Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY), along with Department of Health Director Stefan Johansson, continues to seek citizen input regarding Wyoming’s Rural Health Transformation Program, following this week’s virtual meeting and various public forums. An online survey is also available through Oct. 15.
“The online survey, public forums and now — an additional virtual meeting — are to make sure Wyomingites have the opportunity to weigh-in on strengthening healthcare and wellness in our rural communities,” said Governor Gordon. “This effort aligns with the Trump Administration’s directive to provide sustainable and innovative opportunities through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This is an important opportunity for citizens to directly influence outcomes.”
To ensure that Wyoming’s application for program funding reflects the needs of our rural communities, the Wyoming Department of Health (DOH) conducted a series of public meetings to gather input on rural healthcare challenges, strengths, and opportunities.
While every community meeting was different, several common health care concerns around the State emerged, including, but not limited to:
- Staffing and workforce challenges;
- Hospitals and long-term care facilities;
- The importance of primary care and the physician-patient relationship;
- Behavioral health gaps;
- Addressing ‘maternity deserts’ and lack of obstetric care; and,
- Emergency Medical Services (EMS) sustainability.
“The people’s voices in the public forums were heard — and are an immense asset in building a strong RHTP proposal that represents our state.”
Now, the DOH is seeking to prioritize citizen concerns as part of the application process for funds through a public online survey. The survey runs from October 8 through October 15. Results will inform Wyoming’s application and determine which directions the State should pursue in transforming rural health.
Direct link: Here
QR code:
Indirect link: The link to the survey will also be prominent on the main Rural Health Transformation page, here.
“The results from this survey will directly shape Wyoming’s application for these federal funds,” said Johansson. “We want to encourage anyone, even folks who haven’t been to the public meetings, to weigh in through the survey.”
For more information on Wyoming’s Rural Health Transformation Program, please see the Wyoming Department of Health website.