JULY 2026

Is it a mole or melanoma?

Spotting the

Signs of Skin Cancer

In the summer, the sun is at its brightest – which also means a greater chance of developing skin cancer from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. Its deadliest form is melanoma, a cancer that affects the cells that produce skin pigment. Lighter skin and older age increase your risk of developing melanoma, but it can develop in anyone.

If you see a suspicious mole or spot on your body and are concerned it may be skin cancer, look for the ABCDEs of melanoma. A is for asymmetry, where one part of the spot is different than the other half. B stands for border. Watch for irregular, jagged, or uneven edges. C is for color; if the spot has many shades of color such as tan, brown, black, blue, or red, it may be skin cancer. D stands for diameter. Most melanomas are larger than six millimeters, but some may be smaller if they are caught early. Lastly, E is for evolving. If a spot is changing in size, shape, or color, it is best to get it checked.



If you see a spot that concerns you, visit with your physician or provider or call Regional West Physicians Clinic-Skin Clinic & Medical Aesthetic Center at 308-630-2595.

Regional West Physicians Clinic-Emergency Medicine is happy to welcome Joshua Sloan, MD. With an Emergency Department serving patients 24/7 and the only advanced trauma center in Nebraska west of North Platte, Regional West serves as a regional referral center for western Nebraska, eastern Wyoming, southern South Dakota, and northern Colorado.

A Gering native, Dr. Sloan earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, and completed emergency medicine residency training at East Carolina University/Vidant Medical Center, Greenville, North Carolina. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine.

Click here to read more!

Regional West’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team is proud to unveil our new blood cooler, which was purchased courtesy of the Volunteers & Friends of Regional West. The new addition is a key component to our whole blood program, allowing blood products to be taken on ambulances 24/7.

“Since launching Nebraska’s first EMS whole blood program, we have seen firsthand the meaningful impact that rapid access to blood can have on patient outcomes. With the support of advanced technology, our teams are now able to carry and deliver lifesaving blood products around the clock, ensuring faster response and greater reach for patients in critical need,” said Regional West EMS Clinical Coordinator Robby Rhembrandt, NRP, FP-C, CCP-C. “This program has already made a difference in our region and will continue to strengthen the care we provide. When serious injury or significant bleeding occurs, lifesaving blood is no longer far away — it is already on the way.”

Thank you, Volunteers & Friends of Regional West, for this tremendous and lifesaving gift!

Regional West recently recognized Ashlee Clampit, RN, as the facility’s first DAISY Award winner of 2026.

Clampit, a registered nurse in Regional West’s Infusion Center, was recently celebrated by Regional West leadership and fellow employees for her dedication to comfort and reassure her patients.

Click here to read more!

Regional West Physicians Clinic-Psychiatry & Behavioral Health wants to make mental healthcare even more accessible – so we’ve expanding our hours again! Ana Cerrato-Young, PMHNP-BC, sees patients until 7 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. 

To schedule your appointment, call the clinic at 308-635-3888. For more information about our services, click here.

Activate Your MyChart Account Now!


Discover the convenience of MyChart, Regional West’s patient portal! You can easily activate your account to request prescription refills, pay your bill online, message your provider, and even e-check in before your visit. Check out the video to see how simple and quick it is to get started!

For those with treatment-resistant depression, hope may be on the horizon with Spravato®, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved prescription nasal spray offered at Regional West Physicians Clinic-Psychiatry & Behavioral Health.

Click here to learn more about this new service and how it may help people with depression feel like themselves again.

High school students, college students, and people looking to make a career change can earn a degree and earn a living at the same time with the remote dietetics program options at Regional West. Click here to learn more!

Visiting Regional West

Visitors of all ages are welcome to Regional West Medical Center during normal visiting hours, which are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Visitors under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

If visiting the hospital after 8 p.m., please use the Emergency Department entrance.

Thank you for choosing Regional West!

308-630-2244

Regional West Foundation has kicked off our Grateful Patient program! This program provides patients and their families a way to show gratitude toward a physician, provider, nurse, employee, or department who played a special role in their care.

If you know someone at Regional West who has made your care special, we invite you to share your story and make a donation in his or her name. They will then be recognized by the Foundation.

Click here to view the donation information form, or call the Foundation at 308-630-1485 to make a donation in someone’s name.

Congratulations are in order! Regional West’s Sleep Disorder & Diagnostic Clinic has received another three-year accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC).

Click here to read more about this achievement and the Sleep Clinic’s dedication to helping patients get a good night’s rest.

Stroke Support Group

Second Tuesday of every month

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Regional West Medical Plaza South

Conference Room 1

3911 Ave. B l Scottsbluff

For more information, contact

Gene McDowell at 308-630-2046.

Weight Loss Support Group

First Wednesday of every month

5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Regional West Medical Plaza South

Conference Room 1

3911 Ave. B l Scottsbluff

For more information, contact

Amber Schulze, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, 
at 308-632-2872.

Cancer Survivors Support Group

Fourth Tuesday of every month

5:30 p.m.

Cancer Treatment Center

Medical Plaza South, ground floor

3911 Ave. B l Scottsbluff

Call 308-630-1348 for more information.