To the editor

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association’s Community Health Centers in Craig and Steamboat Springs are among nonprofit CHCs throughout the U.S. providing affordable health care to individuals of all ages and incomes. We are proud of our accomplishments in serving residents in Routt and Moffat counties. Our first CHC opened in Craig in 2008 followed by our CHC in Steamboat Springs in 2013. We have three physicians, three physician assistants, one nurse practitioner, seven medical assistants and three behavioral health clinicians (via contract). Nearly 5,000 people currently receive health care at our CHCs. Last year alone, there were more than 15,000 medical visits and more than 1,500 behavioral health visits at our clinics.

In addition to personalized primary care, our high quality services include health screenings and education, behavioral health and women’s health services, prescription assistance and help applying for health insurance. Patients can receive care on a sliding fee scale based on income and family size. We also accept private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and Child Health Plan Plus. Community Health Centers are cost effective for everyone. Communities that have CHCs have healthier newborns and reduced hospitalizations and emergency room visits. CHCs are recognized as models for screening, diagnosing, and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and depression. We personalize care to each patient’s unique health needs, accepting them where they are and giving them tools to make changes that will help them prevent disease.

We offer same day and next day appointments for urgent situations. After hours, a bilingual answering service staffed by nurses is available for patients with medical questions and emergencies. Our medical (triage) professionals screen more than 250 people per month to determine if they have immediate medical needs. For more information about our Community Health Centers, providers and services visit our website, nwcovn.org or Facebook page, facebook.com/nwcovna.org. To make an appointment, call 970-824-8233 in Craig or 970-879-1632 in Steamboat Springs.

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association’s Community Health Center team:

Diana Hornung, MD — Medical Director; Anna Lundeen, MD; Josh Welch, MD; Julia von Allmen, PA-C; Frani Jenkins, PA-C; Cinde Porter, PA-C; Suzanne Holm, NP; Gisela Garrison — Health Centers Director