In the News!
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See what's going on with Gunnison Valley Health, your sole-community owned health system... | |
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Surgical Eye Care Returns to Gunnison | |
Dr. Virginia Klair begins offering services April 12, 2013
PRESS RELEASE April 1, 2013 Gunnison, Colorado – Gunnison Valley Health is pleased to announce a new collaboration between local optometrists and a board certified, regional ophthalmologist who will bring surgical eye care back to Gunnison County. Residents who need surgery for cataracts and other eye diseases will benefit by having advanced eye surgery locally, without the expense and inconvenience of travel. On April 12th, Dr. Virginia Klair, an ophthalmologist with the Rocky Mountain Eye Center, will begin practicing one day a month at Gunnison Valley Hospital. She treats diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. The new service is a cooperative effort between local optometrists, Andrew Adamich O. D. with ABBA Eye Care and Amy Schwartz O.D. of the Family Vision Center. According to GVH Business Development executive Michelle Campbell “We are very excited about what this new collaboration means for patients. The latest technology in eye surgery will now be available locally, so patients who used to have to travel to Denver or Grand Junction can be referred to Dr. Klair by their local eye doctor and have their surgery here in Gunnison. Since the three eye experts are working together, patients will be cared for by their local optometrist after surgery. We estimate that about 136 patients each year have been travelling for eye surgery and are pleased to offer a coordinated, state of the art alternative to the valley. We already have 4 surgeries scheduled for Dr Klair’s first day on April 12 and she is really looking forward to serving our community.” Dr. Klair will be in Gunnison every third Friday of the month, seeing patients in the hospital visiting specialist clinic and performing eye surgeries in the operating room. She will be using laser technology and surgical microscopes. A graduate of the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine in 1998, Dr Klair did her ophthalmology training at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She is board certified, and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Colorado Medical Society and the Colorado Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Klair has practiced comprehensive ophthalmology full time in Colorado since 2003, currently dividing her time between clinics in Alamosa and Salida and providing surgical services in Alamosa, Salida, and Del Norte. About Gunnison Valley Health Gunnison Valley Health is a county-owned, integrated health system serving the 16,000 residents of Gunnison County, Colorado. The 300-plus member staff works with 50 local and visiting specialists and local providers to provide primary, specialty and emergency care in hospital and outpatient settings. The system includes a sole community Critical Access Hospital, Home Medical Services, Hospice & Palliative Care, Nursing Home care, Assisted Living and a philanthropic foundation. Gunnison Valley Health has received numerous national and regional performance awards, including the VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence, Avatar awards for Overall Patient Satisfaction, Colorado’s Top 5% ranked Nursing Home, Colorado EMS of the Year awards, and ranking in America’s Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals. ### | |
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Combatting Concussions ‘Head’-On | |
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By Will Shoemaker December 6, 2012 Courtesy of The Gunnison Country Times From the professional football field to high school hockey rinks, awareness of the lifealtering consequences of sports-related concussions has come front and center. Locally, that awareness is being spurred further by the creation of Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) cards that Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) will be distributing in coming months to coaches, teachers and childcare providers throughout the valley. The brainchild of GVH Cheif Medical Officer Dr. John Tarr, the SCAT cards have been years in the making. Four years ago, Dustin McGuinness, then a freshman at Gunnison High School, received a debilitating injury during a Blades midget hockey game that forever changed the perspective of local coaches and parents alike regarding sports-related head injuries.  In response, Tarr and current Gunnison Valley Hockey Association Director Trevor Smith — also director of Information Systems at GVH — teamed up to devise a tool to minimize the risk of such an injury again. Continue Reading... | |
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GVH Could Teach Large Hospitals About Care, Compassion | |
