The Castle Rock Hospital District January board meeting had a positive tone as the board looks ahead to the new year.
Several staff members gave reports about progress in their departments and upcoming projects during the January 28 meeting.
Radiology staff member Amanda Lamb said during her report that the amount of chest x-rays the radiology department is performing is steadily going down post-Covid. Lamb also reported that she and another radiology technician are currently going through an advanced radiology program through Weber State University, with their completion date set for December of this year. Castle Rock CEO Bailee Dockter added that one of the goals for the Radiology department is to continue to receive more training and development as the facility is working to improve and increase ultrasound services.
The 2024 annual audit results were also shared during the meeting. The auditing firm, out of Washington state, commented that Castle Rock saw significant improvement on the timing of preparation for this audit and that the audit was "clean." Castle Rock saw $1.7 million in positive net income in 2024.
Later in the meeting, Dr. Lynn Eskelson announced that the clinic continues to see a decrease in positive Covid tests, and virtually no positive tests for influenza B, with all cases of influenza being reported as influenza type A. However, Eskelson did mention that the clinic is seeing a rise in cases of respiratory illness and strep. Eskelson concluded his report with the reminder that it is now a policy that a parent or legal guardian must be an attendance to all well child checks and vaccination appointments, including allergy shots.
Kim White, EMS director for the Castle Rock Ambulance Service, spoke on the forward progress and high morale within the ambulance service. White said that they hired a new paramedic in January, and it will help cut back in overtime services. White also said that they recently filled a basic EMT class within days, versus in years past where they could not fill a class at all.
Castle Rock CEO Bailee Dockter also had positive news to share. She spoke about the medical center's partnership with Green River High School's internship program, where three high school seniors are currently doing internships at the clinic, with two internships in nursing and one radiology. The internships are going "very well," according to Dockter.
She also went into more detail about the upcoming construction of the new ambulance building located on Gateway Boulevard in Rock Springs. The project is currently in the production timeline phase and is about a month out from the design and development phase.
As of now, the plan is to break ground on the new ambulance bay around July 14. Having an added building in Rock Springs will allow for more efficient services throughout the county, Dockter said, as Castle Rock ambulance service is now a countywide operation. Other highlights of Dockter's report included the goal of providing more mental health and social work services, potentially providing after hours and weekend care and adding more patients to the care of several new providers who recently joined the staff at Castle Rock.
Several staff members including Eskelson and Dockter gave a reminder that the 2025 Castle Rock Medical Center health fair will be kicking off with testing services available by appointment or walk-in on February 3-26 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, February 15 and 22 from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Results will be shared at the health fair on Saturday, March 1 from 9 to 12 p.m. Patients can call 307-872-4590 for scheduling or more information.
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