Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center joined Colorado Rural Health Center (CRHC) and the
National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) to celebrate National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 15.
National Rural Health Day is an annual recognition on the third Thursday of November. This year’s focus was on individuals who provide quality health care in rural areas.
In Colorado, CRHC chose to celebrate with HRRMC. CRHC staff held a luncheon at the hospital in Salida, and HRRMC staff provided tours of the hospital and the HRRMC Buena Vista Health Center.
“Our hospital was honored to host CRHC for the first time. During the luncheon we had the privilege of engaging with and educating some of our local leaders, such as Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation Director Wendell Pryor and County Commissioners Keith Baker and Dave Potts,” said HRRMC Vice President of Business Development Peter Edis.
“Physicians from First Street Family Health and Salida Family Medicine were present, too. The event was a unique opportunity to highlight our expansion, services and the exceptional care provided by our dynamic medical team.”
Over 60 million people (nearly one in five Americans) live in rural and frontier communities throughout the United States, according to CRHC.
Michelle Mills, CRHC CEO, said, “Rural communities in Colorado are demonstrating innovation in the movement towards value-based care, and NRHD is a day to celebrate the access to care they bring to nearly 750,000 Coloradans.”
NOSORH Director Teryl Eisinger said, “The hospitals and providers serving these rural communities not only provide quality patient care, but they also help keep good jobs in rural America.
“Today more than ever, rural communities must tackle accessibility issues, a lack of health care providers, the needs of an aging population suffering from a greater number of chronic conditions, and larger percentages of un- and underinsured citizens.”
State Offices of Rural Health play a vital role in addressing a variety of needs, and all 50 states maintain a State Office of Rural Health.
To learn more about HRRMC’s services and providers, visit www.hrrmc.com.