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Letter to the Editor November 29, 2012 Courtesy of The Gunnison Country Times Editor: Leaving the Gunnison Valley was heart wrenching for me. Not only did I miss the amazing beauty the valley has to offer, but I missed the beauty of the people living there. I came to the valley as a young college student and left as a mom, nurse, wife and loyal friend. Gunnison Valley Hospital was my second home for the last 13 years. As a brand new nurse, GVH taught me not only the basics of nursing care, but it gave me much more. I knew it was a special place when I worked there. Now I work in a major teaching city hospital that offers level one trauma, organ transplants, and is one of the most renowned cardiac surgical hospitals in the United States. It employees 7,000 people and has 800 patient beds — just a slight change from GVH’s 24 bed hospital! Yet even with all the sophisticated medicine and technology that the hospital offers its patients, it misses what GVH has to offer. It is missing the dedication of our physicians who commit a large part of their lives to care for the people of the Gunnison Valley. Continue Reading... | |
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New Volunteers Needed for Hospice & Palliative Care | |
 Gunnison Valley Health Hospice & Palliative Care is looking for new volunteers to help support crucial healthcare services for chronically and/or terminally ill patients in Gunnison, Crested Butte and the surrounding areas.The Fall 2012 New Volunteers Workshop will be held on Friday, September 14 and Saturday, September 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Gunnison Valley Hospital Conference Room, 700 North Taylor Street, Gunnison. As a Hospice & Palliative Care volunteer one will help provide support to patients by simply being there, which may include holding a hand, taking a walk, reading a book, baking a cake, listening to a fond memory, giving a hug, feeding a pet, using a computer, touching a heart or even changing a life. Volunteer support enables Hospice & Palliative Care to continue to provide comfort at the end of one’s life or for someone needing long-term care. The two day new volunteer workshop will cover an introduction to hospice and topics such as care and comfort at the end of life; death, dying and grief; end-of-life communication;and bereavement. If you are interested in becoming a Hospice & Palliative Care volunteer, please contact Michelle Evernham at (970) 641-4254 by September 10 to reserve your spot at the workshop. Lunch and beverages will be provided. Visit the Hospice & Palliative Care Volunteer Page... | |
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GVH Hires Husband-Wife Team for New Family Clinic | |
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By Laura Anderson June 28, 2012 Courtesy of The Gunnison Country Times  It seems that Annamarie and Michael Meeuwsen and Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) were meant to be together.The couple knew that they wanted to be in a rural area, yet finding a place that needed two family practice docs didn’t seem likely. So when they heard that GVH was looking to hire one-and- a-half new family practitioners for a family clinic, they jumped at the chance. “We knew we wanted to be on the West Slope,” Annamarie said. “This was a good opportunity and it matched up well.” Their not quite-full-time schedules work out nicely to accommodate their growing family — the Meeuwsens have two young daughters and a baby on the way. Continue Reading... | |
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Human Patient Simulator Brings Hi-Tech Training to GVH | |
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June 15, 2012 Courtesy of The Crested Butte News  Gunnison Valley Health has acquired a state-of-the-art Human Patient Simulator that will significantly enhance first responders’ preparedness for emergency health care throughout Gunnison County and its neighboring communities.This new Emergency & Medical Training Program, consisting of the iStan Human Patient Simulator and its accompanying mobile simulation lab, offers medical professionals exceptional continuing education and competency in realistic training scenarios. Continue Reading... | |
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Simulations Help Hone Skills of Doctors, EMS | |
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By Laura Anderson June 7, 2012 Courtesy of The Gunnison Country Times  He cries. He bleeds. He can even turn into a she.And he’s offering high-tech training opportunities for the medical communities in Hinsdale and Gunnison counties. His name is iStan and he is a state-of-the-art medical simulator. The simulator includes the iStan simulation mannequin and a mobile simulation lab that will allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) to run training scenarios all over Gunnison and Hinsdale counties. According to Bryan Hess, director of Emergency Medical Services for GVH, the mannequin helps with trainees’ “suspension of disbelief,” allowing them to imagine that iStan is a real patient. Continue Reading... | |
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Healthcare In The Valley: Series | |
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Healthcare and healthcare reform are national news, making headlines everywhere from CNN to The New Yorker. It can be easy to get lost in the political jargon, but the conversation relates to every single American and their health—even in the Gunnison Valley. New federal mandates, rising healthcare costs, problems within the insurance industry and physician shortages are all questions faced here, at home. In a continuing series, the Crested Butte News looks at what’s happening on the local stage to provide affordable, quality healthcare for all of us.
