“I hope you enjoy this community report. What a privilege it is to serve our families, friends, and neighbors in Western Wyoming. I’m so grateful for talented and dedicated providers and staff who work to provide compassionate care for every person, every time.”
– DAN ORDYNA, CEO
2024 DAISY Award Recipients
Abbie Goodrick, Carla Smith, and Autumn Loken received the DAISY award in 2024, an internationally recognized award honoring exemplary nurses. DAISY award recipients are nominated by patients, their loved ones, or staff, and selected by our DAISY committee. In 2024 these incredible nurses brought above-and-beyond care to our hospital, our Care Center, and even emergency support outside the walls of Star Valley Health.
Star Valley Health Named Top 20 Critical Access Hospital
In 2024 Star Valley Health was named one of the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAHs) in the US by the Chartis Center for Rural Health! The top 20 CAHs were determined by a number of criteria, including outcomes, quality, patient perspective, and finance. The efforts of every one of our team members contributed to this award, and we’re honored to receive this recognition.
Emergency Room and New Specialty Care Open in Alpine
Throughout 2024 we were busy building out critical new services in Alpine. At the start of 2025 we officially opened doors to our expanded facility.
Our new services include:
ER: When emergencies arise, help is close at hand. We now operate a 24/7 emergency room in Alpine.
OR: Our new operating rooms are fit for outpatient procedures like endoscopies, colonoscopies, and shoulder replacement.
CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION LAB: Stay proactive with your heart health. Angiography, stent placement, and pacemaker implantation are just some of the services at our cath lab.
Our pre-existing services:
PRIMARY CARE, URGENT CARE, and SPECIALTY CARE like orthopedics and gynecology are still available at our Alpine facility.
“At Star Valley Health, we’re constantly striving to bring quality patient care closer to the people who need it most. We’re excited to offer 24/7 emergency room services, surgical services, and cardiac catheterization procedures in Alpine.”
– MARLOWE SCHERBEL, CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. Martha Hageman Named 2024 Wyoming Physician of the Year
Family physician Dr. Martha Hageman was
named the 2024 Wyoming Physician of the
Year by the Wyoming Medical Society! Dr.
Hageman and her husband Dr. Donald Kirk
have faithfully served at Star Valley Health for over 30 years.
“At the core of our human experience is that we want to lead a healthy life and be the healthiest version of ourselves, but sometimes we can’t do that alone. It’s an amazing thing to be able to be a part of somebody’s journey.”
-Dr. Martha Hageman
Championing Wyoming Women’s Health
Keep an eye out for this badge! Our women’s health campaign, Flourish With Us, is helping the women of Western Wyoming thrive. Our women’s health content focuses on different topics – for example, cardiology, obstetrics, sexual and gynecologic health, or menopause – and reaches our community through social media, newspaper ads, and eNewsletters.
Our Auxiliary’s Impact
In 2024 the Star Valley Health Auxiliary raised funds for a patient lift for our Care Center, which supports residents with mobility challenges. They also raised funds for a canopy tent for our physical therapy team to use at community outreach events. And as always, they brought smiles and encouragement throughout Star Valley Health, from hosting events to serving at our Gifts of Joy gift shop.
We’re grateful for these dedicated volunteers who impact the lives of our staff and patients.
2024 Frontline Employees
In 2024, these outstanding employees were recognized by management and fellow co-workers for their exceptional patient care and teamwork.
Ultrasound and Echocardiograms
Available in Evanston
As of spring of 2024, the Star Valley Health Imaging Center now offers ultrasound for both adult and pediatric patients. Ultrasounds are used for many purposes, from monitoring fetal development to detecting tumors or kidney stones. The Star Valley Health Imaging Center also provides echocardiogram, MRI, CT, X-ray, and arthrograms. Watch for more services coming soon to Evanston!
New Health Benefits Program
for Small Businesses
Member Care – a membership program for healthcare benefits – gives employees of small businesses access to critical services at a number of Star Valley Health locations. Plans are available for individuals, spouses, and families. Find out more at StarValleyHealth.org.
“For businesses that want to offer some type of healthcare benefit to their employees, this is an opportunity to do that at a very nominal cost, and it provides some great services with both urgent care and primary care. Member Care fills the gap that many small employers have, but doesn’t break them financially to be able to provide it.”
– MIKE HUNSAKER, SENIOR VP OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Enhancing Our Oncology and Infusion Services
Our Afton Oncology and Infusion Center was under development in 2024, and our doors are now open to an expanded facility. This redesigned space offers five infusion chairs, plus a private exam room and more natural light.
Our center provides chemotherapy, infusions, rheumatology services, and wound care. Chemotherapy is provided through a teleoncology program, where patients are treated locally by chemo-certified nurses and assessed virtually by oncologist Dr. Richard Johnson.
Summer 2025: Family Medicine Available in Evanston
Dr. Sara Pettinelli will join Star Valley Health this summer and open her practice in Evanston. We know that a compassionate family medicine provider is truly a partner in health, and we look forward to bringing this service to our friends and neighbors in Evanston.
Helping Our Team Feel Heard
Our employees work tirelessly each day to provide exceptional patient care and help Star Valley Health run efficiently. We invested in a Gallup employee engagement survey to assess employee sentiment and weave those insights into our development. Gallup is an international advisory firm renowned for it’s survey research. We care deeply about our employees’ needs and values, and we’re committed to sustaining a supportive and secure work culture.
