In a time when many rural hospitals across Wyoming are cutting back or eliminating obstetrics (OB) services due to financial challenges, Memorial Hospital of Converse County (MHCC) is taking the opposite approach, Gillette News Now reports.
Despite the trend of closures in areas like Evanston and Kemmerer, MHCC is not only maintaining but expanding its OB offerings, a bold move aimed at filling the growing gaps in maternal care.
Rural hospitals face significant financial hurdles in sustaining obstetric services. Wyoming’s low birth rates, coupled with inadequate federal reimbursements for Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance, make it difficult for small hospitals to keep OB units operational. The costs associated with staffing a 24/7 maternity ward are substantial, and for hospitals that deliver fewer than a dozen babies a month, maintaining a full OB team can seem untenable.
MHCC CEO Matt Dammeyer acknowledged these financial strains, noting that obstetrics is a “massive money loser.” However, he emphasized that offering OB services is crucial for the community and serves as a vital entry point for future healthcare needs.
Rather than scaling back, MHCC has doubled down on its commitment to OB care by acquiring Women’s Health Associates in Casper, a practice founded by the late Dr. Samuel J. Vigneri. This acquisition will significantly expand OB services in Converse County, drawing expectant mothers from neighboring counties like Natrona.
Currently, MHCC has four OB/GYN and pediatric providers on staff, with plans to grow further. Dr. Chanel Ostrem, a recent addition, rotates through various hospital departments but is prepared to assist with maternity care when needed. The hospital’s strategy includes using OB staff for other duties during downtime, as there are often more shifts than births.
One key aspect of MHCC’s expansion plan involves attracting pregnant women from Natrona County, home to the larger Wyoming Medical Center (WMC). Dammeyer expressed optimism that the smaller, more personalized experience offered by MHCC could appeal to expectant mothers seeking an alternative to larger hospitals.
“We’re already seeing patients come from neighboring counties, particularly Natrona,” Dammeyer noted.
He added that MHCC’s growing reputation for quality care and a more intimate birthing environment is starting to pay off.
MHCC’s expansion is a direct response to the “OB deserts” emerging across rural Wyoming and the broader US In western Wyoming, Evanston and Kemmerer have shuttered their OB programs, forcing women to travel 100 miles or more for maternity care. Dammeyer emphasized that MHCC is determined to prevent such a scenario in Converse County.
“This is about ensuring that women in eastern Wyoming don’t face the same hardships as those in places like Evanston or Kemmerer,” Dammeyer said.
He referred to the long distances now required for OB services in those areas.
As MHCC continues to grow its OB program, it remains focused on providing high-quality care while managing the financial challenges inherent in rural healthcare. Dammeyer is optimistic that the hospital’s expansion efforts will attract more patients and providers, ensuring the sustainability of OB services in Converse County for years to come.
“We’re committed to offering a unique, patient-centered experience… That’s what will set us apart and keep families coming back,” he said.
