Valley-Wide Health Systems Inc. opened a healthcare facility in the old Alamosa Courthouse, representing both the preservation of the community's history and expansion of healthcare access for Southeast Colorado residents.
Improved Convenience and Care for Patients
Valley-Wide opened its Health and Wellness Campus at the former Alamosa County Courthouse at 702 Fourth St. in February. The campus offers primary medical care, behavioral health services, physical therapy and integrated care coordination.
"By housing these services together, we're able to provide more seamless, coordinated care that focuses on the whole person, not just a single medical condition," says Jania Arnoldi, Valley-Wide's president and CEO. "Our goal is to create an environment where patients feel welcomed, supported and connected to the care they need."
The location reduces barriers to mental health care by offering an expanded behavioral health program with additional therapy offices, a dedicated peer support suite and a respite area that offers individuals a safe, supportive environment, Arnoldi says.
Before opening the campus, these services were spread across three locations in Alamosa, causing patients to travel between multiple offices. The Health and Wellness Campus consolidated services from those three locations, resulting in less travel, fewer missed appointments, better communication with providers and ultimately better health outcomes for patients, she says.
Arnoldi says one location, which was originally the third floor of Sierra Blanca Medical Center, was sold to that hospital. Another location was leased to Rock Creek Family Medicine, and the final location is connected to the current administrative services building and is now being used to house Women, Infant and Children (WIC) and Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) programs.
Project Investment
$14.5M
Building Age
Est. 1938
Counties Served
14
Founded
1976
Short- and Long-Term Economic Benefits
The approximately $14.5 million project revitalized a 1938 building that had been sitting vacant for the past five years.
"Empty buildings often become symbols of decline, but today that same building has become a place of hope, healing and activity. Each day, patients, employees, providers, students, vendors and visitors come to the campus. That increased daily activity benefits surrounding restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores and other downtown businesses."
Jania Arnoldi, President and CEO, Valley-Wide Health Systems
Although the project created few new, permanent jobs with Valley-Wide, it supported numerous construction jobs, contractors, architects, engineers and local businesses throughout the renovation process. It also creates opportunities for future growth and talent attraction as healthcare needs continue to increase, Arnoldi says.
"We now have the capacity to expand programs, recruit additional providers and grow services in ways that simply weren't possible in our previous facilities," she says. "Having a modern, purpose-built healthcare environment also helps us recruit and retain talented healthcare professionals who want to work in a collaborative, patient-centered setting."
Alamosa serves as a rural regional center for health care, education and commerce, meaning many patients already travel to the city for services. Locating the Health and Wellness Campus downtown makes those services easier to access while also strengthening Valley-Wide's commitment to the community, Arnoldi says.
Valley-Wide Health was founded in 1976 in the San Luis Valley. It has locations in 14 counties across the southeast region, from Buena Vista to Antonito and Springfield. Valley-Wide Health serves patients with family medicine services, virtual telehealth visits, family dental services, behavioral health services, family physical therapy services and pharmacy locations.