Box Butte General Hospital Board Advances Patient Care, Services, and Community Health

Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Board of Trustees met on Monday, March 30, 2026, in the Alliance Room. During the board meeting, leadership celebrated the March Employee of the Month, Physical Therapist, Ivy Shelmadine. They also welcomed new team members including Dietary Cook Frankee Brothers, Staff Nurse Lee Simpson, Emergency Department Director Jennifer Case, Central Sterile Techs Kennedie Gibson and Jill Smith. The Board approved the consent calendar, financial report, and credentialing requests. 

Quality and Safety Report

Quality Management Specialist Summer Gonzalez reported to the Board that the hospital continues to meet rigorous national standards across multiple service lines:

The hospital received full accreditation for a three-year cycle following its most recent survey with DNV.

The sleep lab earned a new three-year accreditation, including expanded services such as home sleep testing.

The mammography program passed its annual inspection with no findings and maintained certification.

Additional accreditations reviews, including laboratory services, are scheduled in the coming months. 

The hospital also remains committed to continuous improvement through new initiatives and staff engagement. A patient safety awareness campaign highlighted fall prevention and safety practices for both patients and staff. Teams are also working on new quality improvement projects including: enhanced maternal and infant care, improving surgical and sterile processing operations, strengthening the swing bed program for post-acute care close to home for patients, and increasing transparency and communication around patient billing. 

Chief Executive Reports

Chief Operations Officer Gabe Behling shared with the Board the continued efforts to improve access to care for patients. The hospital’s walk-in clinic is experiencing high patient demand which is improving access for same-day care needs of the community. Imaging services are continuing to expand with support from a new partnership with Casper Medical Imaging. Work is underway to expand the rehabilitation services, including pediatric therapy and aquatic therapy options. There are also plans in progress to reintroduce cardiac stress testing services, bringing more care to our community. Behling also spoke about a recent response to a facility-related incident involving water in the lower level. All of senior leadership emphasized that BBGH employees responded quickly and effectively, with cleanup and restoration already underway and no impact to patient care.

Recruitment and Education Opportunities

BBGH’s senior leadership emphasized a forward-looking approach focused on growth, recruitment, and meeting community needs. “Our teams continue to make meaningful progress in strengthening services, improving access, and ensuring a high standard of care for our patients,” Chief Medical Officer and Chief Executive Officer Interim Dr. Brian Shelmadine shared. “We are proud of the work being done and remain focused on building a healthier future for our community.” The hospital continues to strengthen its care team with the addition of several new staff members across departments, including nursing, surgical services, and leadership roles. Notably, a new Emergency Department Director, Dr. Case, has joined the organization, supporting ongoing efforts to enhance emergency care and provider recruitment.

In addition, the hospital is expanding partnerships with educational institutions including the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) to bring more medical students, nursing students, and allied health professionals to Alliance. Chief Nursing Officer Erica Lauder informed the Board that the hospital will bring back the externship program with nursing through UNMC. “This program allows students the opportunity to work alongside our staff to gain knowledge and skills while also allowing us to consider these students for future employment,” said Lauder. These efforts are designed to support long-term workforce development and improve access to care in rural communities. The hospital is also advertising the summer internship programs for high school and college students. Students can find more information and apply on the hospital’s website- www.bbgh.org. 

The meeting moved into executive session at 2:15 PM. The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 27, 2026, at noon in the Alliance Room. The public is welcome to attend. Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.