Community Impact

Fluoroscopy Campaign of 2022

The current fluoroscopy unit at Estes Park Health was purchased refurbished 8 years ago and was at end of its life in 2022. The technology was dated and parts would no longer be produced to repair the machine starting in 2023. The new machine was installed in June of 2023. Fluoroscopy is a medical imaging procedure that uses several pulses (brief bursts) of an X-ray beam to show internal organs and tissues moving in real time on a computer screen. Standard X-rays are like photographs, whereas fluoroscopy is like a video. Health care providers use fluoroscopy for two main purposes: to help guide certain treatment procedures (known as interventional guidance), such as surgeries and catheter placements, and for diagnostic procedures. Fluoroscopy is often used to detect abnormalities in the GI tract, like ulcers and swallowing problems, and is used as guidance for injections into joints for pain, lumbar punctures, and some imaging exams using MRI/CT with contrast.

MRI Campaign 2021

The MRI machine at EPH was at end of life in 2022. EPH Foundation raised over $545k of the $1.1 million needed to fund the purchase of a new MRI machine. The machine was installed in May of 2022. MRI is used to diagnose disease/injury, assess how a patient responds to treatment, and is the preferred method to view soft tissue and organs. MRIs are employed for brain injury, cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, eye problems, inner ear problems, damage to joints, bone infections, neck pain, low back pain, and for suspected damage to the liver, pancreas, or kidneys. EPH conducts an average of 5-6 MRIs per day. The new state-of-the-art Siemens Altea wide bore 1.5T MRI technology transforms patient care by providing consistent, superior image quality and reduced scans time by up to 50%.

EMS Radios 2021

In 2021, Rocky Mountain National Park changed digital capabilities to VHF frequency, which impacted Estes Park Health Emergency Medical Service’s ability to communicate with RMNP during requests for medical assistance. Communication between RMNP and EPH EMS professionals is critical for appropriate management of resources as well as patient care during emergency situations in RMNP. In response to this urgent need, Estes Park Health Foundation ran an emergency campaign to fund the cost of the 12 radios, 12 chargers, and a cloning cable for EPH EMS. The campaign was fully funded in weeks.

Coronavirus & Subsequent Emergency Response Fund 2020-2021

In 2020, Estes Park Health Foundation has responded to the coronavirus pandemic by funding additional personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff, retrofitting 7 rooms to negative pressure rooms (4 in Med/Surg and 3 in the Emergency Dept), underwriting the cost of two COVID-19 direct real-time RT-PCR assay testing systems, paying for COVID-19 tests for uninsured residents of the Estes Valley (both documented and undocumented), and helping to fund costs associated with vaccine administration not covered by government funding (storage, PPE/consumable supplies, administration, etc.) for vaccines administered by Estes Park Health.

An immediate, pressing need in March of 2020 was to retrofit four rooms at Estes Park Health to negative pressure rooms for the inpatient ward. This system ensures that when a COVID-19 patient is admitted, the air in that patient’s room will not travel to the rest of the building, infecting other patients or staff. Estes Park Health Foundation funded this project with a combination of individual donations and grant money. These four negative pressure rooms have been operable since April of 2020. As cases of COVID-19 rose in the Estes Valley community, senior staff identified a need to retrofit three additional rooms located in the Emergency Department to negative pressure rooms. This retrofit was completed in July of 2020. Negative pressure rooms give the staff at Estes Park Health the ability to treat COVID-19 patients here in Estes Park rather than sending them to facilities in the valley.

In July of 2020, Estes Park Health Foundation fully funded the purchase of a COVID-19 Direct real-time RT-PCR assay testing system, which is the recommended testing method to diagnose the viral infection. With the implementation of this system, Estes Park Health can run eight COVID-19 tests in-house simultaneously, providing EPH physicians results in 80 minutes. The previous in-house test procedures allowed in-house patient samples to run one at a time and were only offered as part of a full respiratory panel, leaving all outpatient and pre-op screening samples to be transported to Children’s Hospital. Samples sent out had a turnaround time of up to 48 hours. Having the new COVID-19 test analyzer available right here at Estes Park Health gives Estes Valley residents, visitors, and staff fast and efficient results.

As soon as the machine was calibrated in September, staff at Estes Park Health ran tests around the clock, and, after the wildfire evacuation in November, the machine quickly became overwhelmed, which means results were taking longer.

