Ben Hetrick Named Interim CNO for Estes Park Health

Estes Park Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Hetrick, MS, BSN, RN, to the position of interim Chief Nursing Officer at the hospital. His new role begins immediately.

Hetrick, who has worked for EPH since 2015, is an accomplished nurse who is also passionate about and experienced in health care informatics. He hopes to bring this combined expertise into his new role to improve the workplace for nurses and the care for patients.

“I am excited to step into this position after ten years in various roles at Estes Park Health,” said Hetrick. “I have a tech and nursing background and am interested in improving nurses’ lives with my nursing leadership skills and the use of technology.”

After obtaining his RN diploma at Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences in West Reading, Penn., Hetrick completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Pennsylvania State University Nese College of Nursing in University Park, Penn.

While finishing his BSN, Hetrick moved to Colorado to work as the on-site nurse at the Weld County Detention Center. It was a role that he felt constantly moved him because he firmly believes everyone deserves quality health care.

In late 2015, Hetrick came on staff at Estes Park Health as an RN in the med-surg department, providing a variety of care for patients recovering from surgical procedures, serious illnesses and general medical conditions.

His role at EPH expanded into working as a charge nurse in the med-surg department as well as working in the emergency department and operating room as a floating nurse.

Hetrick, who has always been fond of technology, data and computers, began pursuing a master’s degree in health care informatics at the University of Colorado College of Nursing in 2018. Recognizing the growing need to integrate technology into health care, Hetrick used the information he learned in his studies, which he completed in 2020, to apply it to methods for improving patient care and health outcomes at EPH.

In particular, Hetrick was instrumental in converting Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) to the Modified Minnesota Detoxification Scale (MINDS), a scoring and evaluation protocol for patients going through withdrawal of alcohol or benzodiazepine (anxiety medications). He also initiated a sepsis best practice advisory (BPA) that would alert nurses to a declining patient status, help them determine how to improve patient care and evaluate if the patient needed to be transported for elevated care.

Most recently, Hetrick has served as the hospital’s Director of Information Technology.

In his new role as interim CNO, Hetrick will oversee approximately 120 employees, including the IT team as well as the nursing teams in med-surg, the operating room and the emergency department. He will also manage the pharmacy, EMS, case management, social work, employee health and infusion teams.

“Ben has been an instrumental and positive member of our EPH family,” said Vern Carda, CEO of Estes Park Health. “I know he will continue his people-first attitude with the staff at the hospital while integrating technology and innovative solutions for improved patient care.”

Hetrick, who has lived in Estes Park for nearly ten years, is married to Sarah, who works for the National Park Service at Rocky Mountain National Park. They have a dog, three cats and spend much of their time exploring the outdoors backpacking, fishing and hiking. When not enjoying beautiful Estes Valley, Hetrick also plays video games, dabbles in the stock market and enjoys challenging friends in card and table-top games.

“This is my community,” said Hetrick. “It is important to me to keep high-quality health care in Estes Valley. I’ve worked with UCHealth since 2019 through our Community Connect Epic affiliation. The expanded partnership is exciting for what it will bring to the region.”