TUESDAY, May 5, 2026 |
Photo – MHCC Saratoga Clinic – Bigfoot99 file photo
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County is rolling out new practices to improve the facility, including opening the cafeteria to the public.
On Wednesday, April 29th, Memorial Hospital administrators held a business breakfast to inform the public about the state of the Rawlins medical center. After more than a decade of financial strain, Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment opened the meeting with a positive financial report.
Next, Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle introduced Memorial Hospital’s new Director of Clinics, Jared Frakes. Frakes, a former Rawlins police lieutenant, emphasized the importance of maintaining existing providers within the organization, saying patients prefer visiting doctors they know and trust.
Chief Operating Officer Shinkle said one of the main ways Memorial Hospital is improving operations is by no longer outsourcing medical coding and billing. Hinkle said bringing the process in-house makes it more likely that insurance providers will approve services quickly, which helps maintain cash flow.
Hinkle said Memorial Hospital hired a full‑time remote certified medical coder in March. The hospital has also added a local part‑time coder, with another expected soon. By bringing those services into the facility, Hinkle said patients and providers can be confident their bills will not contain errors.
Hinkle said enhancing upfront payments is another way Memorial Hospital is improving its internal operations. The chief operating officer said staff can determine what, if any, copay a patient owes when they are first seen. By ensuring the money is collected at the time of service, Hinkle said the hospital will bring in more revenue, especially in the emergency department.
Hinkle also said Memorial Hospital administrators are committed to limiting the need for staff to work overtime. By using more local personnel and fewer costly out‑of‑town contractors, Hinkle said the hospital can reduce expenses.
Hinkle added that overtime payments can escalate quickly, creating unplanned burden on the hospital’s budget. Every dollar spent on overtime is a dollar that can’t be spent on new medical services or equipment.
Hinkle said administrators are also working to optimize clinical operations, describing the family practice clinics as the gateway to Memorial Hospital. She said that at the end of last year, both the Saratoga and Rawlins clinics began offering more same‑day appointments.
Hinkle said Memorial Hospital is recruiting a new orthopedic provider. The previous physician assistant, Bob Keel, left the organization last year to continue practicing medicine in Utah. Hinkle said University of Wyoming nurse practitioner student Chanel Thrasher will join the team later this summer. As a Saratoga resident, bringing Thrasher on board has been more straightforward than attempting to hire someone from outside the area.
In addition, Hinkle said part‑time orthopedic physician Fred Baldwin will help meet the community’s musculoskeletal needs.
The chief operating officer said Memorial Hospital is also increasing its public outreach, by hiring a marketing director and obtaining the required licenses to open the Windy City Café to the public.
Memorial Hospital of Carbon County’s Windy City Café officially opened on May 4th. The café offers homestyle meals, including a daily salad and coffee bar, at an affordable price. All Veterans are invited to visit on Friday, May 22nd, from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. for complimentary cinnamon rolls and coffee as Memorial Hospital’s way of saying “thank you” for their service.
At 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, Memorial Hospital is hosting a pain‑management Lunch and Learn with Holistic Pain Management at the Rawlins Senior Center. Members will receive a free lunch while learning about the local pain‑management opportunities offered by the two organizations.
On August 29th, the Memorial Hospital Foundation will host the 8th annual Fun Scramble at the Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in Rawlins. Hospital administrators are hoping to raise at least $60,000. Proceeds from the fundraiser golf tournament will go toward the purchase of two new industrial washing machines.
At last week’s business breakfast, Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment reassured the community that Memorial Hospital of Carbon County will not be closing. After years of oversight issues under previous administrators, Ashment said current leadership has begun the time‑consuming process of stabilizing the cash‑strapped medical center.
