Wyoming Asks Residents to Weigh in on Rural-Health Overhaul

Gov. Mark Gordon and Wyoming Department of Health Director Stefan Johansson want to keep the microphones open on the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program — and they’re asking Wyomingites to speak up now, not later. After a round of in-person forums and a virtual meeting this week, the state has opened an online survey that runs through Oct. 15 to capture what’s working (and what isn’t) in small-town care, County 10 reports.

Gordon says the goal is simple: make sure the state’s application for federal Rural Health Transformation Program dollars actually reflects the realities on the ground. That means elevating issues communities are living with every day — tight staffing and workforce pipelines, stressed hospitals and long-term care, the central role of primary care and the doctor-patient relationship, gaps in behavioral health, “maternity deserts” and limited obstetric services, and the long-running question of how to keep EMS sustainable across huge distances.

Health officials say the comments gathered at town halls are already shaping the proposal, but the survey will help prioritize which problems to tackle first and where to put new resources. You don’t need to have attended a meeting to weigh in; the state wants input from patients, providers, caregivers, and anyone who relies on rural clinics, ambulances, or hospital services — which is to say, most of Wyoming.

The survey is open Oct. 8–15 and can be accessed via the Wyoming Department of Health’s Rural Health Transformation page. Results will feed directly into the state’s funding application and help set the roadmap for strengthening care and wellness in rural communities.

Questions or looking for background on the program? Head to the WDH website and search “Rural Health Transformation.”