SLV REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER SERVES VALLEY RESIDENTS

The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center was originally conceived by a young physician and surgeon who came to Alamosa in the early 1900’s and saw the need for a hospital. Although the hospital has gone through many name and location changes, the focus of serving valley residents remains as strong as ever. SLVRMC was originally set up and has continued for 75 years to be designated a charitable organization. This means that “no part of the net earnings of the organization benefits or profits any private shareholder or individual or group”. Any monies made by or donated to the hospital go directly back into the hospital. This money is used to provide community education, purchase new technology, equipment and supplies, improve the facility, and expand quality care for the benefit of the San Luis Valley residents. “We measure our success by the quality healthcare we provide the people of our valley. This includes the services inside the hospital as well as our outreach to the community”, says Russ Johnson, CEO. “SLVRMC makes an impact on the community in many ways.”

Service-Oriented Employees
The San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center is one of the largest employers in the valley. The hospital provides jobs to over 275 valley families with an annual salary and benefits package for hospital employees being well over $10.8 million dollars 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.

It takes many outstanding individuals to make our hospital successful. We are proud to have dedicated employees with both a commitment to their professions and their various home towns. Our staff demonstrate a strong team spirit within the hospital and a strong community spirit throughout the valley. Many of our employees are members of the American Red Cross, the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts and 4H to name a few.

Charitable Care
SLVRMC is committed to serving our patients. We participate in the Colorado Indigent Healthcare program and the government Medicare and Medicaid insurance plans. The hospital provides approximately $1,200,000 in uncompensated and charitable care to valley residents each month. That’s over $14,000,000 per year! The employees give almost $9000 yearly through payroll deductions for the Valley Community Fund for the year 2002. This money goes to help support more than 25 local organizations across the valley.

Food Donations
Nutritional Services at SLVRMC regularly donates extra food items to LaPuente Home Shelter. They also provide meals to parents whose sick children are hospital patients and to fathers of newborn babies. They also support of the yearly March of Dimes walk and other community events.

Health-Related Events
SLVRMC is active in many local events. This year, our Nutrition Services Director, volunteered to help organize and manage the Coming Alive Wellness program for area businesses. Many hospital employees have joined the wellness program as well as employees from businesses in the area. The hospital also provides reduced cost or free health screens at community Health Fair. These include, pulmonary function tests, skin cancer screen, reduced rate blood tests and occasionally free hearing screenings for young children.

Last November, many area physicians, community members and hospital staff participated in “The Summit” – Contemporary Diabetes Management seminar. This was the first coordinated effort sponsored by many valley healthcare agencies to bring diabetes awareness, education and resources to the providers, people with diabetes and their families.

This year hospital staff, will volunteer at local parades, fairs, rodeos, the women’s conference, the Potato-Grain Conference, and many other community events – always keeping health, safety and preventive medicine in the minds the community. The Emergency Medical Technicians and the Alamosa Ambulance are present at many events to provide safety tips, 1st aid kits, take blood pressures and give advice about high altitude sickness prevention. The Obstetrics staff use their time and energy to actively promote the March of Dimes Walk America each and every year.

Trauma, Emergency and Ambulance Services
Our EMS staff are regularly present in the community. For younger children Ambulance services provide tours of their rigs and explain the importance of safety. They also teach them how and when to call 911 and to tell their parents to pull over when they hear a siren. For the older kids, Emergency Medical Technicians give talks at local schools to help children of all ages learn about the hazards of drinking and driving, injury prevention and seat belt safety.

The Trauma, Emergency and Ambulance Services are also represented at the Adams State College Science Fair and all ASC events. This year they gave ambulance tours and provided information to participants on how to decrease traumatic events for those who enjoy skateboards, in-line skates, and scooters. Our Trauma and Ambulance Services promote helmet usage, assist with the bike rodeo, and help promote sports safety for people of all ages.

Shriner Orthopedic Clinic for Children
The hospital and the local Shriner’s club recently completed their first year together in providing TeleHealth and Radiology services to children. These young patients can receive x-rays at the hospital and follow-up appointments via the technology of the Internet. This means the children and their parents do not have to travel to Salt Lake City for appointments, but can receive their care close to their home.

Scholarship Funds for Health-Related Education
The hospital makes contributions each year to the Trinidad State Junior College EMS and Nursing programs. 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. This fund was established in recognition of Anthony Amato and in memory of Claudia Bradshaw Lopez. Additionally, in 2002, the hospital created a second scholarship fund, the Loan Forgiveness Program, for employees. This year $12,000 was distributed among 6 hospital employees.

Our new mission is “An unconditional commitment to excellence by providing compassionate, quality care, delivered with integrity”. We believe our employees make a positive impact in their various communities and within the hospital because of their commitment to people and to excellence in healthcare.

Last Modified: June 6, 2007