NEWS BRIEFS Informational Newsletter for Wyoming Hospitals

Volume 41, Number 11 March 18, 2011

Legislative Committees Establish 2011 Interim Topics WHA Calendar: During the closing week To a significant degree, of discussion regarding public WHA Trustee 5/6 of the 2011 Session of the attention to these concerns records and open meeting stat- Conference , the also connect to Governor utes, slated to take place in the Riverton agenda of interim topics was Mead and the executive Interim Judiciary Committee. established by the roster of branch, with a strong interest The interim sessions serve standing committees. in Wyoming’s position in an important function through As is typical in the annual light of ACA-based federal the balance of the year, as give WHA Board 5/5 process, the most pertinent reform and overall fiscal im- these important topics ample Meeting items of interest to WHA and pact. time for diligent analysis and Riverton our membership are in keep- As identified by new leg- determinations to be made lead- ing with the Joint Labor, islation just passed, the pro- ing to the next session at the Health & Social Services jections of expanded Medi- Capitol. Committee. caid enrollment and accom- The LHSS and other interim With the 2011 General panying budgetary considera- Committees again have a di- Session having included 23 tions will call for a variety of verse roster of topics concern- new legislators, the commit- options and alternatives to be ing health care issues. tee assignments were signifi- studied by the committee. WHA staff looks forward to cantly restructured from the The Healthy Frontiers taking part in these ongoing leadership of both the House Program will also be re- efforts. and Senate. viewed as part of this overall Other Events: As respective Chairmen analysis regarding Medicaid of the Joint LHSS Committee budget moving forward. – Senator Charlie Scott and Other areas garnering top Joint LHSS Committee AHA Annual 4/9 - Representative Elaine Har- priority include oversight of Membership Meeting 4/13 vey did an outstanding job the development of a health Washington, DC during the session in provid- insurance exchange, and the Senators: ing backgounding and focus challenges of effective men- Charles Scott, Chair – Casper for the benefit of the new tal health services parity and Dan Dockstader – Afton Marty Martin – Superior Western Regional 6/8- members of the Committee. health care provider recruit- Trustee Symposi- 6/10 Leslie Nutting – Cheyenne Several of the upcoming ment. John Schiffer – Kaycee um interim studies carry over LHSS will work alongside Omaha, NE from themes from the past the Minerals, Business and House Representatives: year and legislation passed in Economic Development , Chair – Lovell

the General Session just committee in workforce ser- Joseph Barbuto – Rock Springs completed. vices and employment initia- – Rock Springs Priority has been clearly tives, and will be in consult – Casper established regarding ongo- with the Joint Appropriations – Jackson – Laramie ing focus upon federal health Committee as reorganization Hans Hunt – Newcastle care reform measures, with of the Department of Health David Miller – Riverton determination to “monitor is studied in the interim as Frank Peasley – Douglas and respond to federal initia- well. tives and state agency re- In other related activity, ports.” WHA will also keep abreast

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Construction Underway on WPH Modernization Project

A modernization current- cation of medical offices. yards and a three-story atri- ly underway at West Park Phase two, along with um lobby and will be fol- MEMBER Hospital (WPH) in Cody providing a new emergency lowed by phase three, which means much-needed updat- room that complies with involves relocation of pa- SPOTLIGHT ing and better patient care. federal guidelines, will relo- tient rooms. "It's so hard to believe cate admissions and the la- A wireless surveillance we're going to have this," boratory and imaging de- camera will be installed to Chief Clinical Officer partments, create separation allow individuals the ability Lynette Barsness told the of public and patient corri- to view the project via a live Cody Enterprise. dors and create a new main project web cam by access- WPH recently sold $33 entrance. ing the WPH web site. million in bonds to finance The number of beds in Construction on the pro- the $26 million project that the new ER will increase ject is slated to be completed West Park Hospital will add 110,000 square feet from seven to 12. May 2012. of new and renovated space The to the hospital. plans also Phase one of the modern- include ization project was the relo- new court-

Don’t forget to send us APGAR Presentations Begin at Critical Access Hospitals a story about your hospital so we can Phase II of the Commu- The project focuses ex- in late 2011 to measure feature you in our nity Apgar Project got un- clusively on critical access whether hospitals have expe- Member Spotlight derway last week with the hospitals. Data collection at rienced improvements in their section! first of 15 presentations to 15 of Wyoming’s 16 CAHs approaches and results. hospital CEOs, boards, and was completed in December. The project is funded by physicians. Now, project team mem- the Wyoming Department of Originally developed in bers have begun visiting Health, and is administered Idaho, the Community Ap- those hospitals once again to by the Wyoming Health Re- gar Project is a method for present each facility’s re- sources Network, which was identifying factors hospi- sults. instrumental in making Wyo- tals can focus on to im- The entire process, in- ming the second state to uti- prove the recruitment and cluding data collection and lize the Apgar approach for retention of family practice presentations to the hospi- recruitment and retention. doctors. tals, will be completed again

AHA Annual Meeting to Focus on Healthcare Reform

Join your colleagues The meeting agenda in- tion, to policymakers and Wyoming Hospital April 10-13 in Washington, cludes prominent keynote opinion leaders, is more Association D.C., at the 2011 AHA speakers, executive briefings important than ever before.

Annual Membership Meet- on important health reform More information on the 2005 Warren Ave. ing to hear the latest on re- topics to help prepare your meeting can be found at Cheyenne, WY forming health care, and to organization for coming www.aha.org. 82003 take hospitals' message to changes, an opportunity to www.wyohospitals.com Capitol Hill. earn ACHE credits, and “Pursuing Excellence. more! 307.632.9344 One Vision/One Voice” is In times like these, speak- the theme for this year’s ing with one voice, to Con- meeting. gress and the Administra-

Read News Briefs online at www.wyohospitals.com/newsroom.html