GILLETTE, Wyo. — A new regional partnership will see Campbell County Health providing emergency medical services in Sheridan County, the health organization announced Wednesday.
The partnership, approved by both the Sheridan City Council and the Sheridan County Commissioners this week, will establish the Wyoming Regional EMS, a jointly-funded limited liability corporation that will provide ambulance services for the City of Sheridan and Sheridan County, according to a Sept. 7 news release.
“EMS is a very difficult service to provide because of the nature of rural EMS, where the majority of staffing is done by volunteers,” CCH CEO Matt Shahan said in a statement. “We are lucky to have the resources to have employed EMTs and paramedics, and (CCH) felt it would be good to help a neighbor.”
Wyoming Regional EMS will be managed through CCH-EMS with the expansion marking another step towards realizing Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon’s goal of EMS regionalization throughout the state, CCH says.
The new EMS corporation will be governed by a board comprised of three appointed members from both Sheridan Memorial Hospital and CCH; the corporation will begin operations in November 2022, per the release.
Wyoming Regional EMS will start out with six ambulances and staff that will be available for emergency calls and interagency healthcare facility transports around the clock, CCH says.
“We are very excited to work in partnership with Campbell County Health to provide EMS services for Sheridan and the region,” Sheridan Memorial CEO Mike McCafferty said in a statement. “These services are vital to the health and welfare of our communities and compounded by the vastness of our geography.”
McCafferty said CCH brings a “great deal” of clinical expertise and professional leadership to the new partnership and stated both entities are motivated by a shared vision of excellence and service to the region.