Cody Regional Health Earns Area Trauma Center Designation, Expanding Access to Advanced Emergency Care Across Region 5

Cody Regional Health is proud to announce it has officially been designated as an Area Trauma Center by the Wyoming Department of Health, becoming the highest designated trauma facility serving Northwest Wyoming Region 5, which encompasses Park, Big Horn, Hot Springs and Washakie counties.. The designation represents a significant milestone in Cody Regional Health’s ongoing commitment to providing advanced emergency and trauma care close to home.

For patients and families, this means greater access to advanced trauma care during some of life’s most critical moments.

“When a serious injury occurs, timely access to expert care is critical,” said Hannah McRae, CEO of Cody Regional Health. “This designation reflects our ongoing commitment to providing residents throughout the Big Horn Basin with access to advanced trauma care close to home, supported by highly skilled clinical teams available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Achieving this milestone is the result of years of strategic investment, collaboration, and dedication across our organization to enhance emergency and trauma services and better serve the communities that rely on us.”

"Trauma care begins long before a patient arrives at the hospital," said Phillip Franklin, EMS Director at Cody Regional Health. "This designation strengthens coordination between EMS agencies, first responders, and healthcare teams throughout Region 5. It helps ensure patients receive the right care at the right time while creating a more connected trauma system for the communities we serve."

Trauma centers play a vital role in treating patients who experience serious injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes, agricultural and ranching accidents, recreational injuries, falls, and other emergency situations. Achieving Area Trauma Center designation requires hospitals to meet rigorous standards related to staffing, training, equipment, quality improvement, and emergency response capabilities.

Cody Regional Health’s designation is supported by numerous specialized resources, including:

• 24/7 Emergency Department Physicians
• 24/7 Physician & CRNA supported Anesthesia services
• 24/7 Orthopedic surgery coverage
• 24/7 General Surgery coverage
• Dedicated trauma program leadership
• Highly trained emergency, surgical, and nursing teams
• Advanced Life Support Emergency Medical Transport Services

Together, these resources allow Cody Regional Health to provide immediate access to specialized trauma care 24 hours a day, seven days a week for patients throughout Region 5.

As the Region 5 Area Trauma Center, Cody Regional Health will serve as a regional resource for trauma education, training, care coordination, and quality improvement initiatives. Working closely with hospitals, EMS agencies, first responders, and healthcare partners throughout the region, Cody Regional Health will help strengthen trauma systems, support best practices, and ensure patients receive timely access to the appropriate level of care. This collaborative approach also helps patients transition back to their local healthcare providers and communities as safely and efficiently as possible during recovery.

"Trauma care is much more than what happens in the Emergency Department," said Casey Zeigler, Trauma Coordinator at Cody Regional Health. "It requires coordination between EMS, emergency medicine, surgery, anesthesia, orthopedic care, nursing, rehabilitation, and many other departments. This designation demonstrates the strength of our trauma system and our team's commitment to providing rapid, high-quality care when our patients need us most."

"Achieving Area Trauma Center designation reflects years of investment in people, training, and resources," said Dr. Thomas H. Etter, Trauma Medical Director at Cody Regional Health. "From emergency physicians and surgeons to anesthesiologists, orthopedic specialists, nurses, therapists, and EMS personnel, trauma care is truly a team effort. This designation demonstrates our commitment to providing advanced, evidence-based care close to home so patients can receive the treatment they need while remaining connected to their families and communities whenever possible."

The designation further strengthens Cody Regional Health’s role as a regional healthcare leader and reinforces its mission to provide advanced medical services close to home.

For residents across Region 5, the achievement means greater confidence knowing that advanced trauma care is available locally when unexpected emergencies occur.

For more information about this story, please contact crh@codyregionalhealth.org.