In 2010, Pete Basile experienced what he calls spells of disorientation. After a visit to the doctor, he learned he had a brain tumor. Basile was fortunate— it was benign, and doctors in Denver were able to remove “almost every last bit of it.” He made a full recovery, and an MRI one year later showed no signs of the tumor returning. | |
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New Foundation Leaders | |
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March 15, 2012, Courtesy of Gunnison Country Times March 16, 2012, Courtesy of Crested Butte News Two new leaders will guide the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation. Ronda Connaway has been elected to chairman of the foundation’s board of directors and will serve with 11 other volunteer board members. Connaway succeeds Chuck Cliggett, who served as chairman for two years and will continue his role with the foundation as a member of the board of directors. “It has been a great experience to lead the Health Foundation these past couple years,” says Cliggett. “We’ve made steady progress and I’m happy to turn the reins over to Ronda, who will continue to build momentum.” Connaway will be working with Lauren Holbrook, the new executive director of the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation, to oversee the foundation’s activities as it seeks to develop financial resources to improve the quality and breadth of healthcare in Gunnison County. Continue Reading... | |
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New Executives at GVH | |
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March 1, 2012, Courtesy of Gunnison Country Times March 2, 2012, Courtesy of Crested Butte News Gunnison Valley Health has recruited two health care leaders in marketing and finance and has promoted an HR Professional to lead human resources. David Freshour has joined the team as chief financial officer, Michelle Campbell as chief marketing and business development officer, and Christina Zibelli as interim director of human resources. "We are honored to welcome David, Michelle and Christina to Gunnison Valley Health's executive team," said Randy Phelps, Gunnison Valley health's CEO. "I look forward to adding their experience to that of the very capable executives we already have on board. This new team will be dedicated to enhancing the health system's ability to meet community needs through effective and efficient management of the county's health resources." Continue Reading... | |
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Honoring Don Wills | |
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March 1, 2012, Courtesy of Gunnison Country Times March 2, 2012, Courtesy of Crested Butte News Dear Editor: On behalf of the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation Board of Directors and Staff, I would like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding service that Don Wills provided as a member of our Board since May of 2010. Don was an outstanding member of the Gunnison community, and we are sorry to see the untimely loss of a great husband, father, volunteer and friend. Continue Reading... | |
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Peak Sports Generously Donates to Gunnison Valley Health Hospice & Palliative Care | |
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February 22, 2012 38th Year, Volume 52, Page 3 Courtesy of The Gunnison Country Shopper Gunnison Valley Health would like to express our sincere appreciation to Peak Sports in Mt. Crested Butte for choosing Gunnison Valley Health Hospice & Palliative Care for their 2011 Adopt-A-Cause Program. Peak Sports was able to raise $5,671.62 this year for Hospice, and their parent company has promised to match 50 cents for every dollar they've raised; bringing their total donation to $8,624.43 in 2011. This generous donation will help Hospice & Palliative Care provide comfort, compassion and companionship to Gunnison Valley locals and their families living with life limiting and chronic illnesses. Continue Reading... | |
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GVH Will Continue to Pursue New, Improved Senior Care Center Facility | |
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2012 Ballot Tax Initiative Possible By Alissa Johnson February 17, 2012 Courtesy of Crested Butte News Providing better care for Gunnison Valley's senior citizens resurfaced at a recent meeting between the Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) board of trustees and the Board of County Commissioners. Last April, the commissioners ruffled a few feathers on the board of trustees when they decided not to support a 2011 ballot initiative to fund a new, $11.3 million senior care center facility. Continue Reading... | |
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Health Foundation gets land gift from Purvises | |
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February 17, 2012 Courtesy of Crested Butte News Dear Editor: The Gunnison Valley Health Foundation would like to thank Jan and Johnny Purvis for a donation of 5.78 acres of land in Wilderness Stream up the Ohio Creek Valley. The Purvises have been visiting Gunnison since the early 1990s to enjoy four-to-five day horse-pack trips in the mountains with their children. After a few of these trips, Jan and Johnny decided to buy a piece of property with a view of the Castles. They planned to build on the property and live in Gunnison full-time as soon as they retired. Continue Reading... | |
