cost of the project.

Because of WPH’s strong financial performance over the past year and its ongoing stability, it received a rating of “BBB stable” in February.

“A triple-B rating is very desirable for a critical-access hospital,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “Smaller hospitals face a disadvantage in the rating process due to their having smaller medical staffs. Rating agencies feel that at a smaller hospital, if one provider or frequent admitter leaves, it can significantly affect volumes and thus financial stability, whereas at a large hospital, the effect of losing a single provider is offset by a large number of other physicians.”

The bonds were sold Feb. 23, and the sale was ratified by the Board of Trustees that evening at its regular meeting, allowing site set-up and asbestos abatement at the Coe Medical Office Building to commence March 1.

Layton Construction, a company out of Salt Lake City that has an extensive background in building health-care facilities, is partnering with local firm Cowan Construction as construction manager at-risk for the project.

“We were pleased that many local contractors bid on the project and many of the local contractors’ bids have been accepted,” McMillan said.

This modernization project began in 2006 with the development of the WPH facility master plan that was approved by the board in 2007. The first phase of the facility master plan was the completion of the Cathcart Health Center.

After completion of Phase II (the modernization project) Phase III includes renovating and updating the existing hospital building, moving patient rooms to the second floor of the new addition and relocating other clinical and key public services to more accessible locations. Phase III improvements can be separated into smaller pieces, each of which can be paid for internally as funds are available. No schedule has been set as of yet for Phase III improvements.

Many WPH employees, physicians, trustees and other experts have been involved in the design and development of the project, which includes:

• A new emergency department with private rooms and enough space to handle WPH’s current volumes
• 110,071 square feet of new and renovated space
• Relocation of laboratory and imaging departments
• Relocation of admissions to a central location
• Demolition of the vacant Coe Medical Office Building
• Creation of the infrastructure needed for future relocation of patient rooms
• Separation of public and patient corridors, providing better protection and privacy
• New main entrance to remove confusion and provide improved way-finding

“I would like express my thanks to all the staff, physicians, trustees and others that have devoted a great amount of time, energy and commitment in positioning our organization to this point in time where we can make this phase of our vision become reality,” McMillan said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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STRESS IS NORMAL, BUT IRRATIONAL DEBILITATING ANXIETY IS NOT

WPH Behavioral Health starts support group for anxiety disorders

CODY, Wyo. — Everyone has experienced something that triggers normal stress. A first date. Public speaking. An important test. A big job interview.

“Everybody gets worried or nervous under certain situations,” said Carol Martenson, MS, a licensed counselor at West Park Hospital’s Behavioral Health Center. “But anxiety is a level of degree. Does it impact your life, causing you to avoid situations or people?”

Anxiety also can cause physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate and breathing, sweating, nausea and tingling extremities.

“There are different types of anxiety disorders with different symptoms, but one thing they all have in common is an irrational thought – the brain has the tendency to go to the worst-case scenario,” she said.

That’s why a person suffering from an anxiety disorder has the same reaction to a harmless garter snake as he or she would to a 10-foot rattlesnake, she explained.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults ages 18 years and older (about 18 percent) in a given year.

“Two of the top mental-health issues adults face are anxiety and depression,” Martenson said, “and they often co-exist together. That’s a big portion of why we see people in mental health.”

That prevalence has demonstrated the need for a local support group for anxiety disorders, the first of which is scheduled for Jan. 19. It is an open group, so people can join at any time.

“From Day One, the other Behavioral Health counselors and I have had more work than we could do,” Martenson said. “In a group setting, we can help more people than in a one-on-one situation, and research has shown that group support is more effective than individual counseling.”

Anecdotally, other behavioral health resources in the Big Horn Basin have the same demand, she said.

The group is meant to treat mild anxiety disorders, not complex cases such as phobias or post-traumatic stress disorder. People interested in the group should call West Park Hospital’s Behavioral Health Department at 578-2919 to set up an individual assessment to determine if the group approach is appropriate for them. That way, even if the anxiety support group isn’t a viable option, Martenson can suggest other avenues of help or resources.

All calls and personal information are confidential.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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WPH's InstyMeds machine is first in Wyoming

CODY, Wyo. —It started with chips and soda. And since has grown to cash, DVDs and even electronic gadgets. More and more, consumers are getting goods from automated machines — now including prescription drugs.

In December, West Park Hospital’s Emergency Department received Wyoming’s first InstyMeds machine — an automated drug-dispensing machine. The machine, which is about the size of a pop machine but as secure as an ATM, dispenses small quantities (a few days’ worth) of physician-prescribed medications.

