CEO Update: In Service of Rural

I do believe summer has arrived, and with that, many will head off on adventures to celebrate. I just arrived back from my summer vacation where I had the opportunity to witness some of the most amazing wildlife I’ve ever seen. As I reflect upon the beauty that exists in the rural Colorado, I thought I’d take this opportunity to share some community work that CRHC is engaged in to bring the voice of rural.

Last year the Southeastern Colorado Area Health Education Center, Action 22 and CRHC convened a regional healthcare collaborative called Peaks to Plains Partners for Improved Health that included nearly 50 thought leaders. With funding from The Colorado Trust through a convening grant, our initial efforts brought together individuals from ten southeastern Colorado counties: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, and Pueblo. Participants included public health, hospital administration, economic development, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and others interested in the health of their community.

Southeastern Colorado is faced with multiple complex healthcare issues including a declining population of 45 – 64 year olds and a growing population of those aged 65 and older. Nearly 45 percent of families are living below poverty level, 43 percent of adults do not have a high school diploma, and transportation is an issue as in most rural counties. In Southeast Colorado, hypertension is 28 percent above the state rural average of 20 percent, colonoscopy examinations are 13 percent below the state rural average of 46.2 percent, and pap smear examinations are 7 percent below the state rural average of 79 percent. While 16 percent of the population is above the state’s rural average of 6.1 percent in cases of adults with diabetes, influenza vaccination in the region is 16 percent above the state rural average, and whooping cough cases are 22 percent below the state rural average.

Based on some of these challenges the Peaks to Plains Partners for Improved Health agreed to target the areas of health literacy, wellness and prevention, and management of complex health issues. The mission is to improve the health of the region’s poor health outcomes through coordinating and sharing information. Partners agree that achieving health equity will require inclusive, long-term proactive planning.

Healthcare is going through a major transformation as we are moving towards health and wellness, primary care, patient centered medical home, integrated behavioral and physical health and addressing the social determinants of health through community interaction. Community is the future of rural health.

All Twenty Nine Colorado Critical Access Hospitals Join Colorado Rural Health Center Membership

RELEASE DATE: June 16, 2014
Contact: Bridgette Olson, Outreach Program Manager
303-832-7493 or bo@coruralhealth.org

The Colorado Rural Health Center is proud to welcome Aspen Valley Hospital District as the newest rural health facility member and this month’s featured member.

Denver, CO— Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) this month became the newest member of the Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC). Each month, CRHC recognizes one of its members whose work supports CRHC’s vision that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality health care.

As this month’s featured member, Aspen Valley Hospital is recognized for delivering excellent health care to the city of Aspen and surrounding residents. AVH boasts several national awards for service excellence, including 2013 HealthStrong™ Top 100 Critical Access Hospital recognition and they are the first Colorado hospital to be selected as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

“Critical Access Hospitals are a vital component of the rural health care delivery system,” said Michelle Mills, chief executive officer at CRHC. “With the recent addition of Aspen Valley Hospital, we now have all twenty nine Critical Access Hospitals in Colorado engaged in our membership constituency.”

Mills added, “We know that Aspen Valley Hospital shares our commitment to and enthusiasm for enhancing rural health, and we are excited to work together in the future.”

Located 220 miles west of Denver in Pitkin County, Aspen is a world-class destination with approximately 6,600 year-around residents and approximately 50,000 visitors.

Using CRHC’s Health Awareness for Rural Communities Data Bank, several county-level health indicators stand out. For instance, Pitkin County has an adult obesity rate of 29 percent, compared to the state average of 56 percent. The projected growth for ambulatory surgery visits is 3.3 percent compared to the 7.2 percent state average. Furthermore, like many rural and frontier areas in the state, the projected population growth for those age 65 and older (28.8 percent) surpasses the state average of 24 percent.

AVH became members this month in order to position the hospital to take advantage of several resources offered at CRHC. Caleb Siem, CRHC’s critical access hospital program manager visited the hospital in May.

“I was impressed by the hospital’s advanced health facility,” says Siem. “After speaking with several of the staff, it became apparent that there were several services that would be valuable to them, such as our swing bed webinars, educational workshops and networking resources.”

Aspen Valley Hospital prides itself as being a true “community hospital” providing extraordinary health care and commitment to quality care. The current day hospital stands as a legacy embodying the spirit of the first Aspen hospital built in 1891.

This quote describing the hospital was written by a reporter in the 1890s and still accurately describes the spirit of Aspen Valley Hospital. “The average citizen acquiesces in the general belief that such an institution [the hospital], built as it was by private subscription and standing with its doors open for afflicted humanity, is an honor to the city and a most welcome abode for those in misfortune who enjoy its rare benefits.”

