It’s a pleasure to write another article and give you an update on what’s happening here at the hospital. In this entry, I want to focus on something deeply important: gratitude.

Thanks to your ongoing support, we can do what we do. From the original mill levy set years ago for the bonds to the more recent operational mill levy, your contributions have made a lasting impact. A special thank you goes out to the local businesses who shoulder an especially large share of the tax burden, four times more than households. Your commitment to our town does not go unnoticed.

I also want to express heartfelt thanks to our providers and staff. We simply would not be where we are today without the hard work and dedication of our team. Every day, they go above and beyond to provide the best care possible. Over the past several weeks, we’ve faced some unfortunate emergency scenarios that have truly tested us, but these challenges have brought us even closer together. Our prayers go out to the patients and their families affected.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to the previous board and administration. Former CEO Nick Goshe (2008–2018) and his team were instrumental in building this beautiful facility. Through their leadership, the community passed a 15-year, $35 million bond to bring this hospital to life. In 2021, we refinanced that bond to save taxpayers approximately $2.7 million, without extending the payoff date. As a result, this building will be paid off in full by November 2026. We’re thrilled to celebrate this milestone with a community event next year—after all, this hospital belongs to you.

We continue to strive to meet your needs and provide high-quality care at a reasonable cost. In 2020, we opened our walk-in clinic, which has been a tremendous success. What used to be a monthly clinic visit average of 300–400 in 2019 has now grown to around 600 visits per month. If you have a sick child, a laceration, or an earache, please don’t hesitate to bring them in. Our providers—Tyler Savage, Vivian Dillon, Kelsey Riggio, Dr. Torgerson, and Dr. Morwood—are ready to care for you and your family. We are also grateful for Dr. Hsu and Dr. Sutton, who cover the ER every other weekend, and Dr. Daniel and Dr. Kruger, who step in when we need extra support.

Lastly, I want to close with a sincere thank you to all our hospital employees. Working in healthcare is not easy. Like any profession, it comes with its ups and downs—but in healthcare, there are added layers of complexity and stress, both bureaucratic and emotional. From “womb to tomb,” our staff face it all, and they do so with compassion and professionalism. I couldn’t be more proud or more grateful. We will be holding an employee appreciation dinner at Kenny Reservoir on July 17th at 5pm to give out an employee gift and recognize employees for their years of service. Thank you, Rangely. We are here because of you, and we are here for you.