July 8, 2026 |
Photo – Bigfoot 99 File Photo
Despite a projected loss, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County reports a generally positive financial outlook.
Memorial Hospital administrators delivered their monthly presentation to the Board of Carbon County Commissioners on Tuesday. Chief Financial Officer Joy Coulston announced that cash on hand, defined as the number of days the facility can function without additional income, had risen to 24.7 days in May. Coulston noted this was an improvement over April’s 20.52 days cash on hand.
However, Coulston said Memorial Hospital posted a loss of nearly $37,000 that month, which she attributed to a lower patient count.
Even with the loss, Coulston said she was encouraged that expenses also dropped in May, prompted by the lower patient census, a trend she said hadn’t occurred in the past.
In the year she has served as Memorial Hospital’s Chief Financial Officer, Coulston has been working to create a budget, something the Rawlins medical center had not officially had before. Speaking to the Board of Commissioners, Coulston explained that her upcoming 2026 through 2027 budget shows a $196,000 loss, largely stemming from the day‑to‑day functions of the hospital. However, she said the deficit may be offset by grants and other funding sources.
Coulston said the current shortfall is comparatively small, given Memorial Hospital lost approximately $338,000 in the previous fiscal year. She said she is trying to keep the medical center operationally strong while maintaining its ability to grow.
Coulston allocated $877,000 in charity care in the upcoming budget. The chief financial officer said the funds will be used for financial assistance, adding that she raised the amount in anticipation of greater patient demand.
Coulston said she would rather have patients apply for financial assistance than leave their bills unpaid.
Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Kerry Ashment acknowledged that Coulston’s budget was modest and said he anticipates making the Rawlins medical center profitable.
Earlier in the meeting, Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Hinkle noted that her and CEO Ashment attended the inaugural Wyoming Healthcare Policy Summit in Laramie. While there, Hinkle said many attendees assumed that Memorial Hospital was still close to bankruptcy.
In response, Hinkle said she wrote an article detailing the medical center’s financial turnaround since Ashment became CEO. In it, Hinkle reported that Memorial Hospital has lowered its outstanding debt from $9 million to $3 million over the past 18 months, brought medical billing in‑house, streamlined payment processes, and strengthened relationships with insurers.
Hinkle wrote that hospital administrators have made meaningful progress, but work is ongoing. A continued dedication to financial, operational, and workforce stability will ensure Memorial Hospital can serve the people of Carbon County for generations to come.
The Board of County Commissioners encouraged hospital administrators to maintain their efforts to bring Memorial Hospital of Carbon County out of debt.
