Aspen Valley Hospital's
2009 Annual Report
Details...
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News and Events Heather Milne, RN, was named Aspen Valley Hospital's Nurse of the Year in a National Nurses' Day celebration on May 12. Milne was chosen by fellow nurses from a slate of 15 nominees. A resident of Basalt, Milne has worked at Aspen Valley Hospital since 1996. She started as an EMT-I and Spanish translator in the emergency department. She currently is a same-day surgery nurse. Milne holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish linguistics, but her passion for direct patient care led her to nursing school. She graduated in 2005 from Colorado Mountain College with a degree in nursing. During her training, she had a baby and continued to work on a part-time basis. "A nurse is what I was meant to be," Milne said matter-of-factly about her award. "I work in a busy department with a great team. Teamwork is what it's all about." Nominations for Milne came from patients and staff who acknowledged her care and compassion, thoroughness, patience, professionalism, and positive energy. "She always puts the patient first and has a wonderful 'can do' attitude," said one nominator. Others nominated for Nurse of the Year included: Siobhan Conway, Katie Flaherty, Cheryl Heffernan, Linda Killian, Marcella Knable, Lori Maloy, Janice Martin, Mary Margaret O'Gara, Mary Fran Powell, Margie Slater, Maureen Wagers, Miles Wagner, P.J. Wallace, and Amy Jo Westerman. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 Subject: Community meeting regarding AVH master plan Date: May 19, 2010 Community members are invited to attend informational meetings on the Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) master facilities plan on Thursday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m.; Friday, May 28 at 7:30 a.m.; and Friday, May 28 at 12 noon at AVH. The hospital has been developing the plan for several years and hopes to break ground in the fall. All meetings will take place in the Oden Conference Center at AVH. Today's hospital was completed in 1977, and healthcare delivery has changed significantly since that time. Most notable is the shift from inpatient to outpatient care, the addition of a number of services, and a focus throughout the healthcare industry on privacy. "The hospital is in need of an expansion and renovation to accommodate these changes and to have sufficient space to meet the needs of the services we currently provide," explained Dave Ressler, AVH CEO. Phase I of the master facilities plan expanded and renovated the hospital's obstetrical unit and was completed in 2008. The Aspen City Council gave conceptual approval of the remaining three phases of the plan in May 2009 after an extensive review. Final approval of Phase II was granted by the Planning and Zoning Commission in April of this year, and now Phase II is before the Aspen City Council for their final review. Phase II includes an expansion and renovation of other inpatient areas (PCU and ICU), physical therapy, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The cafeteria will be relocated to the front of the hospital, and medical office space will be added. "Phase II is a critical component of the four-phase project," said Ressler. "We address many of the patient privacy and comfort issues that challenge us on a daily basis in our 1970s building." At completion, all inpatient rooms will be single occupancy, two of the hospital's busiest outpatient departments will be expanded, and many of the problems associated with traffic flow and the inappropriate mix of inpatients, outpatients, staff, and visitors will be resolved. The medical office space to be added in Phase II will enable physicians with active hospital practices to move to the hospital campus and better serve their patients. Medical offices will be leased to physicians at fair market prices. "This phase of the project is moving from concept to reality, and we really want to encourage members of the community to come out and see what is planned," said Ressler. In the meetings, building and site plans and architectural renderings will be shown, and a question and answer session will be led by Ressler and healthcare architect, Russ Sedmak, of Heery and Associates. A light breakfast, lunch, or dinner will be served at the meetings, so those planning to attend should RSVP to 544-1296. Medical School Scholarship The AVH Medical Staff Medical School Scholarship Fund is made possible by funds donated by Aspen Valley Hospital Physicians. The AVH Medical Staff offers this scholarship for assistance with medical school costs. The scholarship application is available for any graduate of Aspen High School or Basalt High School who is enrolled in an accredited American medical school. Application deadline is June 1, 2010. Downloadable PDF files: Scholarship Application Form, Expense/Income Worksheet Please contact Nancy Arnold at 970-544-1188 for additional information. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544-1296 Date: November 3, 2009 Subject: Cardiac Rehabilitation Aspen Valley Hospital's (AVH) long-standing cardiac rehabilitation program is now providing services to patients in two locations: at AVH and at After-Hours Medical Care in Basalt. The program started in 1995 at AVH and has steadily grown. Demand now warrants an expansion to the mid-valley. With the availability of space within After-Hours Medical Care, the expansion was accomplished. "Many of our patients have moved down-valley," said Julie Puchkoff, MS, CSCS, exercise physiologist and one of the clinicians who works with the program. "With limited space in Aspen, it just made sense to go where many of our patients are." Services in Basalt are offered Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Patients who have experienced cardiac problems such as surgery, heart attack, angioplasty, or heart failure are eligible for the program. During each cardiac rehab session, vital signs, heart rhythm, oxygenation, and response to exercise are monitored. Staff certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) supervises all activity. "Our goal is to return patients to full function in a safe, supportive environment," noted Puchkoff. "We've had a great response since opening in Basalt. Our mid-valley patients really appreciate the service close to home." To learn more about the program, contact Puchkoff at 544-1383. