Hospital Starts Process of Reopening

After more than six weeks of essentially being shut down, Sheridan Memorial Hospital has started the process of reopening.

Speaking at Wednesday’s hospital board meeting, Dr. John Addlesperger, Sheridan Memorial’s chief medical officer, said the hospital suspended procedures about six weeks ago at the recommendation of the surgeon general to protect both staff and patients from exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

He said there hasn’t been another positive case of COVID-19 in Sheridan since around April 1, and though there is still risk from the virus, now seems reasonably safe to start reopening some of the hospital’s services. He said that will start this week, with elective surgeries on Friday.

He said the hospital will also provide a safe place for transitional care of patients and will slowly start doing some surgical therapy with Wyoming Rehab on a case-by-case basis.

Addlesperger and Hospital CEO Mike McCafferty said the reopening will be done under guidance of the Centers for Disease Control, state and county health departments, and Addlesperger said everything is carefully monitored. He said if there is a surge in COVID-19 cases, the hospital will respond accordingly.