HOT SPRINGS
Hot Springs Health is a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) that completed construction of the patient care areas. The new 16 bed facility includes 2 delivery suites, 2 ORs and endoscopy suite, and a 6 bed emergency room. Our hospital features highly modern medical equipment including a new 1.5 Tesla MRI, 64 slice CT scanner, new ultrasound machine, digital mammography, and a new nuclear medicine machine. A large reason for our success is the fact that the hospital board has always been very progressive and collaborates well with the medical community.
Currently, we use Cerner in both the hospital and clinic. Outpatient services include chemotherapy, transfusions, wound care, pain management, cardiac stress tests and many outpatient surgeries. We have two Nurse Anesthetists who provide outstanding care including OB epidurals, airway management, conscious sedation, and difficult vascular access.
The clinics in Thermopolis, Basin, Shoshoni, Riverton and Worland are all Rural Health Clinics staffed by our providers who also serve nursing home residents in the same communities as well. We also have new outpatient clinics in Riverton and Shoshoni.
Program Vision |
Graduates of the University of Wyoming Rural Training Track in Thermopolis will become highly skilled rural physicians and leaders, who are involved in their community |
WE AIM TO
Vision for Graduates
Graduates of the University of Wyoming Rural Training Track in Thermopolis will become highly skilled rural physicians
A Message From the Thermopolis RTT Site Director -W. Travis Bomengen, M.D.
“Thank you for your interest in the Thermopolis RTT. We are an innovative, new program located in a truly rural/frontier environment set to immerse and train residents in a full spectrum family medicine experience. We will to educate and train residents to become highly skilled family physicians who are be able to meet the needs and improve the health of the communities that they will serve.
The challenges of practicing medicine in rural communities are constantly changing and definitely different than larger environments. A quote from Dr. Mathey, WWAMI graduate 2015, who started in Thermopolis in October of 2018, I think summarizes it well —”It is true that the scope of our practice is far more expansive than most family physician practices and most training programs in the country. Considering this we believe that the exposure of living in a rural community will help prepare the residents for some of these challenges including providing quality evidence based care, the importance of community involvement, leadership needs/expectations, and the importance of work/life balance. This coupled with the exposure to this more expansive scope of practice will help prepare residents for almost any type of practice they might encounter in the U.S.”
Our longitudinal curriculum coupled with the healthcare problems and needs of our communities provides a perfect environment for residents to learn how to live and practice successfully in a rural community. With the changes in medicine coupled with the growing knowledge and utilization of POCUS (point of care ultrasound) we are developing a curriculum to help improve care and augment the rural training experience.
Lastly, we have a cohesive healthcare team whose primary focus is quality patient care. This team includes physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, physical therapists, and occupational therapists—all working together to care for our communities.
Considering all of this takes place in the majestic wilds of Wyoming with countless recreational opportunities, we welcome your interest and encourage you to contact us if you have questions. You are unlikely to find another community where you can take advantage of blue ribbon trout fishing out the hospital’s back door while you are waiting for lab results!!!”
OUR COMMUNITY
Thermopolis established in 1911 is located near the northern end of the Wind River Canyon and Wedding of the Waters, where the north-flowing Wind River becomes the Big Horn river which flows through town. Thermopolis is ringed by mountains, with the Big Horn Mountains to the northeast, the Owl Creek Mountains to the southwest, while sitting at the south end of the Big Horn Basin
POPULATION
3,000 in town and 4,696 in the county of Hot Springs
ELEVATION
4,331 feet
WEATHER
Average Summer high temperatures 90s and winter lows in the 20s
PRECIPITATION
12.04 inches with 28 inches of snow
ACTIVITIES
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- FISHING
- HUNTING
- WHITE WATER RAFTING
- SWIMMING
- HIKING
- BIKING
- SKIING
- CLIMBING
AREA INTERESTS
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- WYOMING DINOSAUR CENTER
- WYOMING WHISKEY DISTILLERY
- WIND RIVER CANYON
- BOYSEN RESERVOIR STATE PARK
- HOT SPRINGS STATE PARK
- BIG SPRING
- HOT SPRINGS STATE PARK
- LEGEND ROCK PETROGLYPHS
FROM THE THERMOPOLIS VISITORS GUIDE
Dinosaurs, cowboys and mineral hot springs come together to create a trip of a lifetime in Thermopolis. New West meets Old West meets prehistoric in a community where you can relax in the world’s largest hot springs, dig for dinosaurs and spike your adrenaline whitewater rafting. You don’t even have to leave your car- the drive winding through Wind River Canyon is one of the most stunning in the state, with towering walls formed from ancient rock you travel through time
Healing Waters The healing waters of the area’s mineral springs attracted dinosaurs, prehistoric migratory people, Native American tribes, Western settlers and now travelers visiting and crossing Wyoming. Native Americans believed the water contained therapeutic power. In the early 19th century a sizeable medical community formed in Thermopolis centered around the hot springs and treating those visiting in hopes the water would restore their health. The Shoshone and Arapaho tribes gave Wyoming the hot springs in a treaty in 1896, with the provision it remain accessible to the general public without charge. You can still visit the bath house in Hot Spring State Park free of charge
The Town of Thermopolis Not surprisingly, the name Thermopolis comes from the Greek word for hot city. Founded in 1897, people reached the town by braving mountain passes in wagons until 1910 when the railroad reached the town. People came seeking the healing powers of the hot springs. The town also attracted outlaws like the Sundance Kid and Butch Cassidy. Today about 3,200 people call Thermopolis home and while people still come for the hot mineral water, the outlaws have been replaced by famous western hospitality.