Park Hospital District Board of Directors Supports the UCHealth Affiliation
The Park Hospital District (PHD) Board of Directors would like the Estes Valley community to know that the article published by board member Tom Leigh in the Estes Valley Voice on the morning of July 29, 2025, was published without the knowledge or approval of the PHD Board of Directors. The PHD Directors are disappointed that we learned about this letter at the same time as the public, without the courtesy of communication or notification prior to its public distribution.
The content of Leigh’s article is not the opinion of the Park Hospital District Board of Directors.
We would like our patients, the community, physicians and staff members to know that we strongly support the agreement with UCHealth and know it is in the best interest of the residents of Estes Valley.
Leigh offered some additional insight regarding his letter at the July 31, 2025 PHD Board of Directors public meeting. At the beginning of that meeting, he clarified that he does agree that UCHealth is the appropriate partner for Estes Park Health but again stated his opinion that the agreement could be changed.
Considering the challenging health care environment and the negative operating margins for our hospital, we must pursue a strong partnership with an excellent health care system that, above all else, ensures the longevity of quality health care in this mountain valley. Joining UCHealth is by far the best option for the community, and this affiliation, which the Board has spent the past two years negotiating, is the best agreement that can be made for patients and staff.
UCHealth offers a strong partnership with a viable and supportive plan to invest in Estes Park Health for many years. Their management, staff and physicians have extensive experience negotiating contracts and implementing partnerships throughout Colorado. That knowledge will now come to Estes Park to help our hospital continue to serve the community with excellent health care while also offering the ability to provide the latest technology and capital investments for continuous quality improvements for the long term.
Importantly, in 2023, Park Hospital District voters overwhelmingly voted to authorize EPH to join a nonprofit health system. It was this mandate that launched our negotiations, leading to this positive agreement.
Though Leigh is entitled to his opinion, the majority of the PHD Board of Directors continue to support this affiliation and the contract negotiated between UCHealth and Estes Park Health.