West Park Hospital | 2015 Progress Report

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D-6 - Cody Progress Edition - Thursday, March 19, 2015
Where Buffalo Roam!
Paha Tatanka Wakan (Sacred Buffalo Mountain)
by Kat Vuletich
Save the Date!
Join us for a Buffalo Roundup and
check out the whole herd!
May 16, 12 – 4 p.m. Downtown Cody
Info: Graham Jackson • 307.578.2338 •
West Park Hospital Foundation • 707 Sheridan Avenue
Cody, Wyoming 82414 •
Buffie ad progress edition vertical.qxp_WPH Buffie Ad for Progress Vertical 3/5/15 12:53 PM Page 1
GRAHAM
JACKSON (Director)
Foundation
BOARD Members
BECKY
STERN
DOUG
WEEDIN
FRAN
BAKER
RICK
COOK
CHARLIE
MOORE
JAN
ELDREDGE
MICHELE
KEITH (Chairman)
CAROL LEA
ROBERTS
DOUG
McMILLAN
PEGGY
ROHRBACH
707 Sheridan Avenue – Cody, WY • (307) 578-2338
•
JODY
HORVATH
MELANIE
LOVELACE
TAMI
COLLIER
General surgeon Dr.
Thomas Etter has
been serving Cody and
the surrounding area for the
last two years.
General surgery is a sur-
gical specialty that encom-
passes multiple body regions
including esophagus, stom-
ach, small bowel, colon, liver,
pancreas, gallbladder, bile
ducts, and often the thyroid
and parathyroid glands.
They also deal with diseases
involving the skin, breast,
soft tissues and hernias.
“In a large city they may
have multiple specialists, but
in smaller communities we
are privileged to wear those
hats,” he says. “We offer a
big city flavor with the ben-
efit of community relation-
ships.”
One of the biggest differ-
ences from hospitals in larg-
er cities is taking the time to
talk to patients.
“In a big city you can
feel like a number,” he says.
“Here we try to treat you
like family and take the time
to listen. Communication is
the key to patient satisfac-
tion. My patients essentially
become my extended family.”
Dr. Etter is board-certified
in general surgery, a member
of the Society of American
Gastrointestinal Endoscopic
Surgeons, American Col-
lege of Colorectal Surgeons,
Society of Laparoendoscopic
Surgeons, American Society
for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgeons, and an American
Society of Breast Surgeons-
Mastery of Breast Surgery
member.
His specialties include:
•Breast surgery, including
oncoplastic techniques.
•Laparoscopic adrenalec-
tomies and splenectomies.
•Minimally invasive vid-
eo-assisted thyroidectomies
and parathyroidectomies.
•Laparoscopic paraesoph-
ageal herniorrhaphies and
anti-reflux procedures.
•Laparos cop i c hand -
assisted colectomies and
small bowel resections.
•Laparoscopic cholecys-
tectomies, appendectomies,
inguinal herniorrhaphies
and v ntral h rniorrhaphies.
•Endoscopy.
“Prior to coming to Cody,
I was based at a large cancer
center and much of my focus
was invested towards breast,
colorectal and thyroid can-
cers so I’m experienced in
how to deal with complex
cases,” he says. “We also
provide colonoscopies and
esophagogastroduodenosco-
pies on a weekly basis and
have a day dedicated to these
procedures.
“Not long ago we suc-
cessfully performed a lapa-
roscopic adrenalectomy on
a very large tumor. It was
very helpful and important
for the family to remain in
the community instead of
traveling to Mayo. I remain
very humbled to offer these
types of services to our com-
munity.”
He also does anti-reflux
surgery, which is a treatment
for acid reflux or GERD, a
problem in which food or
stomach acid comes back up
from your stomach into the
esophagus.
“People should know they
don’t have to travel to Bill-
ings for treatment,” he says.
Many of the surgeries
he performs are minimally
invasive, which has several
benefits including:
•Increased safety – with
smaller incisions, there’s less
trauma to the body and far
less blood loss.
•Decreased scarring –
most incisions just take a
stitch or two to close.
•Faster recovery – where-
as recovery from traditional
surgeries typically takes
6-8 weeks, patients who
have undergone minimally
invasive procedures usually
recover in only one to two.
•Decreased length of hos-
pital stay – most MIS proce-
dures are associated with a
23-hour discharge or sched-
uled outpatient surgery.
“There’s a quicker turn-
around and less hospital
stay,” he says. “More and
more insurance companies
tend to focus upon these
standards of care and we are
happy to provide them with
excellence.”
Cody is the designated
regional trauma center,
meaning Dr. Etter rotates
call to deal with trauma
surgeries and serves as the
trauma director. Dr. Etter
also fills in for the general
surgeon in Powell for trauma
when needed.
Dr. Etter’s office has four
exam rooms and a proce-
dure room for minor proce-
dures such as biopsies. He
performs surgeries at the
Northwest Wyoming Surgi-
cal Center, West Park Hos-
pital and occasionally Powell
Valley Healthcare. He says
the new inpatient care wing
at West Park Hospital has
made patient’s stays there
even better.
“ I ’m e c s t a t i c know-
ing that my post surgical
patients will receive optimal
care during their recovery,”
Dr. Etter emphasizes. “It
really takes a qualified team
to cure a patient of their ill-
nesses.”
If someone feels they have
a problem that might need
to be corrected through sur-
gery, they can call and make
an appointment themselves
or get a referral through
their primary care physician.
If Dr. Etter feels surgery
is necessary he describes the
surgical procedure in detail
and what people can expect
after surgery.
“I feel a great deal of
apprehension is soothed by
taking the time with the
patient and putting myself
in their shoes,” he says. “And
if they have more questions
at a later time I’m happy to
answer them.”
After surgery, Dr. Etter
checks in with patients or
has them come in for addi-
tional follow-up until they no
longer need it.
“Most importantly, I want
my patients to know I’m
available for them anytime,”
he says.
His office is in the Cath-
cart Health Center, 424
Yellowstone Ave., Suite 250.
It’s open Monday through
Thursday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
and Friday, 8 a.m.-noon.
To make an appointment
call 578-2947.
General surgeon Dr. Thomas Etter say patients “essentially become like extended family.”
Surgeon takes time to visitwith, comfort patients