The Wyoming Medical Center plans a press conference for 8:30 a.m. today to discuss the hospital expansion project and other news from its regular monthly meeting held Wednesday, July 20.

The hospital said topics would include physician recruitment, strategic planning and the results of a patient satisfaction survey.

Medical Center CEO Pam Fulks wants to start holding conferences regularly to talk with the press and public, spokesman Mike Phillips said. He said the conferences would not take the place of other administration communications about hospital business.

A former CEO held press conferences after every board meeting, and the current administration wants to increase its own contact with the public, Phillips said.

Natrona County commissioners pressed the Medical Center board recently to open its meetings to the public, something not required by law since the hospital is privately owned. No plans have been announced to make the meetings public.

County Commissioner Jon Campbell, one who said he'd like to see open meetings, said he thought the press conferences are a good idea.

"It's an opportunity to have public input and that's very important so I'm pleased to hear they are doing that," Campbell said. "Certainly I believe it's a step in the right direction."

Contact staff writer Barbara Nordby at (307) 266-0633 or barbara.nordby@casperstartribune.net.