December 11th 2025 |
Photo – Bigfoot 99 File Photo
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County is reminding Medicare recipients that free wellness screenings are available in Rawlins and Saratoga.
University of Wyoming nurse practitioner student Chanel Thrasher is completing her clinical training at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County. While serving in Saratoga, Thrasher said Dr. Kristel Lessard observed that many Medicare recipients were not taking advantage of their free annual wellness checks. In response, Thrasher began an initiative to inform residents about the no-cost screenings.
Medicare offers recipients free annual wellness visits. Thrasher said the screenings are an important way to detect serious health problems, such as diabetes and cancer, before they become more difficult to treat.
Medicare wellness visits are offered at both the Saratoga and Rawlins clinics. Thrasher said that during a wellness visit, the provider reviews the patient’s medical history and current medications.
Depending on what the provider determines during the visit, they may recommend additional tests.
Thrasher clarified what happens during a Medicare wellness visit. It is not an examination, but simply a conversation with the provider about preventive screening. Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle added that some Medicare patients may be missing out on the free services because they do not fully understand what a wellness visit involves.
Nurse practitioner student Thrasher has launched an outreach campaign to inform Carbon County residents about the no‑cost screenings. Thrasher said she is working with Memorial Hospital clinic staff and local media to spread the word.
Thrasher encouraged Medicare recipients to call the Platte Valley Health Center or Rawlins Family Practice Clinic to schedule a free wellness check.
Chief Operating Officer Hinkle said that Thrasher is performing her clinical studies at Memorial Hospital through a partnership with the University of Wyoming. Hinkle added that the Rawlins hospital coordinates with various education programs, from high school through college, to provide hands-on clinical training for students, a service not available in all areas of the state.
Nurse practitioner student Thrasher concluded by saying that Medicare wellness visits are a free way to catch health problems early, with a focus on prevention and a personalized care plan.
