Ed Curran joins HSCMH staff

Among the new faces at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital is Ed Curran, the cardiopulmonary services director. Though this isn’t his first time working at the hospital, as he previously had three years — 2010 to 2013 — as a respiratory care practitioner. He noted his wife, Deborah taught school and wanted to go back to school herself, and the couple lived in Colorado for a time.

Family was a big factor in coming back to Thermopolis, Curran said, as his son Ben and his wife now have children and being in town means more time to spend with grandkids.

Curran was also a member of the Thermopolis Volunteer Fire Department in his previous years here, and said he enjoys the town and hospital, as both are friendly and helpful.

While working as a respiratory care practitioner, Curran said he really enjoyed working with the people, and the patients had some great stories to share so it also was a delight just to speak with them. While the opportunities to visit will still be available, he noted as the director he will also be able to make changes to the department if necessary.

He’s also excited to share in the patients’ experience and watch someone who becomes better by going through respiratory rehabilitation process.

Curran also plans to get the pulmonary rehabilitation program strong at the hospital, pulling in other elements such as nutrition, physical therapy and doctor-patient interactions. This allows for discussion of patients’ lifestyle choices and how to get them back to a quality of life they think might be gone.

With the hospital’s renovation and expansion on the horizon, Curran isn’t sure where the department will end up as that is ultimately an administrative decision, but he’s excited to continue on what has already been an “amazing journey” in his life.