For further information about Aspen Valley Hospital, please visit their website. To learn more about the city of Aspen or to plan your next visit, please visit the Aspen Chamber Resort Association website. If you’d like to learn more about CRHC membership, visit the CRHC website. If you’re interested in the Health Awareness for Rural Communities Data Bank, please read the following issue paper.

About The Colorado Rural Health Center

The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC's serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health with the mission of assisting rural communities in addressing health care issues; and as the State Rural Health Association, advocating for policy change to ensure that rural Coloradoans have access to comprehensive, affordable health care services of the highest quality. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

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2014 ICD-10 Training Bootcamps

ICD-10 Coding Training for Rural Healthcare Facilities
$179.00
CRHC Members and SHIP Hospitals eligible for discounts

July 14-15, 2014
La Quinta Inn & Suites
Trinidad, CO 81082



July 21-22, 2014
Colorado Plains Medical Center
Fort Morgan, CO


Registration for upcoming trainings will open soon. If you'd like to be notified when registration opens for any of these dates/locations, please click here to send us your information.

CEO Update: Spring is a Time for Change

Spring brings changes in the weather from snow to rain and warm sunny days. Or in Colorado… spring brings sun, wind, rain, and continued snow. In fact all four seasons can occur within 24 hours. In the spirit of the season, we’re springing our 2013 annual report, which is a time for us to reflect on a great year.

Your State Office of Rural Health and State Rural Health Association

The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) was created in 1991 to provide healthcare resources in the state by providing information, education, linkages, tools, and energy towards addressing rural health issues. This mission is still in place today – 23 years later. The guide for helping us achieve our mission is through our 2013-2015 strategic plan, which focuses on membership support, engagement, and participation; policy and advocacy; collaboration; and financial viability. All of these facets help us to provide programs critical to help rural healthcare facilities and communities thrive.

A Reflection of 2013

A review of the 2013 annual report showcases how our programs and services support rural healthcare in Colorado. CRHC is proud to have had a positive annual economic impact of physicians placed of $7,100,000, we served 205 communities, provided support to 317 providers through health information technology, 150 providers and 11 hospitals reached Meaningful Use. We had the opportunity to award $648,000 in funding for public and private organizations to create and train emergency medical and trauma providers, and participation in events and education increased by 38 percent. Many of our programs and resources aim to address the healthcare workforce shortage, data reporting, quality improvement and systems and process changes. Thanks to all of you for your engagement in these efforts and we look forward to continuing to enhance these services and opportunities. You can find our Annual Report video report here.

Built for Rural

Today is the launch of our first data bank, the Health Awareness for Rural Communities (HARC). The HARC Data Dank was created to solely examine the dynamics of rural and frontier counties in Colorado, through the use of quantitative measures. Through the HARC Data Bank, users will have access to population health data measuring progress toward Healthy People 2020 goals and Colorado’s 10 Winnable Battles. Improving population health will continue to plan a key role in the changing environment of healthcare. Critical access hospitals (CAH) and rural health clinics (RHC) are poised to lead the efforts in improving population health. In fact many of you are already actively engaged in community engagement, wellness programs, and care coordination. HARC will help us help you achieve your goals with data to support your strategy to improve health. We will help you strengthen the narrative of the story we tell as we advocate on behalf of you, your patients, and the communities you serve. Click here to read the HARC Issue Paper.

Thank you again for continued engagement with the Colorado Rural Health Center and together our strength is community!

Member of the Month: Delta County Memorial Hospital

RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2014
Contact: Bridgette Olson, Outreach Program Manager
303-832-7493 or bo@coruralhealth.org  

Delta County Memorial Hospital Recognized as Colorado Rural Health Center’s Featured Member of the Month

Denver, CO— The Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) is proud to recognize Delta County Memorial Hospital as its featured member of the month. Each month, the CRHC recognizes one of its members whose work supports the CRHC’s vision that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare.

Delta County Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit hospital district with over 500 employees serving residents of Delta County and the neighboring region for over a century. Located on Colorado’s western slope, approximately 165 miles southwest of Denver, Delta County is home to 29,841 residents and one of the largest flat top mountains in the world.

Like many rural areas in the state, the population over 65 is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. The current population 65 and older represents 21 percent of the total population and is the only age demographic with a positive population growth expected over the next five years. The population 65 and older is expected to grow by 6.7 percent compared to negative 8.4 percent those 64 and under.

With the aging population growing, Delta County has maintained 33.5 skilled nursing facility beds per 1,000 elderly individuals, equal to the state average and just under the national average of 41.

Based on recent County Health Rankings data, Delta County has some of the top health outcomes in rural Colorado. When compared to the rural average, Delta County has higher percentages of mammography screening and higher rate of influenza vaccination [66 percent mammography screening compared to rural average of 63 percent, and 40 percent influenza vaccination compared to rural average 37 percent].

