1 minute read
St. John's Health Urgent Care
Access to urgent medical care returns to the West Bank this summer with the reopening of the Teton Village Clinic, inside Cody House at the base of the Bridger Gondola.
Advertisement
"The Teton Village Clinic has traditionally been open in the winters as a ski clinic for people who are injured on the mountain," said Dr. Jim Little Jr. "We did open it for two years during the summer, and then, because of COVID and staffing issues, it was actually not open last summer."
The clinic reopened June 10, the same day Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opened its bike park for the season. Both are set to close again on Sept. 10. The clinic is staffed by a doctor, a nurse and a patient registrar, with hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
"It will be set up and staffed to basically take care of minor injuries and illnesses," Dr. Little said. "People who are injured hiking or biking on the mountain bike trails, other medical issues."
The lack of access to health care in remote and mountainous locations is an ongoing problem, which is only exacerbated by the seasonal influx of tourists. Area road construction projects also contribute to traffic congestion and slow travel times. Dr. Little said that the reopening of the Teton Village Clinic brings the number of St. John's Urgent Care locations in the area up to three, at least during the busiest times of year.
"For us, the biggest thing is trying to give people options and points of access," said Dr. Little. "People can access care where they are instead of having to come to St. John's Hospital in Jackson. That's why we're making sure that we have an access point in the park, at Grand Teton Medical Clinic at the Jackson Lake Lodge. And also now out at Teton Village. We have our clinic in the Smith's Plaza, which has been open for the last 15 years, and that's seven days a week throughout the year.”
The Teton Village Clinic at the base of the Bridger Gondola will be seasonal, open during peak summer and winter seasons. The Grand Teton Medical Clinic is a summer-only clinic, due to the fact that the national park is more or less shut down in the winter, Little said.
