Community Commitment

The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center has a strong sense of community.  We strive to provide resources that promote health, both for the individual and the community.  We also have excellent partnerships and programs to help individuals attain and maintain good health.

Click from the list below to learn more about our great community programs and partnerships.

Promoting Health

Community Health

GetHealthySLV.ORG

GetHealthySLV.org is an interactive website with all the resources you need to get healthy and stay healthy!  You will find:

• healthy living tips, 
• breaking healthcare news and legislation, 
• local health and wellness events, 
• health coverage eligibility information
• ... much more!

Visit the website to sign up for a bi-weekly e-newsletter and stay up-to-date on what's happening in your community.

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Lunch-n-Learns

SLVRMC Providers present montly health topics free of charge to community members.  In the past, topics have ranged from Women's Health, Colon Cancer Awareness, Gluten Free Living, and Stress Management.

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Area Health Fairs

Multiple staff members lend their specialty expertise to provide education and diagnostics for health fair participants.

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Diabetes Education

The Diabetes Education Empowerment Program (DEEP) is the only nationally accredited program in the San Luis Valley to educate and empower people to successfully manage their diabetes.  Dawn Arellano, RN and Doris Erskine, RN, (Doris is also bilingual!) are the Valley's only Certified Diabetes Educators.  On the average, DEEP participants have a hemoglobin A1c of 7.1% and their blood lipid levels are below recommended amounts.  

DEEP classes are held in both group and individual settings in La Jara, Alamosa, and Del Norte.

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Affordable Care

SLVRMC is committed to serving our patients.  We participate in the Colorado Indigent Healthcare program (CICP) and the government Medicare and Medicaid insurance plans.  The hospital provides approximately $1.2 million in uncompensated and charitable care to valley residents each month.  That's over $14 million per year!  Employees also give over $25,000 per year to the foundation to support new technology, facilities, services, and the Employee Assistance Program.  Read our Charity Care Policy.  Or, read our Charity Care Policy in spanish.

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Emergency Medical Services

Our professional EMS staff provide stand-by to many community events, including high school and college athletics, rodeos, and other events where large crowds may result in health events.  Our EMS staff also visit schools to provide health related education.  These activities serves as just a few examples of SLVRMC's commitment to community partnership.

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Women's Wellness Connection

WWC offers free cervical and breast cancer screenings to eligible women.  Research has shown that the sooner cancer is detected, the more effective treatment options will be.  To learn more or see if you are eligible, call Theresa Curtis at 719-587-6319.

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Carefree Colon Program

Similar to WWC, the Carefree Colon Program offers free colorectal screenings to eligible Valley residents.  For more information or to see if you are eligible, call Brenda Gentile at 719-587-6319.

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Community Health

Community Health Assessment

The Lutheran Hospital Association of the SLV, dba the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center (SLVRMC), and Conejos County Hospital and Clinics (CCH) have jointly performed their first community health assessment in the 2012/2013 fiscal year and will jointly implement the SLVRMC/CCH Community Health Assessment Plan to improve community health.

To download the full report, please click the graphic to the right or go to:   www.slvrmc.org/images/cha2013.pdf.

An executive summary is also available at: www.slvrmc.org/images/executivesummary.pdf.

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Economics: Providing Challenging and Rewarding Jobs

The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center is one of the largest employers in the valley. The hospital provides jobs to over 500 employees and their families with an annual salary and benefits package for hospital employees being well over $26 million per year. Because our employees live and work in the Valley, millions of dollars go right back into the economic growth and development of our communities.

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ARTrium

We believe that art has the power to enhance many aspects of life, we have covered the walls of the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center with original artwork by local and regional artists. This space enables the hospital to embrace the art community, which is so vital to the culture and life of the San Luis Valley.  We use the space to highlight artists in rotating exhibits each quarter.  The ARTrium at SLVRMC provides a healing space while representing the culture and life of the San Luis Valley. Our art program encourages contemplation and inspiration in an environment often associated with stress and anxiety. It is our intention to impact the patients, visitors, and staff who come to our hospital by offering a haven of excellence and caring vision.  To find out how to have your artwork shown in our ARTrium, click here.

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Education

The hospital makes contributions each year to Adams State College, the Trinidad State Junior College EMS and Nursing programs and the ASC/TSJC simulation lab. Over the last six years, we have contributed over $500,000 to these two organizations. SLVRMC also provides an internal scholarship fund for students or individuals interested in health careers in the San Luis Valley or to employees who choose to advance their education or training in a health-related field.

SLVRMC provides both in-kind support and corporate sponsorship for ASC athletics.  Our Orthopedics and Therapy team also provides many in-kind services to maintain the health and well-being of ASC athletes.  Our EMS department also provides on-field emergency support during games.

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Environment

SLVRMC made a commitment in 2008 to decrease its carbon footprint and integrate sustainable business practices into our organization as part of our goal to "provide superior stewardship of hospital resources."  Because of these efforts, SLVRMC won the first ever VHA Leadership Award for Sustainability Excellence.  

Our Green Committee has worked with community partners to accomplish the following:

• Eliminate 99% of styrofoam
• Recycle: batteries, white paper, plastic bottles, aluminum, tin cans, ink cartridges, cardboard, and finger pulse oximeters
• Purchase more locally grown food from area farmers
• Initiate a SLVRMC community garden, supplying the cafeteria with fresh vegetables and herbs
• Eliminate over 95% of trans-fatty acids from cafeteria.

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Solar: Pulling our Power from the Sun

In partnership with SunEdison, we were able to install a 1.45 megawatt solar field composed of over 360 solar panels.  A SLVMRC Board member donated 40 acres to the site, which needed to be less than 1.5 miles from our facility.  As of December 1, 2011, we have produced 2,228,068 kilowatts/hour of power eliminating 6,721,650 pounds of carbon dioxide, 8,321 pounds of nitrogen oxide, and 8,422 pounds of sulfur dioxide from entering the atmosphere.  This is equivalent to 282 cars/month or 204 homes/month.

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Local Foods

In partnership with LiveWell Alamosa, SLVRMC put together the first ever directory of food producers who sell locally.  Because local foods are eaten soon after harvest they are more flavorful and nutritious.  Additionally buying local foods supports our Valley economy.

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