Publications

Contact Us

Vets nursing home gets new name in August

WALSENBURG — The Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home, co-located with Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center, will be officially renamed in August to Spanish Peaks Veterans Community Living Center (SPVCLC). “Our name change will be very visible within the next few weeks,” said Director Marty Schlink, during the Huerfano County Hospital District Board of Directors meeting Thursday, July 24 at Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center. “Changes have been ordered with CDOT, our stationary, and on our vehicles. The signage at the entrance to the facility is still being worked on at this time,” she reported. A name change is not the only change that may be coming to the nursing home. The hospital district board voted unanimously in favor of a resolution at their meeting that shows support of another kind of resident quality of life improvement at the facility. The resolution approved said the board resolves to pursue enhanced private room capabilities at SPVCLC. The resolution said in part, “The Board has considered this effort over the years

and wishes to make this an inclusion in the Colorado Veterans Community Living Center’s Needs Assessment Project that is currently being developed by the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Board of Directors intends to pursue the necessary matching funds which are required to participate in a VA Grant for this project.” Schlink commented on the Needs Assessment during the meeting, “The assessment is looking at 3-5 years of historical data. This is our opportunity to express our current needs as well as express our vision for the future, which particularly could focus on the addition of private rooms.” Marketing of the veterans community living center was also part of the topic in the monthly department manager’s report; this month presented by Marketing Manager Korine Paisley. Paisley reported radio advertizing of the living center has begun in the southeastern Colorado area and may expand into the Taos / Santa Fe area of New Mexico soon. Print advertizing of services offered through the Family and Outreach Clinics, and Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center is being targeted to local Huerfano County residents in the continued effort to get them to use local medical facilities, she said. Paisley reported on an effort through the community living center for it to become a certified Eden Registered community. She said the adoption of Eden principals will enhance the marketability of the facility. The board of directors voted unanimously to approve a letter of support of this effort to Chris Perna CEO of Eden Alternative in Rochester, New York. Paisley also presented the 2013 Community Benefit Report of Spanish Peaks Regional Health Center’s financial benefits to the Huerfano County community. The report indicates, last year, $16,024,943 of value in healthcare education, grants, community services provided, community benefits, sponsorships and donations and unrecovered expenses flowed into the community from the health center. Paisley directs marketing efforts for both the hospital and veterans community living center. SPRHC CEO Todd Oberheu and architect Don Spencer both gave brief updates on the Assisted Living Facility project spearheaded by the Spanish Peaks Community Foundation. While the initial grant proposal to the USDA was withdrawn due to additional information being needed for the application; Spencer was optimistic after recent conversations with officials at the federal agency saying he felt $400,000 to $500,000 could be available for development. The smaller size of the proposed assisted living center could pose a problem for finding a management agency (due to small anticipated profit margins) Oberheu said, but the proposal continues to move forward. In fact, Foundation directors and members also met later the same afternoon as the board meeting, to discuss the project. The effort to establish an assisted living center adjacent to the hospital / nursing home campus has been one of the keystone projects of the Foundation. In other business, Oberheu reported the date is drawing close for a full move into the new location for the La Veta Clinic. “Painting will be completed by next week and we should have an initial internet connection in before the end of the month,” he said. Oberheu said he expected a grand opening of the clinic sometime in August 2014. The new La Veta Clinic is located on S. Oak Street across from the La Veta Loco restaurant. Oberheu reported the Outreach Clinic, 129 Kansas Ave. in Walsenburg, will be hosting free sports physicals again this year on August 5 and 6 from 9 am until 3 pm. John Mall and La Veta high school athletes need to call in advance (738-5200) to schedule an appointment as they are made on a first come-first serve basis. The physicals will be administered by Dr. Steve Boynton, Dr. Thomas Hoffeld, Dr. Lori Moll, Candace Ferguson, NP and Regina Griego, NP (nurse practitioner). Oberheu also announced the Health Fair is set for October 25 at the Huerfano County Community Center and flu shots will be offered at the event.

Cement plant concerns

Building inspector suggests a negotiated move out of Northlands to site near prison WALSENBURG — The Walsenburg City Council convened a special meeting Friday, March

Read More »