Aspen Valley Hospital

Aspen Valley Hospital sends its most critical COVID-19 patients to other hospitals at lower altitude. Doctors say that's partially because treatment is easier outside of Aspen’s thin air.

While shops and restaurants around the Roaring Fork Valley have shut their doors to slow the spread of coronavirus, healthcare workers are gearing up for an overload. Dr. Ben Peery, a physician in the emergency department at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, said medical school doesn’t prepare doctors for situations like this one. 

The Valley Health Alliance is a group of six of the largest employers in the Roaring Fork Valley. They've joined together to lower healthcare costs for employees and their dependents -- currently, about 6,000 people.

Aspen Valley Hospital began directly employing orthopedic surgeons one year ago, and the arm of the organization known as OrthoAspen is now hosting a popular lecture series.

The 100 or so inmates jailed on both ends of the valley will enjoy holiday meals.

  The Colorado End of Life Options Act was signed into law by Gov. John Hickenlooper last week. Monday, the Aspen Valley Hospital board of directors will hold a special meeting to decide if they will opt in to the physician-assisted suicide program.

  In a closed executive session on Monday, the Aspen Valley Hospital board of directors solidified a contract bringing Dave Ressler back in as chief executive officer.

  The Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office is resurrecting a program for sexual assault victims in the valley. The SANE program, which stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, has been dormant for four years. Aspen Public Radio’s Carolyn Sackariason spoke with District Attorney Sherry Caloia about the effort.

After three years away from his post, Dave Ressler, the former CEO of Aspen Valley Hospital, is taking his old job back, because like many who move to Aspen and then leave, he realizes that life is good here. Aspen Public Radio’s Carolyn Sackariason asked him what drove his decision to return.

A supervisor can have a bigger impact on a worker’s health than a primary care doctor. That’s according to the The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The federal office recently sent experts to Aspen to teach managers how to handle that power wisely.

Four months after Aspen Valley Hospital CEO Dan Bonk resigned, the vacant position has been posted on an elite recruiting website.

Roughly 10 percent of the total ballots mailed to Pitkin County voters have been returned so far in this spring’s Aspen Valley Hospital board election. Aspen Public Radio News interviewed the doctors who are running for a board seat.

Profession: Registered Nurse

Age: 47

Where do you live? Snowmass Village

How long have you lived in the valley? 15 years

In what capacity have you used AVH?  How would you rate your experience and why? I am a frequent consumer of healthcare because of my juvenile diabetes so I'm a patient as well as an employee. My patient visits at the hospital have always been tremendous. The staff are second to none. What we lack is a modern facility with privacy for patients and that is now being built.

Profession: Entrepreneur

Where do you live? Citizen of Aspen, Resident of Pitkin County

How long have you lived in the valley? Homeowner since 1999

In what capacity have you used AVH? How would you rate your experience and why?  For the past 17 years, my family’s experiences with the Aspen Valley Hospital have been exceptional.  My concern is for those whose experiences have not been as good as ours.

Election results for the next Aspen Valley Hospital board of directors will be decided one week from today. With seven people vying for two open seats, their campaign issues surrounding the publicly-funded facility are many.

Profession: MD- OB/GYN

Age: 48

Where do you live? Aspen

How long have you lived in the valley? 1990 to 1993, then 2001 to present

In what capacity have you used AVH? How would you rate your experience and why? I use AVH for any of my medical needs and believe the care and service are unmatched.

Profession: Emergency Medicine Physician

Age: 47

Where do you live? Snowmass Village

How long have you lived in the valley? 17 years

In what capacity have you used AVH? How would you rate your experience and why? I have been a practicing physician at AVH for the last 17 years.  I have even been a patient in the emergency department a few times. It is interesting how being on the other side of the curtain brings insight to how the hospital can improve care. I must say, it has been a wonderful experience and privilege to work with such incredible people at the hospital.

To read the full list of questions and answers, and hear the audio portion, click here.

 Profession: Firefighter, Paramedic, Photographer, Property Manager

Age: 44

Where do you live? Aspen, at the Twin Ridge Townhouses, which are across the street from AVH

How long have you lived in the valley? I was born and raised here in Aspen, so more than 40 years.

In what capacity have you used AVH? How would you rate your experience and why? I have been a patient. My patient care was outstanding, but the post-hospital experience was miserable at best.

To read the full list of questions and answers, and hear the audio portion, click here.

Profession: Physician/Anesthesiologist

Age: 64

Where do you live? Aspen

How long have you lived in the valley?  27 years, since 1989

In what capacity have you used AVH? How would you rate your experience and why? I am a physician there, both my children were born at AVH, our family has used the facility extensively for tests, surgery, etc. After 27 years I clearly have developed a close bond with the hospital and staff.

To read the full list of questions and answers, and hear the audio portion, click here.

Welcome to Valley Roundup. I’m Carolyn Sackariason.

The source of the sewage stench wafting up from storm sewers in downtown Aspen has been identified.

Aspen officials zero in on source of foul odors

Aspen’s sewage leak lasted for more than a month

And in Snowmass, voters are being asked to buck up for a new sewage plant.

Ballots for this spring’s election for two board seats at Aspen Valley Hospital are expected to show up in mailboxes this week. Carolyn Sackariason has the details.

It’s the first contested race for the board of directors at the hospital in six years. AVH canceled two previous ones because no one applied, except the incumbents.

  Anyone interested in running for a seat on the Aspen Valley Hospital board of directors has just under two weeks to throw their hat into the ring. Carolyn Sackariason has the details.

Two seats are up this year on the board, which hasn’t seen a contested race since 2008. That might be a result of Aspen Valley Hospital doing too little to publicize elections.

Aspen Valley Hospital has chosen Chief Financial Officer Terry Collins for the hospital’s new interim CEO.

The CEO of Aspen Valley Hospital resigned Monday after two years in the position. The hospital announced the resignation, saying Bonk wanted to spend more time with his family.