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Hospital district updates commissioners on ambulance runs, staffing and tunnel response
Summary
Castle Rock Hospital District reported high call volumes in December, ongoing ALS staffing shortages, plans to add an additional ambulance during peak hours, and described the response to the Green River tunnel crash (14 transports, 18 assessed, two fatalities).
Castle Rock Hospital District staff told Sweetwater County commissioners that December was a busy month with 463 runs and elevated call volume continuing into January and February. Representatives said staffing shortages among Advanced Life Support staff have driven overtime and they expect three newly licensed intermediate EMTs to reduce pressure by March.
"December was a very busy month at 463 runs," the Castle Rock presenter said, adding that the service is working to fill staffing gaps to reduce overtime. The presenter described three common reasons ambulances are unavailable for long transports: active calls, weather or scope-of-practice/equipment constraints (for example, neonatal transports or patients who may need intubation and specific sedation medications).
The district described the multi-agency response to the recent Green River tunnel crash: crews assessed 18 patients on scene, transported 14 (two later died), and coordinated with Rock Springs Fire to cover 911 responses. Commissioners asked for more granular call-location reporting (e.g., North Rock Springs vs. Rock Springs) and the district said it is working on that reporting capability.
Castle Rock also outlined plans for a new Rock Springs ambulance facility (Gateway Boulevard), naming Big D Construction as the selected general contractor and describing preliminary design work, six sleeping rooms and training space. The district said final design and cost estimates will be presented at the next quarterly update.
Commissioners thanked staff for their response to the tunnel incident and asked staff to follow up on specific transfer and availability concerns raised by local providers.
