In a medical emergency, how quickly can you get the right care? For residents in southeast Wyoming and nearby Nebraska communities, the emergency room at Banner Health’s Community Hospital in Torrington offers excellent 24/7 medical care that sets it apart.
When you arrive, you’ll be seen quickly by a medical team highly trained in emergency care. And integrated care means that — thanks to the ER’s advanced telehealth capabilities — they can consult with specialists in real time.
Short wait times, superior care
Anyone who’s been in a large ER — or seen one on TV — knows how interminably long the wait can be and how chaotic it can seem.
“Because we’re a small emergency room, the door-to-doc time is generally less than 15 minutes, so we’re able to see people faster and address their concerns,” said Ezdan Fluckiger, M.D., medical director of the emergency department.
It’s also reassuring to know that unlike a large facility, where you often have multiple teams caring for a patient, here you’ll be cared for by one team.
“Everyone — the doctor, the nurse, the tech — is on the same page, so they can work cohesively to take care of the patient,” said Libby Montgomery, RN, director of nursing services.
The Community Hospital has a full scope of the latest medical imaging and laboratory equipment and now has general surgery services available 24/7. The hospital also has been funded to build its own on-site MRI in 2027.
As testament to how effective the Community Hospital emergency room is, out of 461 patients they saw in December, the vast majority were taken care of in the ER and able to return home.
Integrated access to specialists
The practitioners at Community Hospital ER are not only certified experts in trauma care — they also have quick access to a very strong network of specialists.
“In the case of a stroke, for example, we can consult with a neurologist remotely. They can see the patient in the room in real time, interact with them, examine the imaging and help us decide the best course of action,” said Fluckiger.
For patients needing cardiac intervention, crucial measures — such as clot-busting drugs, blood thinners or the appropriate blood pressure medication — can be administered in the ER to stabilize them, while consulting remotely with the cardiologist who is reading their EKGs.
In some cardiac and respiratory emergencies, they employ an advanced form of technology called TeleICU, a monitoring system that operates 24/7 and remotely connects the patient’s medical team with intensive care specialists.
Expert care for children and infants of all ages for illnesses and injuries
Opened in 1977 as a critical access care hospital, Community Hospital was also the first in Wyoming to be certified as a Pediatric Receiving Hospital, with a staff that has advanced training in pediatric life support and equipment that’s been specially adapted for small children.
The pediatric-prepared emergency department in Torrington provides expert care 24/7 and treats children and infants of all ages for illnesses and injuries.
Patients aren’t strangers here
The care at Community Hospital is also more personalized. Fluckiger has been at Community Hospital for 26 years and Montgomery for 16.
“We know many of the patients from previous visits to the clinic, and we can take their preferences into account when we treat them,” said Fluckiger. “We’ll give them that moment to share their feelings and educate them enough so that they can make the best decisions.”
Sometimes, the patient’s family or friends need emotional support, and the ER staff is trained to provide this too. Later, many express their gratitude.
“They come back here to share their thanks because of the positive impact we were able to make in a difficult situation,” Montgomery said.
Banner Community Hospital is open 24/7 and located at 2000 Campbell Drive in Torrington, Wyoming. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com.
