Hospital trustees ratify support for face masks

Sheridan Memorial Hospital trustees officially ratified a memo in support of wearing face masks in the hospital.

Action came during the trustees’ meeting Wednesday night. Memorial CEO Mike McCafferty said the hospital has had a policy for several months requiring hospital staff and anyone coming into the hospital to wear face masks.

McCafferty said the disease can’t be stopped completely, but the hospital is trying to do the best to keep people healthy and the staff safe and not go over the capacity of the healthcare system in Sheridan County.

Trustees Chair David Smith said he thinks the face masks are an important process for the hospital to follow.

In other matters, McCafferty said he had sent a memo to trustees on Aug. 7 letting them know the hospital has been awarded just over $2 million in CARES money for HVAC and electrical infrastructure to the hospital’s second and third floors.

The work is to convert those floors for COVID-19 patients. McCafferty said work has started on that in earnest. The funds came in the form of a grant from Wyoming’s State Land and Investment Board.