Goshe speaks to state legislature

RANGELY | The Colorado Hospital Association’s Rural Health and Hospitals Conference was held in Denver last week. Rangely District Hospital CEO Nick Goshe, Pioneers Medical Center CEO Ken Harman and board members from both local hospitals attended.
Goshe was asked to give a presentation to the legislatures at the capitol about the challenges facing rural hospitals. The conference presented a spotlight video created by Colorado Rural Health about RDH before Goshe took the podium. (See the video here: bit.ly/2mjFg5k)
On March 7, the Colorado house and senate unanimously approved resolution HJR17-1016 (Protecting Rural Hospitals) and gave a standing ovation in appreciation of rural hospitals and the needs they meet.
Members of the legislature and staff attended a working lunch afterward where Goshe spoke about the challenges facing Rangely District Hospital in particular, and the importance of the hospital and community.
“He spoke well and represented our town and hospital admirably,” wrote Cynthia Stults, RDH human resource director, via email. “Many compliments were received about the hard work our whole hospital has done and the accomplishments that set us apart in our state.”
Goshe has been asked to return to the capitol at a future date to speak with the legislatures again about the challenges rural Northwest Colorado is facing in healthcare.
“Without the extraordinary staff at our hospital, none of this would even be possible. Outside of our community it becomes even more obvious how truly rare it is to have a staff so devoted and heavily talented as ours,” Stults said.
The resolution reads as follows:
“WHEREAS, Nearly half of all Colorado hospitals are in rural areas; and WHEREAS, Vulnerable rural communities depend upon their rural hospital as an important and often the only source of health care services; and WHEREAS, Rural hospitals often face workforce shortages, volatile economic conditions, and changing demographics; and WHEREAS, Rural hospitals are typically smaller and have fewer patients and resources, but still provide a broad range of services to meet the needs of their communities; and WHEREAS, Many rural Colorado hospitals face unsustainable and uncertain futures as a result of recent budget cuts, leaving their communities at risk for losing access to vital health care services; and WHEREAS, 17 of Colorado’s 64 counties have no hospitals; and WHEREAS, Rural hospitals not only provide crucial health care services to their communities but also play a significant role in local economies, generating $2.28 in economic activity for every $1 spent; and WHEREAS, Viable options are needed if Colorado’s rural communities are going to maintain access to the health care services they need in the long term; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-first General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein: That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly: (1) Express our appreciation and gratitude to all those Coloradans who dedicate their time and energy to providing access to health care services in rural communities; (2) Recognize the importance of protecting rural hospitals and health care; and (3) Declare March 8, 2017, to be “Protecting Rural Hospitals Day” in Colorado.”