Sublette County Hospital District Case Study

Project Background

In Sublette County, a century-long dream of bringing quality healthcare closer to home is being realized. The project comes at a pivotal moment as population growth has brought the need for hospital services to a critical mass, even rising to the attention of the Wyoming Department of Health. Historically, the closest location to receive critical care and 24/7 emergency services has been 90 minutes away, and even longer in winter when weather delays are common. Residents who don’t—or can’t—make the drive are left to rely on limited-capacity rural health clinics currently operating at a financial loss and relying on annual subsidies from taxpayers to keep the doors open. Likewise, the community’s 41-year-old Sublette Center nursing home had reached a crossroads and required either substantial capital investment or a replacement facility. 

Stroudwater Capital’s Role

Our team was involved in the initial planning process to evaluate the feasibility of creating a Critical Access Hospital to serve the community and consolidating the existing clinics and nursing homes into one healthcare system. Sustainability was a key consideration as we worked to reuse, expand, and future-proof the existing site for growth. We actively participated in community planning meetings to share the business and financing plan with the public, coordinated the financing process, and assisted in securing the USDA financing adherence.

Legacy

Once completed, the project will connect the community to services across the full continuum of care, expanding access to primary and routine care while also meeting acute care needs via a full-time emergency department and overnight inpatient services. The Critical Access Hospital status of the district and the consolidation of operation with the Sublette Center will strengthen both organizations and result in a truly sustainable and unified local healthcare system.