In addition to the higher demand for testing after the wildfire evacuation, weather constraints forced the outdoor testing sites at Timberline and Salud of Estes Park to close in October, leaving Estes Park Health as the only option for COVID-19 testing in the Estes Valley. The already maxed-out testing machine at Estes Park Health was backlogged further, so patients waited longer for results.

With COVID-19 positive cases surging in November, the Foundation approved funding for an additional COVID-19 direct RT-PCR testing machine to keep up with demand. In addition to supporting testing and treatment for all residents of the Estes Valley, the Foundation has been underwriting the cost of COVID-19 testing for the uninsured, both documented and undocumented.

When vaccines became available December of 2020, EPHF started covering the costs of vaccine administration by EPH not covered by government funding (storage, staff, transportation, PPE/consumables, etc.).

3D Mammography Campaign 2019

The 2D mammography machine in Estes Park Health’s Diagnostic Imaging Department was at end of life in 2020. Estes Park Health Foundation fully funded the purchase of 3D mammography machinery and capabilities. 3D mammography has been shown to detect 20-65% more incidences of breast cancer than 2D, and, according to Susan G. Komen, 90% of women whose breast cancer is found in earlier stages will survive.

Three New Ambulances: Two in 2019 & One in 2017

Ambulance service provides a vital service to the Estes Valley community, covering over 1,000 square miles. The Estes Park Health Emergency Medical Services crew travels to emergencies in the Estes Valley, Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding communities. They also provide emergency transport for patients needing care beyond what Estes Park Health can provide. Through the combined efforts of the Quota Club of Estes Park, Estes Park Health Foundation, and other donors, Estes Park Health was able to add three new ambulances to its fleet to better serve the community and the visiting population.

Emergency Capacity Campaign 2018

The Emergency Capacity Campaign was an initiative to purchase four new cardiac monitors for Estes Park Health’s Ambulance Service and three trauma stretchers for the Emergency Department (ED). Cardiac monitors are the basis of how the EMS team can treat patients and communicate with the ED. The new trauma stretchers allow ED staff to safely transport patients and dose medications. This initiative was fully funded at the end of 2018 with enough funds to purchase three patient transporters in addition to the cardiac monitors and trauma stretchers.

Estes Park Health Living Center Common Area Remodel 2018

Estes Park Health Foundation fully funded an upgrade to the Living Center dining room with new furniture to create a space for residents to comfortably dine and socialize. New dishes were purchased, as well as a buffet style service so residents can easily choose their food from a selection of entrees prepared daily by our Dietary Services Team. To facilitate a setting that feels more like home, Estes Park Health designed a living room to serve as a sanctuary for residents to read, enjoy quiet time and visit with guests. In addition, a new coffee table and love seat were added to the Activities Room.

Wound Care Clinic Upgrade 2018

The phenomenal efforts of Estes Park Health Foundation’s 2018 Crowns for the Care campaign and Paint Estes Pink raised enough money to purchase surgical-grade lighting for the Wound Care Clinic, a specially designed exam chair for wound treatments and a cautery device. The Outpatient Wound Care Clinic is used to treat patients suffering from chronic wounds by using technologies such as water debridement, tissue grafting, compression wrapping, specialized dressing application and negative pressure therapy. Patients experiencing illness can develop wounds that are difficult to heal. The Wound Care Clinic treats patients in our community so they can stay close to home.

Estes Park Health Living Center Exam Room 2017

As a result of contributions by major donors to Estes Park Health Foundation, Estes Park Health Living Center now has a fully equipped, elder-friendly exam room that allows Residents to receive medical care within the Living Center.

Estes Park Health Living Center Hospital Bed Campaign 2017

Because of generous gifts from individuals and businesses, Estes Park Health Living Center was able to purchase 35 new beds needed for their Residents. The Foundation raised $75,000 for this improvement. The longer, wider mattresses flip to allow Residents to choose a soft or firm side. In addition to providing comfort and support, with the modern technology of these new beds, staff can now better maneuver and assist those in their care. The Estes Park Health Living Center Residents now rest more comfortably, improving their overall quality of life.

Infant Security Campaign 2016

Thanks to many generous individuals and businesses, the newest members of our community can experience a level of security that rivals the region’s largest birthing centers. Funded by Estes Park Health Foundation, this system employs the latest technology to secure designated areas. Any unauthorized attempt to leave a monitored area triggers an alarm and activates door locks. Parents and staff can focus worry-free on caring for newborns and the joys of family life. Donors to Estes Park Health Foundation provided more than 90% of the funds needed to upgrade the infant security system in Estes Park Health’s Birth Center.