Ivinson Memorial Hospital Extended Care in Laramie, WY

Pros

• Jenna in the ER was an amazing provider, being kind, explaining medical terms clearly, and helping identify their dad's cancer.
• The ER team, including Dr. Lewis, was professional, caring, and attentive from admission to discharge.
• The maternity care was excellent, with staff described as patient-focused and highly competent.
• Across reviews, the nurses, doctors, and staff were incredible, going above and beyond to help patients.
• The hospital environment was praised as clean, welcoming, and supportive, contributing to positive experiences.
• Dr. Freeman and his team were thorough, reassuring, and took ??? to help during the daughter's procedure.
• Patients noted fast, compassionate care in urgent situations (such as COVID-related care and altitude sickness), with staff making them feel understood and cared for.

Cons

• The reviewer labeled the hospital "the world's worst hospital and medical team" and urged dying patients to drive to Cheyenne.
• They described the billing as unprofessional and a sham, citing double-billing and bills going to collections without proper explanations.
• They claimed staff were uncaring and rude, with poor bedside manners and inadequate communication.
• They argued the hospital prioritizes money over patient care, shipping patients around and pressuring them for payments.
• They said prenatal care was not recommended and nurses were not properly trained.
• They alleged HIPAA violations and privacy breaches, along with debt-collection harassment.
• They reported long ER waits, bed shortages, and patients left sitting in hallways.

Review

This community is best suited for families that prioritize rapid, hands-on emergency care and a workforce known for compassion in acute moments, with the understanding that medical teams can shine even when administrative systems are uneven. When a loved one needs fast triage, clear communication from clinicians, and robust maternity or pediatric care, Ivinson Memorial Hospital offers teams that many families praise for bedside manner, responsiveness, and technical skill. The ER has produced repeatedly positive accounts of quick attention from doctors and nurses, and several reviews highlight maternity and obstetric experiences as especially strong. In short, this is a local option that can deliver high-caliber clinical care when every minute counts and when the focus is on the human touch from care providers.

Those who may want to consider alternatives should pay close attention to the hospital's documented administrative and billing challenges, as well as inconsistent experiences across departments. A sizable portion of reviews center on billing disputes, unexpected charges, and difficulties with payment arrangements and collections. Prospective patients who require steady, predictable administrative handling - especially around bills, pre-authorization, and appointment logistics - might find the experience stressful or opaque. Additionally, while many individual clinicians are praised, others recount long wait times, mixed bedside manners, and a sense that some patients are not prioritized. For families who themselves must navigate ongoing specialist referrals, scheduling bottlenecks, or consistent access to primary care, looking at comparable options in Cheyenne or Fort Collins could be prudent.

The key pros - exceptional clinicians in urgent situations, responsive emergency care, and meaningful maternity and pediatric experiences - often offset the core cons for families facing acute needs. Stories of doctors and nurses who explain conditions clearly, act promptly, and remain attentive in recovery reinforce the hospital's strength in crisis moments. Positive anecdotes about specialty care, such as obstetrics, cardiology, and certain surgical teams, underscore that high-skill care is real and accessible here. The occasional efficiency gains - text-based appointment options, upfront pricing for some services, and a guest house for short-term stays - add practical limbs to the care framework, making this a workable local hub for families who can tolerate administrative friction in exchange for solid clinical outcomes.

Yet the system's rough edges do surface with disconcerting clarity in several reviews. Billing hiccups - double-billing, unclear itemization, and collections pressure - are recurring enough to temper confidence in the financial side of the experience. Reports of disjointed communication between departments, wait times that stretch into hours, and disheartening discharge experiences contribute to a perception that administrative processes can undermine otherwise strong clinical care. There are also pointed cautions about inconsistent ER experiences and concerns about how quickly some patients are seen or discharged, which matters deeply for families coordinating care across services or traveling from outside town. These factors collectively argue for a cautious, planful approach when engaging with the hospital.

For decision-making, approach this community with a clear map of needs and a plan for the non-clinical side. Identify the essential services required - emergency care, obstetrics or pediatrics, orthopedics, and any chronic disease management - and verify, in writing, what the hospital can reliably provide locally. Probe billing practices upfront: request itemized estimates, confirm what is billed by the hospital versus external vendors, and clarify payment plans before services. If ongoing specialist access or consistent appointment availability is critical, compare wait times and referral patterns with nearby alternatives in Cheyenne or Fort Collins, where some families report easier navigation and fewer billing headaches. Use patient advocates or care coordinators when possible to keep lines of communication open.

Ultimately, the community stands as a capable, sometimes exceptional, local option for urgent medical needs and for families seeking strong clinical teams in a familiar setting. It rewards those who value immediate, human-centered care from clinicians and who can tolerate, or better, actively manage, administrative uncertainties. For households that prize a transparent billing process, predictable scheduling, and consistently smooth administrative interactions, exploring alternatives may save time, stress, and cost. For others, especially those with acute emergencies, complex obstetric expectations, or the desire to stay rooted in a single local system, Ivinson Memorial Hospital remains a credible and often impressive choice, provided there is a clear plan to navigate the non-clinical hurdles that accompany it.

Physicians

• Dr Talbot’s Family Practice (0 miles)
• Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Wyoming (0 miles)
• Ideal Protein of Laramie, WY (0 miles)
• Behavioral Health Service (0.1 miles)
• Shaun S Shafer Md (0.2 miles)
• Stone Meadow Health and Wellness (0.2 miles)
• Meadowlark Pediatrics (0.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Ivinson Memorial Hospital (0 miles)
• Meredith And Jeannie Ray Cancer Center (0 miles)
• Albany County Hospital District (0.1 miles)
• Urgent Care (0.9 miles)
• Five Stars (0.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.3 miles)
• Coal Creek Coffee Uptown (0.4 miles)
• Java Java Espresso (0.5 miles)
• Book & Bean (1.2 miles)
• Turtle Rock Coffee (1.5 miles)
• The Rising Cafe (1.6 miles)
• Turtle Rock Coffee (1.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Wendy's (0.3 miles)
• Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (0.3 miles)
• McDonald's (0.3 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (0.3 miles)
• McAlister's Deli (0.4 miles)
• Arby's (0.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Quality IV Care (0.3 miles)
• Pole Mountain Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (2 miles)

Theaters

• Studio City Uw Plaza - Arq (0.3 miles)
• Regal Fox Theater (0.7 miles)

Parks

• LaPrele Park (0.8 miles)
• Washington Park (0.9 miles)
• Fraternity Mall (1 miles)
• Harbon Park (1.2 miles)
• Optimist Park (1.4 miles)
• Optimist Park Dog Park (2.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• University Catholic Community (0.9 miles)
• Zion Lutheran Church (0.9 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (0.9 miles)
• Church of Christ (1 miles)
• Laramie Nazarene Church (1.1 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (1.2 miles)
• Wesley Foundation (1.3 miles)

Transportation

• Laramie Taxidermy (1.4 miles)
• Alamo (1.9 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (2.5 miles)