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ginny Dyche, Community Relations, 544.1296 Date: September 24, 2009 Re: Cancer Care More than 20,000 Coloradoans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2009. Dozens of new cancers will be identified in the Roaring Fork Valley, and those patients will undoubtedly be exploring their best options for care. In addition to a quick and accurate diagnosis, they'll want information about treatment alternatives and the support of their family, friends, and healthcare providers. "We all know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer," said Dave Ressler, Aspen Valley Hospital (AVH) CEO. "And we all can relate to the fear and anxiety that person feels. People want the best possible medical care, and most want that care close to home. They want to be where their support system is, where they're most comfortable." That's why AVH is expanding its care for cancer patients with an affiliation with two leading cancer centers: Invision Sally Jobe in Denver and Shaw Regional Cancer Center in Edwards. In addition, oncologist Doug Rovira, MD, has expanded his office hours in Aspen and now sees patients at AVH on a weekly, rather than monthly, basis. "We have a full slate of experts available to our cancer patients and staff," said Ressler, who noted that AVH has long provided oncology services in the valley with two oncologists on staff (Dr. Rovira and Ira Jaffrey, MD), chemotherapy services, and Pathfinders, a group of mental health professionals who support patients with their social and emotional needs. "This is not a new commitment, but an expanded commitment," Ressler added. Invision Sally Jobe focuses on imaging and breast cancer diagnostics and has been collaborating with AVH for several months in preparation for the formal affiliation. They have reviewed and helped update AVH's processes and technologies, and have been working closely with AVH mammography and ultrasound technologists. Invision Sally Jobe radiologists – specialists in breast imaging and image-guided intervention – began reading AVH patients' mammograms and ultrasounds earlier this summer and will continue to provide this service as part of a larger affiliation between AVH, Invision Sally Jobe, and Radiology Imaging Associates (whose radiologists staff Invision Sally Jobe facilities). "This raises the standard of our mammography and breast health program to that of Sally Jobe, which has a national reputation for excellence," said Elaine Gerson, administrator of Diagnostic Imaging services at AVH. With the exception of a few specialized diagnostic procedures, all services will be provided at AVH. Services provided to AVH patients include screening and diagnostic exams and procedures, as well as a risk assessment and prevention program. "There was a time when early detection and subsequent treatment were all we could do to save lives from breast cancer," said Lora Barke, DO, radiologist and medical director of Invision Sally Jobe. "Now, through genetic counseling, testing, and imaging studies we can identify patients with high risk and use medical therapy as a preventive measure. It's a new way of thinking about breast cancer." Invision Sally Jobe physicians will work closely with local physicians. Communication with AVH's primary care providers, surgeons, and oncologists is critical to the success of the relationship. "Patients want the advantages of specialty care, but they also have an invaluable relationship with their local doctors," said Dr. Barke. Shaw Regional Cancer Center provides a broad scope of services including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of most types of cancer, and its philosophy is similar to that of Invision Sally Jobe. "We believe in multidisciplinary care close to home. People in Aspen shouldn't have to travel far for their cancer care," said Joe Deuschle, Executive Director at Shaw. "And while Aspen and surrounding communities aren't large enough to support all aspects of care – such as radiation therapy – we're fairly close to Aspen and provide the benefits of a large cancer center." In addition to a multitude of diagnostic and treatment programs, Shaw operates Jack's Place, with overnight accommodations for those who travel to Edwards for care and would like to stay for the duration of their treatment. Located on the Shaw campus, Jack's Place offers a comfortable, home-like environment for patients and their families. On the Shaw team are a variety of cancer specialists, all of whom essentially become part of the cancer program at AVH. Medical specialties represented at Shaw are medical and radiation oncology, pathology, and radiology. Nurses, the pharmacist, nutritionist, and physicist are all oncology certified. Rounding out the team are a social worker, medical librarian, genetic counselor, radiation therapists, physical therapists, and an exercise physiologist. Shaw's "Fit for Survival" program helps patients stay fit and well-nourished during their treatment. New to Shaw's state-of-the-art technologies is a PET/CT scanner. This equipment identifies active tumors and helps physicians determine if the treatment is working. In this way, physicians can adjust the treatment regimen quickly and effectively. "Aspen Valley Hospital's patients are part of a network of care," said Deuschle. "If a patient needs a complex or uncommon treatment that is not available in Aspen or at our center, the cancer team at AVH and The Shaw know the leaders and institutions that provide these services and will assist patients in getting to the right program for care. We work closely with the University of Colorado as well as other larger institutions." Dr. Rovira – AVH's oncology medical director – has been seeing cancer patients in Aspen since 1993. He, too, is excited about the affiliations and his increased presence in the valley, which includes both Aspen and Glenwood Springs. "We will be able to better manage complications, maintain closer contact with patients, and enhance safety and overall care." At AVH Dr. Rovira works closely with primary care physicians, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, specialty trained nurses, a nurse practitioner, and the Pathfinders program. "This is a big local team," he said, "all dedicated to the best possible support for cancer patients and their families. The relationship with Shaw and Invision Sally Jobe further enhances the care we provide." Dr. Rovira emphasized that the goal of the AVH oncology program is to decrease the number of people dying from cancer. That means prevention, early detection, and state-of-the-art treatment – and they are all available to AVH patients by leading experts in the field of cancer care. For more information about AVH's cancer care, call 544.1507. |
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 "It was simply an A+ experience at all levels and at every juncture. Absolutely amazing staff, prompt treatment, and superb service. 100% fantastic. Made me want to live in Aspen. You should be proud of your staff and services. Congratulations." —AVH Patient |
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