Agreements Information

Agreements

Documents

Press Releases

Presentations

  • EPH
  • UCHealth

Park Hospital District

Have questions?

Background

On October 16, 2024, the Park Hospital District (PHD), which operates Estes Park Health (EPH), and UCHealth announced they signed a letter of intent for EPH to negotiate joining UCHealth in 2025. Since then, important discussions and information sharing has happened, including community outreach.

By joining UCHealth, EPH will strengthen and sustain the health services it currently offers for patients and visitors in the Estes Valley while also increasing access to advanced treatments. The affiliation will enable EPH to operate more efficiently, bring new resources and services for employees, gain assistance in recruiting staff and providers to Estes Park, and strengthen clinical affiliations, helping to reduce overall health care costs.

Next steps

On Thursday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Estes Park Town Hall, the Park Hospital District will hold a meeting to introduce a resolution to approve the agreements that will allow for EPH hospital operations to join UCHealth. During this meeting, public comment will be heard and directors will be present to answer questions. All, including EPH staff, Estes Valley residents and visitors of Estes Park, are welcome to attend. Links to the resolution and agreements are found on this page.

A second board meeting will occur on Thursday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Estes Park Town Hall (note the different start time from most board meetings). The public will have an additional opportunity to comment and ask questions at this meeting, and the PHD Board of Directors will consider voting on whether or not to approve the resolution for approval to move forward with the agreements.

If the UCHealth and PHD boards approve the agreements, they will likely be signed in late May. The District and UCHealth will then seek review of the agreements by the Colorado Attorney General as required by Colorado state statute. Following the AG review, leaders will work towards an effective date, at which time EPH’s hospital operations will become part of UCHealth.

Frequently asked questions

Why does EPH seek an affiliation with UCHealth?

  • The financial environment has been extremely challenging for hospitals in recent years, especially for independent, critical access hospitals like EPH. Expenses for staff members, supplies and services have increased rapidly, while reimbursements from insurance companies and governmental payers have not kept pace. The Colorado Hospital Association says, currently, 70% of Colorado hospitals have unsustainable operating margins. EPH has had a negative operating margin for three of the past four years. Financial challenges have already forced EPH to reduce or close some services.
  • To maintain the delivery of health care in the community, EPH asked UCHealth to strengthen their current affiliation with the health system. This will allow EPH and its clinics to join UCHealth and to be better equipped to provide resources and long-term stability for its patients, staff, providers and the broader community.

Does EPH already have a collaboration with UCHealth?

  • EPH and UCHealth have collaborated for many years in ways that have benefited patients, the Estes Park community, surrounding towns and EPH’s staff and providers.
    • EPH adopted UCHealth’s advanced electronic medical record and other IT systems, which reduces IT expenses, while launching programs to improve quality and safety for patients.
    • UCHealth is partnering with EPH to provide access to many key specialties in Estes Park including oncology, ENT, urology, cardiology, sleep evaluations and a sleep lab, and surgery backup coverage.
    • When EPH made the decision to transfer obstetric care, UCHealth hired EPH’s OB-GYN and has continued to provide women’s care services locally. Most pregnant EPH patients now deliver at UCHealth hospitals, and training has been provided to ensure high-quality care.
    • UCHealth served as a good resource for EPH during the 2020 wildfires that threatened Estes Park. UCHealth staff and ambulances were ready to help evacuate patients from EPH as needed and safely transport patients to other hospitals.

What are key aspects of the agreements?

Will EPH employees, physicians and advanced practice providers move to UCHealth?

  • After standard pre-employment screening, EPH’s team of more than 300 staff, providers and leaders will retain their positions, and their years of service will continue to be recognized.
  • EPH employees will move onto UCHealth’s benefits and retirement plans, with open enrollment expected in fall, 2025.

As a Park Hospital District resident, will I keep paying taxes to support the hospital?

  • The Park Hospital District, a special tax district of Larimer County, was formally established in 1968 to help fund the construction and operations of the first hospital in Estes Park. In 1975, the Elizabeth Knutsson Memorial Hospital opened.
  • Since then, voters have approved an annual property tax levied on taxable property in the Park Hospital District. The tax is critical to the financial viability of EPH.
  • On May 2, 2023, Park Hospital District and Estes Valley residents overwhelmingly (80.3%) voted to authorize EPH to enter negotiations with another nonprofit health system and pledged District revenues to support those agreements.
  • As the partnership moves forward with UCHealth, the tax remains in place and will continue to be used locally to support EPH, its services and the community.
  • UCHealth is proud to honor the community’s continued support of the hospital.