Wyoming Models and Innovations

These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.

Evidence-Based Examples

Women to Women Online Support Network
Updated/reviewed November 2020

• Need: Women living in rural areas with chronic illness often face little social support, leading to increased rates of depression and stress
• Intervention: Women to Women offered rural women with chronic conditions social support networks via telecommunication
• Results: WTW intervention participants experienced positive increases in self-esteem, social support, and empowerment over the control group

Effective Examples

Wyoming Trauma Telehealth Treatment Clinic
Updated/reviewed February 2023

• Need: To provide psychotherapy to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
• Intervention: University of Wyoming psychology doctoral students provide psychotherapy via videoconferencing to crisis center clients in two rural locations.
• Results: Clients, student therapists, and crisis center staff were satisfied with the quality of services, and clients reported reduced symptoms of depression and PTSD.

New Mexico Mobile Screening Program for Miners
Updated/reviewed December 2022

• Need: To increase access to medical screening for miners in New Mexico.
• Intervention: A mobile screening clinic with telemedicine capability screens miners for respiratory and other conditions.
• Results: In a survey, 92% of miners reported their care as very good, while the other 8% reported it as good. The program has expanded to three other states.

Other Project Examples

Targeted Rural Underserved Track (TRUST) Program
Updated/reviewed February 2023

• Need: There is a shortage of rural physicians in the Northwestern United States.
• Intervention: University of Washington medical students are receiving training through the TRUST program in rural, underserved communities across a five-state radius.
• Results: Long-lasting connections have been formed among regional and underserved communities, medical students, and rural health professionals, producing more rural physicians as a result.

The Hospital Cooperative Charge Comparative
Updated/reviewed September 2022

• Need: To help hospitals in rural Idaho and Wyoming see how their prices compare to others in the region.
• Intervention: The Hospital Cooperative (THC) completes an annual charge comparative, which lists the highest, lowest, average, and median price for a specific charge.
• Results: THC has offered these reports since 2010.

The Hospital Cooperative Mobile MRI
Updated/reviewed September 2022

• Need: Critical Access Hospitals in Idaho were not able to afford a fixed MRI system.
• Intervention: The hospitals partnered to purchase a mobile MRI unit to travel among facilities.
• Results: The MRI unit went into service in 2012, providing hundreds of scans per month and traveling among six member hospitals in rural Idaho.

Leadership Development Program
Updated/reviewed March 2021

• Need: Reasonably-priced leadership education was needed for professional development of healthcare organization managers in southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming.
• Intervention: Creation of a health network providing leadership training opportunities for member hospitals.
• Results: Increased leadership and managerial quality, and decreased professional development costs for rural hospitals of southeastern Idaho and western Wyoming.