Having grown up in Steamboat Springs, I can attest to the quality health care our own UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center has provided in our community. UCHealth and YVMC have been the anchor of our health care system in Routt County and has served as a shining example nationwide for how local hospitals support rural areas.
Rural life brings all kinds of unique challenges — to individuals and families, to small businesses and to our communities as a whole. Having an established UCHealth facility has made all the difference in strengthening both the physical and financial health of Yampa Valley. I don’t consider myself a health care expert. Still, I know the importance of having access to 24/7 care in our community, whether it’s for an unexpected emergency, a routine surgery or a simple check-up.
As CEO of the Steamboat Springs Chamber, one area in which I can impart some expertise is in the massive economic and business impact that YVMC has contributed to our community. In Steamboat Springs, health care is the third largest industry and employer in our economy. Hospitals play a huge part in providing jobs and injecting money directly into the local economy. In 2022 alone, Colorado hospitals invested over $1.9 billion in the state’s communities. And, of course, this is in addition to the impact of all the lifesaving, health-restoring care that hospitals like YVMC provide to tens of thousands of patients every year.
UCHealth and YVMC have been a reliable partner for the Chamber and Steamboat Springs’ greater business community. At the upcoming Empower Yampa Valley Conference later this month, YVMC will graciously contribute as a speaker sponsor. YVMC has displayed a pattern of investing in our businesses by sponsoring and participating in events, supporting many area programs and performing community outreach to serve all of the Yampa Valley.
Hospitals are important to rural Coloradans in so many ways. But, like households and businesses across the nation, rural hospitals in Colorado are facing financial strain. Many have struggled to stay afloat due to rising costs, a lack of resources, and workforce recruitment and retention issues.
Rural Colorado has 33% fewer active physicians than urban areas. Maternal care is one of the most prominent areas of concern, as 24 of Colorado’s 64 counties are considered “maternal care deserts” where there are no obstetric providers and birthing centers.
We are lucky that our local hospital offers regional OB services and maternal care for expecting mothers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in addition to providing other types of care. But at a time when over 30 percent of rural hospitals across America are at risk of closing, I am worried about the future of Colorado’s hospitals. With mounting financial pressures and a lack of federal support, rural hospitals like our very own YVMC could be forced to cut programs or close altogether.
When hospitals close, communities suffer. Patients lose access to care and people lose jobs. We must support and strengthen hospitals by providing them with the financial support they need before it’s too late. We must make sure hospitals have the necessary resources to continue supporting local communities like ours.