“This type of system is ideal for an area like the Big Horn Basin, which is filled with small, rural communities that are far apart,” said Gary Thompson, West Park Hospital’s chief pharmacist, who also was instrumental in convincing the Wyoming Board of Pharmacy that the machine will be useful in rural health care in Wyoming. “Many of our patients have to travel to reach us, and if it’s after hours or on a holiday or weekend and the pharmacies are closed, that can mean another long return trip.”

To use the machine, the emergency physician enters the prescription information in the computer. A voucher is then printed and given to the patient. The patient takes the voucher to the machine and enters the voucher number along with some personal identifying information. Once the information is entered, the prescription is dispensed in about two minutes.

Since patients provide any insurance information when they check in to the emergency department, the InstyMeds machine factors that into the price, and the balance can be paid by credit or debit card.

“We’re not trying to compete with local pharmacies but give our patients an added convenience,” said Lynette Barsness, chief clinical officer and WPH Emergency Department nurse manager. “Once the starter pack they get from the machine is used up, they need to visit a regular pharmacy to refill the prescription or complete the dose.”

The drugs are checked and rechecked multiple times for accuracy, and according to InstyMeds, there have been no errors in more than 1 million transactions.

InstyMeds monitors the stock, security and function of the machine from its headquarters in Minneapolis through sensors and an in-machine camera. As drugs are dispensed, InstyMeds monitors the quantities and sends refills to Cody. WPH pharmacy techs restock the machine from those supplies.

The machine also provides a phone from which patients can talk to a live registered pharmacist 24 hours a day, seven days a week with any questions.

The machine also saves patients money, according to CFO Pat McConnell.

“With InstyMeds, we can offer our patients limited-dose prescriptions at retail prices rather than single-dose prices, which creates significant cost savings for them,” said.

With the introduction of the InstyMeds at West Park Hospital, Thompson expects interest from hospitals and clinics from around the Big Horn Basin and the state.

“I can see his being a valuable resource for communities like Meeteetse, which has limited access to health care,” he said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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LYNETTE BARSNESS NAMED DIRECTOR OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES

CODY, Wyo. — Effective Jan. 17, Lynette Barsness has been named the director of patient care services, WPH’s top clinical job.

The position has been open since the resignation of Vicki Quirk in June, who held the job for 10 years before moving back to Minnesota to be closer to family.

Barsness, a registered nurse, has worked at WPH for 19 years as a staff nurse, house supervisor and, most recently, nurse manager of the emergency department. She also has served as interim co-director of patient care services for the past several months along with surgical services director Lillie Ennist.

“We interviewed many outside candidates, but felt that Lynette’s

tenure at WPH and experience as a manager and caregiver are best suited to help us move forward with our coming challenges, such as our modernization project, achieving the highest Planetree certification available and continuing to improve clinical outcomes and quality,” CEO Doug McMillan said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

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JESS FREIRE, LYNETTE BARSNESS NAMED EMPLOYEE, MANAGER OF THE YEAR

CODY, Wyo. — Hundreds of dedicated employees help West Park Hospital provide high-quality care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for the Big Horn Basin.

Two were singled out at the hospital Christmas party in December for their commitment to WPH’s Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care.

Jess Freire, a paramedic who bought Christmas presents — and delivered them along with Christmas dinner — for two patients living alone without any family locally, and Lynette Barsness, a nurse who provides patient care in the emergency department and then works extra hours to finish her managerial duties,

were named WPH’s Employee of the Year and Manager of the

Year, respectively.

In addition to leading an ambulance crew, Freire also helps teach clinical education classes, such as EMT courses and

Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Along with her role as a clinical leader at WPH, Freire is involved in the community, such as during the Thanksgiving community dinner, and serves as the treasurer of the employee-directed WPH Activities Committee.

The West Park Hospital District Board of Trustees chose Freire as Employee of the Year out of the four staff members who were named Employee of the Quarter during 2010.

As a working manager, Barsness balances patient care in the ED

with her leadership role as nurse manager of the emergency

department.

According to her nomination, “Lynette is probably the hardest working manager here. She will come in and work all day in the ER and then she will do her office work, putting in many, many hours. I know she is only a telephone call away (and believe me she is often called) for help and she will of course drop what she is doing and come in.”

In addition, Barsness has served for the past few months as

interim co-director of patient care services, WPH’s highest clinical position.

“Jess and Lynette are great examples of our staff who work daily to make WPH a better place for our patients, residents, families and guests,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “These two exemplify our Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >