County Hospital to Receive 2-Star Rating
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The Green River Star T h u r sd a y , A p ri l 1 , 2 0 2 1 $ 1.5 0Vol. 130, No. 45 Thursday, April 1, 2021 $1.50Vol. This issue is for Ted Barney and the people of Sweetwater County. The desert drifter A horse wanders through the brush near Wild Horse Canyon Tuesday morning. Horses can often be seen along the Wild Horse Loop Tour, which can be started from the canyon. Star photo by David Martin County hospital to receive 2-star rating Hospital leadership committed to hospital environment was listed in Richardson’s can be found throughout the environment in the earning previous four-star rating email. The hospital’s pneumonia 30-day mortal- air, water and soil, as well as processed meats ity rate, use of contrast material in abdominal CT and feces. By DAVID MARTIN scans and polyp surveillance during endoscopy Spores are passed through an infected person’s Editor were listed, as well as instances of severe sepsis feces and can spread to food, surfaces and objects and septic shock and clostridium difficile infec- if their hands are not properly washed and can Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County has tions. persist for several months. In a hospital or care dropped to a two-star Centers for Medicare and center environment, people have a higher chance Medicaid Services rating in 2021 according to an of infection because weakened immune systems internal email from CEO Irene Richardson. “If we decreased by and use of antibiotics, give the bacteria a chance The email obtained by the Star was sent March to spread after initial infection. 17 from Richardson to Kerry Downs, the medical two stars in one year, I Richardson is committed to the hospital earn- staff services director, informing her the rating ing back its four-star rating. will drop two stars when CMS publishes its 2021 think we should be able “We have one year to turn this around and ratings, which are based off of data collected dur- move back to a 4 Star Rating,” Richardson wrote. ing 2019. to improve by two stars in “If we decreased by two stars in one year, I think Further questions about the rating and how we should be able to improve by two stars in one the hospital plans to address the issues brought one year..” year.” up by CMS were not answered as of press time. According to the email, one meeting has al- Deb Sutton, the hospital’s marketing director ready taken place amongst the hospital’s leader- and public relations officer, said the hospital will ~ Irene Richardson ship team, with a second general medical staff meeting scheduled for April 6 to discuss the issue a press release answering those questions Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County CEO when CMS releases its new ratings. rating and how the hospital needs to improve. In particular, six areas were identified as hav- Richardson wrote that attendance is strongly ing major impacts on the hospital’s rating. The Clostridium difficile is a bacteria that often encouraged and the meeting will be hosted digi- patient experience at MHSC, specifically regard- infects older people who are in a hospital or care tally through Zoom to give employees a chance to ing communications with doctors and nurses, facility, generally after use of antibiotic medica- attend. as well as the cleanliness and quietness of the tions. According to the Mayo Clinic, the bacteria Continued on A2 Inside this issue: A2: County’s ambulance subsidies continued A3: Flaming Gorge Days postponed again A4: Our view -- ambulance tax is needed A7: Lady Wolves soccer wins fi rst game A2 www.greenriverstar.com Thursday, April 1, 2021 County ambulance subsidies continued By DAVID MARTIN Mayor Tim Kaumo sent a states. “With such little enger has also resulted in ambulance services in funding mix. For Green Editor letter to the commission- time to evaluate and di- a similar verbal request the county. River, there are difficul- ers prior to the meeting gest this information, the from Green River. In Kaumo’s mind, the ties involved in doing Sweetwater County to seek an extension on city council request the ambulance service needs that. subsidies to ambulance the county subsidies, board of county commis- to be tied to Memorial “The city is in no providers will continue which were originally set sioners continue to fund “With such Hospital of Sweetwater better position than the until the end of June to end March 21 this service through the County, similar to the county to take on am- after a vote by the Sweet- “Much information end of June.” little time to setup for Castle Rock bulance funding,” Chris water County commis- has been provided, Commission Chair- evaluate and Ambulance Service, cit- Meats, the finance direc- sioners last week. however we have found man Randy Wendling ing a 2015 study con- tor for the city said. The commissioners that with this informa- said meetings he’s had digest this ducted by the county. Green River’s sales tax hosted a special meeting tion, additional unan- with Green River Mayor information, However, the hospital revenue, which makes up March 24 to discuss the swered questions have Pete Rust and City Ad- contends it is unable to a majority of its yearly subsidy. Rock Springs surfaced,” Kaumo’s letter ministrator Reed Clev- the city council take on an ambulance budget, is at levels com- request the service. parable to its 2002-2003 “It’s been said many fiscal year, yet has to City Council Meeting board of county times, in many ways,” contend with 2020 costs commissioners Deb Sutton, the mar- which Meats said come keting director and with a 2-3% inflationary April 6, 2021, 7 p.m. continue to fund public relations officer increase per year from for MHSC stated in a that budget year. Meats City Hall Council this service December 2020 email to said the real solutions through the end the Star. to everyone’s funding Chambers Smith said during the woes is either the miner- of June.” meeting the study Kau- als industry makes a mo cites identified other comeback in the county is is a tentative agenda subject to change. options outside of MHSC and state or the state ~ Tim Kaumo as potential homes for and county find ways to e following are topics slated for discussion at the workshop: ambulance service. diversify their economic PROCLAMATIONS: (A) National Library Week; (B) National Service Recognition Day; (C) Sexual Mayor of Rock Assault Awareness Month Springs Funding to the area’s bases. PRESENTATIONS: (A) Service Recognition of Lisa Maes and Tom Murphy; (B) Green River Arts ambulance services, While the city an- Council Update Castle Rock Ambulance ticipates some additional PUBLIC HEARINGS: New Retail Liquor License Application from the Tomahawk Tavern LLC A motion to ex- Service in Green River COVID-19-related fund- COUNCIL ACTION ITEMS: (A) Consideration to Approve a New Retail Liquor License Applica- tend the payments to and Sweetwater Medics ing from the state after tion from the Tomahawk Tavern, LLC; (B) Consideration of an Agreement for Disbursement, June 30 was approved in Rock Springs, came an announcement that Receipt and Use of Sweetwater County Joint Travel & Tourism Advertising Grant Funds for Art unanimously by the under scrutiny last year it would receive $1.3 on the Green; (C) Consideration to Award the Concession Stand Proposals for Stratton Myers and commissioners, with when the county com- billion as part of federal Veterans Park to RaNae Johnson dba, e Snak Shak, LLC; (D) Consideration of the Amended Commissioner Lauren missioners announced pandemic relief funds and Restated Cooperative Agreement among the Wyoming Department of Transportation, the Schoenfeld absent from they would end subsidies approved by Congress. City of Green River and Sweetwater County; (C) Consideration to Authorize the Submission of a the vote. Commis- March 21, citing budget- But, as Clevenger points Grant Application to the Wyoming Emergency Management Program for Mosquito Management sioner Roy Lloyd said the ary concerns and started out, that isn’t a real solu- CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS: (A) Approval of an Agreement with Lantis Productions, Inc. for the 2021 Fireworks Display; (B) Approval to Write-Off Accounts that are Deemed Uncollectable; groups involved in the discussions with the cit- tion to its funding issues. (C) Issuance of a Catering Permits to the Wild Horse Saloon, Inc., dba e Hitching Post Saloon discussion will continue ies to find alternate ways “Covid (funding) only to cater alcoholic beverages at the Overland Stage Stampede Rodeo on June 4th from 5 pm until to work on longterm of funding the service or helps you once,” Clev- 11 pm and June 5th from 4 pm until 1 am at the Rodeo Arena; (D) Approval to Transfer the Wild solutions for funding including the cities in the enger said. Horse Saloon, Inc., dba the Hitching Post Saloon liquor license to cater alcoholic beverages at a Wedding on April 24, 2021 from 5 pm until 1:30 am, at the Sweetwater County Events Complex, pending approval by the Rock Springs City Council; (E) Issuance of a Catering Permit to Santa Fe Trail, Inc, to cater alcoholic beverages at the Finn Reception on July 31, 2021 from 4 pm until Rating was a focus in MHSC midnight at the Island Pavilion, pending approval by the Rock Springs City Council; (F) Approval of an 2021 Terms of Payment Agreement with Lagoon Corporation; (G) Approval of the Minutes and Payment of Bills 2018-2021 strategic plan City Council meetings are able to be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.