PHX Reporter

Banner Health Community Hospital in Torrington has successfully renewed its designation as a Community Trauma Receiving Facility after passing the state trauma survey without any deficiencies. This achievement highlights the hospital's commitment to improving its trauma services and emergency care capabilities over the past year.

The hospital received a perfect score on the survey, demonstrating its exceptional preparedness through quality improvement and patient-centered care efforts. The designation confirms that Community Hospital is a competent trauma facility equipped to handle emergencies efficiently. The staff is trained to provide stabilization and initial assessment before potentially transferring patients to specialized locations if necessary.

"Our emergency department is the first line of defense for trauma patients in our region," said Ingrid Long, RN, chief executive officer of Community Hospital. "We have an astute nursing staff, eight dedicated emergency department providers, six nurses, and six emergency department technicians who are fully prepared to manage urgent patient needs. We know how to get patients stable quickly and, if necessary, transfer them to higher levels of care without delay."

The hospital has seen an increase in patients from Nebraska, enhancing its reputation as a trusted regional trauma center. Improvements in emergency room wait times have made access to care more efficient for those in need. In 2024, the emergency department recorded 4,620 patient visits with satisfaction scores reaching up to 100.

Led by Dr. Ezdan Fluckiger, medical director of the emergency department, the hospital's trauma team regularly reviews quality measures and ensures continued excellence in patient care by incorporating High Reliability Organization principles.

"We take our role as a trauma-receiving facility very seriously," Dr. Fluckiger said. "Our focus remains on delivering the highest quality of care with a patient-centric approach. By continuously evaluating and improving our services, we are ensuring that our community receives the best emergency care possible."

Community Hospital also focuses on public safety awareness through educational efforts. During a recent safe kids event, nearly 1,000 bicycle helmets were donated throughout the community to promote head injury prevention.

In addition to trauma care, Banner Health Torrington offers several specialty clinics for post-emergency room visit care.

For more information about Community Hospital's services or inquiries call 307-532-2101.

Community Hospital operates under Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the nation with 33 hospitals across six states including Wyoming Medical Center in Casper. It provides various medical services including obstetrics, general surgery, oncology among others.