On Monday, Dec. 1, Estes Park Health joins UCHealth’s network of hospitals and clinics. For 50 years, Estes Park Health has provided excellent care for people throughout the Estes Valley. This care will continue, now as part of UCHealth, a Colorado-based nonprofit health system.

“We are excited to welcome Estes Park Health and its talented providers and staff to the UCHealth family,” said Elizabeth B. Concordia, UCHealth president and CEO. “We have a long history of collaboration in Estes Park, and this partnership reinforces our commitment to excellent patient care close to home.”

Now known as UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center (EVMC), a name requested by the Park Hospital District Board of Directors to reflect the care provided throughout the entire valley, the hospital and its services will continue to improve lives in the Estes Valley and surrounding areas. Estes Park Health staff are now employed by UCHealth, ensuring continuity of care for patients with the health care providers they have come to know and trust.

“This year marks 50 years of health care in the Estes Valley. I can’t think of a better way to embark on the next 50 years than by joining UCHealth,” said Vern Carda, president of Estes Valley Medical Center. “This not only gives us financial stability and additional access to resources and subject matter experts, but also assistance in recruiting and retaining staff and providers, and importantly, continued access to health care for our patients. I’m grateful to the entire Estes Park community for their patience during this process and for entrusting our staff and providers with their health.”

The close of the transaction and transition to Estes Valley Medical Center comes after the Park Hospital District and Estes Valley residents overwhelmingly voted — 80.3% — in 2023 to authorize Estes Park Health to enter negotiations with a Colorado-based nonprofit health system.

A new board of directors has been created to oversee the nonprofit hospital. Their responsibilities include overseeing medical staff credentialing, patient quality and safety, and recommending the budget of EVMC to UCHealth’s Board of Directors.

The Estes Valley Medical Center board members include:

• Stephen Alper, Estes Park resident and vice chairman of Park Hospital District Board of Directors
• Janet Zeschin, Estes Park resident and secretary of Park Hospital District Board of Directors
• Grace Taylor, vice president of operations, UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital and UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies
• Kevin Unger, president and CEO of UCHealth’s northern Colorado Region
• David Batey, Estes Park resident and former Park Hospital District Board of Directors chairman
• Sue Cooper, Estes Park resident, retired pharmacist and chair of Estes Park Health Foundation
• Christina Kraft, Estes Park resident, market president of Bank of Colorado Estes Park and chair of Estes Park Economic Development Corporation

UCHealth already offers community programs in Estes Park, such as the Aspen Club, to improve the long-term health of Estes Park residents. Students at Estes Park High School currently receive CPR training and heart-health education from UCHealth’s Healthy Hearts and Minds program, and UCHealth provides family medicine, cancer, cardiology, urology and other clinics in the town.

“I’ve been fortunate to know the Estes Park community and many of its residents for decades. It brings me great joy that through this partnership, UCHealth will continue caring for this special part of Colorado for years to come,” said Unger. “We can’t wait to support not only the patients, but the clinical, operational and administrative teams who make excellent health care possible every day.”