This type of data is frequently used by health facilities to evaluate the current and future health status of a community. Applying projections to current and past data helps create a picture of health for a community.

Delta County Memorial Hospital – a CRHC member for over seven years – completed this type of evaluation in 2010 through a Community Health Needs Assessment.

“Community Health Needs Assessments are designed to provide a base from which a community action plan can be formulated,” says CRHC’s director of workforce and outreach Melissa Bosworth. “Developing a strong, local healthcare system creates high-paying jobs, ensures healthcare dollars are spent locally and makes a county more attractive as a place to live and work.”

The Colorado Rural Health Center recently aggregated over 100 health measurements, many of those identical to the type of data used in a Community Health Needs Assessment, into a data bank called Health Awareness for Rural Communities (HARC).

“The HARC Data Bank serves as a low cost solution for those interested in rural specific health data,” says Bosworth. The HARC Data Bank is the first data bank created to examine the health dynamics of rural and frontier counties in Colorado.

It is through this type of systems-level planning and strong leadership, Delta County Memorial Hospital has made many notable accomplishments in recent years.

“Delta County Memorial Hospital is a great example of a healthcare facility that has used county level health data to guide their long-term planning,” said Bosworth. “The hospital continues to thrive given the uncharted waters of today’s healthcare environment – they are a great healthcare facility to recognize as this month’s featured CRHC member.”


Last year, Delta County Memorial Hospital was the only hospital in the region to receive an “A” Hospital Safety Score rating by The Leapfrog Group based upon preventable medical errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

The hospital is also involved with other CRHC programs and services, such as quality improvement initiatives and health information technology support. Kathryn Steele, CRHC's quality improvement specialist, works extensively with the hospital. “Delta County Memorial is the healthcare hub in Delta County. We often think of hospitals as places to go when we are sick – associating them with illness instead of wellness,” says Steele. “Delta County Memorial is truly a leader in promoting community health and a culture of inclusiveness.”

In addition to the hospital, the following clinics also provide care within the community; Premier Women’s Healthcare of Delta, Delta Pediatrics, Internal Medicine Associates/Pulmonology, Colorow Family Medical Center in Olathe, Grand Mesa Rheumatology Center, Grand Mesa Oncology Center and Delta Montrose Home Health Services.

To learn more about Delta County Memorial Hospital, visit their website or connect with them on Facebook.

About The Colorado Rural Health Center
The Colorado Rural Health Center was established in 1991 as Colorado's State Office of Rural Health. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, CRHC's serves dual roles as the State Office of Rural Health with the mission of assisting rural communities in addressing healthcare issues; and as the State Rural Health Association, advocating for policy change to ensure that rural Coloradoans have access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare services of the highest quality. For more information visit www.coruralhealth.org, call 303-832-7493, or call toll free 800-851-6782 from rural Colorado.

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Recent CPR Provider Placements

Colorado provider recruitment has recently placed three providers in rural Colorado. 

• A registered nurse began working at Pioneers Medical Center in Northwest Colorado
• A FNP will begin working at Mt San Rafael next month
• A FNP will start at North Fork Medical Clinic in Paonia

To find a provider for your open position contact Colorado Provider Recruitment at cpr@coruralhealth.org

Upcoming Workforce Events

5/5: Presentation to University of Colorado Physician Assistant students Aurora, CO
5/6: National Health Service Corps Virtual Job Fair Denver, CO
5/18: Presentation to Regis University Nurse Practitioner students Denver, CO

For additional CRHC events, click here.

Candidate Profile: Elisabeth Dewispelaere, RN

Growing up in western New York, Elisabeth is familiar with the beauty that rural communities have to offer and she is now in Colorado to enjoy the mountains, the culture and the sunshine. Over the last year and a half she has worked at Exempla Lutheran Medical Center in Denver as a bachelor prepared RN in Neurology Step-Down Critical Care and as a float resource in the Emergency Department. Elisabeth is in the midst of Intensive Care training, as the hospital changes and adapts to the needs of the population. She has gained excellent experience and training at the hospital both on day and night shifts, working along-side neurosurgeons, respiratory therapists and hospitalists. She is looking to branch out to medical facilities that might have a more close-knit and intimate setting in terms of size, staffing and patient care. Still developing in her career, Elisabeth hopes that rural medicine might give her more exposure and possibly increased autonomy in her practice. She has certifications in ACLS and NIHSS in addition to ongoing education around the areas of neurology, cardiology and ekg interpretation. Outside of work Elisabeth likes to make time for yoga, running, mountaineering, road trips and rock-climbing which means she is meant to live in Colorado! Contact Colorado Provider Recruitment at cpr@coruralhealth.org for more information.