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Hospice & Palliative Care Funds Transferred from the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley to the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation | |
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February 15, 2012 38th Year, Volume 51, Page 3 Courtesy of The Gunnison Country Shopper Since late 2011, the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation (GVHF) has been working closely with the representatives from the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley (CFGV) and Gunnison Valley health Hospice & Palliative Care to transfer Hospice & Palliative Care funds from the Community Foundation to the Health Foundation. The Gunnison Valley Health Foundation exists to develop, preserve and provide financial resources to Gunnison health care in Gunnison County. Bringing Hospice & Palliative Care funds to the Health Foundation is another step toward furthering this mission. Just over $300,000 is being transferred, part of which is restricted to a permanent endowment for Hospice & Palliative Care. The Hospice & Palliative Care staff and advisory committee has designated $125,000 of the remaining funds to be used for a Hospice Suite in the new Senior Care Center building that will provide state-of-the-art assisted living and skilled nursing facilities for our community’s elderly residents. Gunnison Valley Health Hospice & Palliative Care uses additional generous contributions from donors to cover costs associated with providing care to those who cannot afford it. Continue Reading... | |
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Upgrades Result in More Use of GVH | |
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Demand for Local Hospital’s Services Rises in 2011 Thursday, February 9, 2012 Courtesy of Gunnison Country Times Last year Gunnison County residents and visitors used more of their local health system services than in the previous year. Gunnison Valley health (GVH) leaders believe that is due largely to new equipment and expanded services. In September of last year, the hospital opened a new wing, and area residents seem to be finding and using the relocated imaging and laboratory departments, said Randy Phelps, CEO of the county-owned health system. Continue Reading... | |
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New Oncology Doctor Now On Duty at GVH | |
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Health Fairs Starting | |
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January 25, 2012 Courtesy of Crested Butte News Gunnison Valley Health will once again sponsor community health fairs in Crested Butte and Gunnison in 2012. Each year Gunnison Valley Health provides low-cost blood tests and complimentary screenings (Such as blood pressure, body mass index and bone density) as part of the Wellness Fairs. The goal is to provide community members with information that will help improve general health status and identify conditions that may require the attention of a physician. The health fairs are conducted in association with Community Banks of Colorado. Continue Reading... | |
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Stroke Telemedicine Brings Advanced Diagnosis & Treatment to Gunnison | |
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Gunnison Valley Hospital's Emergency Department is equipped with a CO-DOC Stroke Telemedicine Unit that enables patients to be examined in real time by specialists at Swedish Medical Center in Denver. Click on the link below to learn more about this telemedicine technology. Learn More... | |
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USA Pro Cycling Challenge Rider Treated at Gunnison Valley Hospital | |
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Otteson Family Stops By to Say "Hi!" | |
 Amy, David and family broke away from their spring break to stop by Gunnison Valley Hospital to say hello. Little Gore, as he is known through the hospital was running and smiling while trying to keep up with his older brother and sister. Read his story to learn more about Little Gore and why he holds a special place in the hearts of our staff (and around the world).HEROES IN OUR MIDST Written by Mike Horn Crested Butte News October 2010 “The odds of this happening are very, very small” More than three months have passed since 21-month-old Gore Otteson nearly drowned in an irrigation ditch north of Gunnison on July 6, 2010. Gore spent an estimated 45 to 50 minutes without a heartbeat, and 20-plus minutes underwater. And somehow he survived, thanks to the efforts of his family and local rescuers and hospital staff in Gunnison and Denver. In particular, local heroes Dr. Roger Sherman, paramedics Erik Forsythe, John Wysong and Matt Messner, and ER nurse Chris Evans are lauded for their extraordinary efforts. Gore’s miraculous, full recovery defies all odds and has received national media coverage, and even made the “Today Show.” Though local efforts were largely glazed over by the mass media, the EMS crew that was first on the scene, and the ER staff at Gunnison Valley Hospital played a heroic role in saving this child’s life. Continue Reading... | |
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Gunnison Valley Hospital Successfully Completes Joint Commission Survey | |
