Campbell County Health Purchases Newcastle Ambulance Service

Gillette, WY – May 28, 2021 – At the May 27 meeting, Campbell County Health’s Board of Trustees approved an asset purchase of the Newcastle Ambulance Services (NAS) located in Weston County, Wyoming for $1.230 million—$250 thousand for the building, $980 thousand for all business assets and accounts receivable. The purchase included NAS’s four ambulances, inventory and equipment. Patients in the community will continue to be taken to the nearest hospital for the most appropriate level of care required.

CCH Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will assume operations starting July 1, 2021, and bring paramedic level services to the community. The CCH EMS department is a group of professionals who are staffed in Gillette and Wright, Wyoming. In 2020, CCH EMS responded to more than 4,220 dispatches; NAS responded to 720.

“When someone calls for an ambulance, the service needs to be nearby. EMS in Wyoming is changing, and CCH wants to support rural areas to continue to offer emergency medical services in their communities. Our aim is to build on the service offered by NAS to offer a higher level of care to Newcastle and beyond,” says Misty Robertson, DNP, CCH Chief Nursing Officer. “We look forward to continuing the relationship with the City of Newcastle, Weston County and Custer County, SD, to sustain these services for their community members.”

NAS staff will transition to the 24-hour EMS shift model. CCH will transition current NAS staff to EMS positions within the organization. CCH plans to grow the Community Paramedicine program in Newcastle as well as implement weekly car seat checks by certified car seat technicians, bike rodeos, EMT classes, continue to offer stand-by services, and help the community celebrate Halloween.

“Now, when patients in the Newcastle community are picked by an EMS crew and put into an ambulance, our team will be licensed to perform the highest level of care authorized by an EMS provider in the State of Wyoming,” says Christopher Beltz, Paramedic, Director of CCH Emergency Medical Services. “The upgraded 24-hour service will provide critical care transports to other care centers, giving similar care and interventions as patients receive in the Emergency Department or ICU while in the ambulance.”

CCH will continue to partner with local businesses for services needed in Newcastle, and will look to support the local community by supporting events, school functions and more.

“Newcastle Ambulance Services mission is Community, Commitment and Caring, and my community is very important to me. When I was looking to retire, I wanted to have a company that would take NAS to the next level for my community, and for my staff,” says Roger K. Hespe, IEMT, who has operated NAS since 2001. “I already have a great working relationship with CCH—I have seen and worked with the staff, assisted with evaluations and trainings. I also know a lot of the leaders and staff at CCH, and believe that their EMS team is wonderful. I felt that joining these services will help grow and support the communities, and bring quality care and better resources to the Newcastle community.”

To learn more about Emergency Medical Services at CCH, visit www.cchwyo.org/ems.

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About Campbell County Health

Campbell County Health includes Campbell County Memorial Hospital, an acute care community hospital; Campbell County Medical Group, with 18 specialty clinics; and The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center, a 160-bed long term care and short term rehab facility serving Campbell County and the surrounding area. With additional services like Cancer Care, Cardiac Cath Lab, Home Medical Resources, Dialysis, and Home Health and Hospice, Campbell County Health has the most comprehensive healthcare services in the northeast Wyoming region. Learn more at www.cchwyo.org.