Hospital acquires Red Rock Family Practice

Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital has announced that on December 7, Red Rock Family Practice (RRFP) joined Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital. This is the culmination of several months of discussion and consideration on how best to provide healthcare to Hot Springs County.

A press release from the hospital states, “In order to strengthen our healthcare foundation and protect the future of healthcare in Hot Springs County, it was important that we partner with primary care physicians. As healthcare regulations increase, independent physicians are being pulled away from the bedside. To mitigate this concern, the trend is for physicians to find partners who will ease their administrative role so they can spend more time providing patient care. This was a strong determinant for RRFP physicians Travis Bomengen, MD, Jason Weyer, DO, FAAFP, Kevin Mahoney, MD and Hallie Bischoff, DO.

“We feel this new relationship will enhance our services by allowing a higher level of collaboration with the physicians which will benefit Thermopolis and ensure the continuation of exceptional healthcare in Hot Springs County both now and into the future. For example, physician recruitment will also be strengthened. Mattson Mathey, MD, a Wyoming native and third year resident has verbally accepted an offer of employment. He will provide some ER coverage in the next year and begin full time providing family practice, obstetrics and emergency care next October.

“After the transition, Colleen Hanson, PA-C will be providing in house Emergency Department coverage and hospitalist coverage during the week. This change will allow more dedicated physician time in the clinic while still having someone in the hospital to provide more access to patients and their families. This should be a win/win/win for physicians and patients and families in both the clinic and hospital. Jeremiah Cannon, NP, Linsey Brooks, NP, Ellen Reynolds, PA-C, and Keristyn Carrell, NP, will all continue their present roles at Red Rock Family Practice.”

Hospital CEO Margie Molitor said, “We are extremely pleased Red Rock Family Practice chose to join our team. They have been providing care to Thermopolis and the surrounding areas for over twenty years. They have been very active in the community and have developed a reputation here and throughout the state for providing great care and being responsive to changes in healthcare practices.”

The resolution to appropriate RRFP came following a special meeting on Dec. 6. Molitor noted there were no tax dollars used for the purchase of the clinic. She further added Medicare and Medicaid pay a bit more for patients who have services at clinics associated with hospitals, rather than free standing clinics.

The hospital, Molitor said, will be handling administrative matters to allow physicians to do what they truly enjoy, which is practicing on patients. The hospital, she said, is working to ensure health care in the county is strong and protected.

Dr. Bomengen and Dr. Weyer will be retaining ownership of a separate and independent clinic in Worland.

Prior to approving the resolution to appropriate RRFP at the Dec. 6 meeting, the board also passed a resolution to form the Hot Springs Physician Practice Management LLC and a change in the medical staff rules and regulations.

Molitor explained the change will allow physician assistants and nurse practitioners to work in the emergency room, with a physician as backup.