Health Care

From Sustaining Jackson Hole Wiki

Growth in Jackson Hole’s population in the last 10 years, along with the fact that the valley’s population is aging, has led to a corresponding increase in the amount of medical services rendered at St. John’s Medical Center, the valley’s only hospital. The number of people admitted, patients staying overnight, emergency room visits and operating room procedures all grew between 15 and 44 percent between 1994 and 2004. (See table 11-5.) During the same 12 year period, the medical center’s revenues grew 153 percent. (See table 11-6).

Along with rising revenue, St. John’s costs have also increased, and the medical center and health care professionals face a number of financial challenges. An increasing number of uninsured or underinsured residents are living in the valley, which has resulted in an increase in charity care. The cost of medical malpractice insurance for doctors has skyrocketed, which is threatening to put some out of business or curtail the services they offer. In addition, a national shortage of nurses and other health care professionals makes it difficult to find employees and, combined with a high cost of living, makes recruitment a challenge.

Despite those challenges, advances in health care research and technology have made it possible in recent years to diagnose and treat many diseases, injuries, and illnesses in Jackson Hole that previously could be handled only in urban population centers. These changes, along with changes in the way that hospitals are reimbursed for care they provide, have resulted in more focus on outpatient services. In addition, there is more of a focus locally on orthopedic care due to recreation in Jackson Hole, and on oncology and cardiopulmonary care due to residents who are aging.