Natrona County residents searching for Wyoming’s highest-rated medical care may need to travel several hours to Cheyenne or Jackson, Casper Star-Tribune reports.
According to national rankings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), only two hospitals in the state have received a five-star rating.
The CMS star rating system evaluates hospitals based on various quality measures, including patient outcomes, safety, and hospital readmission rates. The ratings, available on Medicare.gov’s care compare tool, offer insight into hospital performance for both Medicare beneficiaries and the general public.
Each facility is given two primary ratings:
- Overall Star Rating – A broad evaluation of hospital quality, considering factors like treatment effectiveness, patient safety, and readmission rates.
- Patient Survey Rating – Based on feedback from patients about their experiences and satisfaction with care.
Banner Wyoming Medical Center in Casper holds a three-star overall rating and a three-star patient survey rating. Patient survey results indicate that only 51% of respondents would definitely recommend the facility, which is below both state and national averages.
Concerns about the hospital’s performance have been raised at the county level. In May 2024, local officials questioned hospital leadership about why some residents choose to seek care in Douglas or even out of state in Denver. Banner Wyoming Medical Center CEO Lance Porter acknowledged these concerns, attributing some challenges to lingering effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite criticism, Porter highlighted the hospital’s advancements, including its upgrade to a Level II trauma center—the highest trauma care level available in Wyoming. He also emphasized ongoing recruitment efforts to bring in specialists, such as pulmonologists and a cardiothoracic surgeon, in hopes of reducing the need for patients to travel out of state for specialized care.
Two Wyoming hospitals have earned the highest five-star overall rating:
- St. John’s Medical Center (Jackson)
- Cheyenne VA Medical Center (Cheyenne)
St. John’s Medical Center attributes its high ranking to its focus on low infection rates, minimal complications, and an emphasis on patient experience. Unlike some hospitals that invest in large community projects, St. John’s prioritizes free clinics and public health education to build trust and provide direct support to residents.
Two additional hospitals—Powell Valley Hospital and Memorial Hospital of Converse County—earned five-star patient survey ratings but lack an overall rating due to limited reported data.
Wyoming Hospital Rankings at a Glance
Five-Star Overall Rating:
- St. John’s Medical Center (Jackson)
- Cheyenne VA Medical Center (Cheyenne)
Four-Star Overall Rating:
- Sheridan Memorial Hospital (Sheridan)
- Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (Cheyenne)
- Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County (Rock Springs)
Local Casper Area Hospitals:
- Banner Wyoming Medical Center (Casper): Three-star overall and patient survey rating
- Summit Medical Center (Casper): No overall or patient survey rating available
- Memorial Hospital of Converse County: Five-star patient survey rating, no overall rating
While Casper’s Banner Wyoming Medical Center works to improve its ratings, hospital leaders remain focused on retaining Wyoming patients within the state by expanding services and improving care quality.
“We are going to continue to ask ourselves, ‘How can we continue to improve the services that we offer the state of Wyoming in a safe manner?’” Porter said. “Our goal is to be the highest level of care in the state of Wyoming.”
For now, residents seeking the highest-rated medical care may still find themselves making long trips to Cheyenne or Jackson.