 Gunnison Valley Hospital completed its 2nd Joint Commission survey on Thursday, March 24th and was successful in passing the rigorous evaluation of its compliance with the Standards of the accreditation organization. Aside from examining the patient care provided at the Hospital, the survey also entails a rigorous examination of the safety of the buildings and the emergency preparedness of the hospital for unexpected events. The Joint Commission is a private organization that establishes Standards for hospital performance and practices for the purposes of conveying the accreditation credential on hospitals that are successful in compliance with the Standards. Board Chair, Dr. Bob Brickman noted, “The Joint Commission accreditation process is totally voluntary and is entered into by hospitals that are interested in demonstrating that are in compliance with the practices of all other hospitals when it comes to quality and safety”.On March 29th the Hospital received its final report from the Joint Commission that addresses the findings during the survey. Continue Reading... | |
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When Breathing Stopped, the Miracle Began | |
 21-month-old Gore Otteson defies odds with recovery from near-drowningWill Shoemaker Gunnison Country Times Staff Writer re-printed with permission Friday, September 10, 2010 The outlook was grim when Dave and Amy Otteson spoke with doctors. The medical experts gave the Ottesons' son, 21-month-old Gore, less than a 1 percent chance of having any brain activity after nearly drowning in an irrigation ditch north of Gunnison. A few at the Children's Hospital in Denver even questioned why life-saving efforts that took place at Gunnison Valley Hospital continued as long as they had. That's why the Ottesons say that little Gore's full recovery is nothing short of miraculous. The rambunctious little blonde was without a heartbeat for an estimated 45 to 50 minutes -- about 20 of them spent under water -- while the family was vacationing here this summer. Continue Reading... | |
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Hospital Upgrades Underway | |
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Addition, remodel aimed at safety, privacy, efficiency
Will Shoemaker Gunnison Country Times Staff Writer re-printed with permission Friday, September 10, 2010 The $6.2 million capital construction project now underway at Gunnison Valley Hospital (GVH) is just what the doctor ordered — paving the way to greater safety and privacy for patients and efficiency for staff. That was the message delivered by hospital executives this past Thursday during a ground breaking celebration that including numerous local dignitaries, hospital staff and health system and foundation board members. Construction of a new, 14,000-square-foot wing at the county-owned hospital has been underway since early August. The addition — on the northeast corner of the existing building — will include a new laboratory, imaging center and patient registration area. The current lab and radiology department will move to that space, allowing for a 4,500-square-foot renovation to house a visiting physicians clinic and oncology clinic. Continue Reading... | |
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Hospital Sells Bond to Finance Project | |
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Reprinted with permission by Crested Butte News
Friday, September 3, 2010 edition Written by Seth Mensing Wednesday, 01 September 2010 link to story Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) closed on a $7.5 million bond issue Friday, August 27 to pay for a 13,000-square-foot addition and 4,500 square feet of remodeled space inside the Hospital. Just in time, too, as the initial site development has already started and the official groundbreaking was Thursday, September 2. The tax-exempt municipal bond issue was short and sweet, going to Wells Fargo in one shot at a rate of 4.02 percent over 13 years. The bond repayment is timed to coincide with the last payments on $5.5 million in outstanding debt GVH is still holding from the construction of a 35,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2000. It’s all part of a three-step plan that has one expansion remaining. But that is still a few years away. Continue Reading... | |
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Yes, I would definitely recommend Gunnison Valley Hospital to friends and family | |
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August 4th, 2010
According to the annual U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” online edition, patients appear to be happy with Gunnison Valley Hospital. The magazine’s online site evaluated nearly 5,000 hospitals nationwide, ranking the best in a number of categories. Also taken into account is information obtained from discharged patients. In a year's worth of surveys, hospital patients responded to a number of key questions such as how the patient believed their pain was controlled to if the patient was satisfied with their stay. Earlier this year, Gunnison Valley Hospital was recognized by Avatar International for its Exemplary Service and as an Overall Best Performer. This award mirror’s the findings of U.S. News & World Report by recognizing the hospital’s high quality of service. Continue Reading... | |
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Gore Otteson on NBC’s Today Show | |
NBC's Today Show features story on Gore Otteson with mention of Dr. Roger Sherman.
Meet 'Lazarus tot' whose heart stopped for 1 hour Toddler Gore Otteson had been underwater 25 minutes when he was found near his family's cabin - but even though his heart stopped for nearly an hour and he was given a 1 percent chance of surviving, he is OK today. "It was a miracle," his mom said Friday. Read more on Gore and Today |
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