Estes Park Health staff hold meeting with Park Hospital District Board of Directors
On Thursday, August 21, staff, members of the leadership team and physicians who work at Estes Park Health held a meeting with the Park Hospital District Board of Directors, the five-member group that oversees operations of the hospital.
The 90-minute meeting, which the staff members requested, offered leadership and employees the opportunity to share their support and feelings about the importance of the upcoming affiliation of EPH with UCHealth.
With 20 people in the conference room, and another 63 online participating remotely, the passionate feelings about the current state of the health care industry and the dedication for Estes Park Health team has for continuing to provide quality health care in Estes Valley shined through in the emotional comments. Tears were shed, voices cracked and more than one participant had to recompose themselves as they shared their personal stories and emotional pleas for why this affiliation must proceed.
Dr. Jennifer McLellan, Chief of Staff: “I have spent the last five years working to continually improve the care of Estes Park Health…Our medical staff works closely with the nursing staff and leaders as well as the quality department to ensure we are providing great quality care. I want to take this time to assure the public that we are functioning quite well.”
Dr. Megan Ross, Medical Director, Outpatient Clinic: “I think that overwhelmingly, and I can speak for both the physicians and our nurses and support staff, that we are looking forward to and optimistic about the opportunities that UCHealth and EPH together can afford our patients.”
Dr. Jamie Mieras, podiatrist at Estes Park Health: “We need the environment of UCHealth and the care that we can provide with their foundation. I care a lot about this community. The community has voiced their opinion. We need the board to work together to represent the voice of the community.”
Jacob Schmitz, Senior Director of Support Services: “We have a strong familial culture that is open, welcoming and collaborative. That’s why I want to be clear, I do not agree with the characterizations that label this organization as toxic or in crisis. While we, like every health care organization, have faced our share of challenges – COVID-19, overhead reduction, service line reductions – we utilize resilience, collaboration and creativity to maintain strength in our core services.”
Ben Hetrick, Chief Nursing Officer: “Are there challenges? Yes, health care is under pressure everywhere, especially in rural communities like ours, but calling this a toxic environment ignores the dedication, collaboration and professionalism I see across departments daily.”
Janet Zeschin, Board Member: “Everyone wants this affiliation to go forward,” Zeschin continued. “I think that path looks different for different people. I am unhappy that some of the path that Tom [Leigh] has chosen has been very disruptive to this group. This disunity has got to stop.”
Dr. Steve Alper, Board Member: “…how eloquent every physician and staff member talked. They made me feel so proud to be a board member here, and I want all staff to know how proud I am of all of you that under these challenging circumstances, you are still doing the best that you can in providing high-quality care. I can just speak for myself, but I am so committed that we get this deal done as soon as possible.”
Brigitte Foust, Board Member: “I was present during the negotiations, and it was hard, and it took a long time. Like Steve says, we got the best deal. What UCHealth did offer to us now, and I always said from the get go, this deal is not perfect. This agreement is not perfect. I do know UCHealth will bring tremendous benefits to the community, to the staff, to our patient care.”
Dr. Thomas Leigh, Board Member: “I am not all powerful, and I am not in a position to derail, really delay this deal, and I want this deal as much as anybody. I think from an administrative standpoint, I think from a clinical standpoint, I think that UCHealth brings a lot to the table. And I appreciate the passion of everybody who spoke.”
Dr. Cory Workman, Chair of the Park Hospital District Board of Directors: “I need to address the cruelty of the media. I need to tell you why these meetings went to online-only earlier this year. Because of comments made, because of things not part of the conversation, I was threatened directly, twice. For the safety of the board, for the safety of the staff, for the safety of the public who was coming to be with us [at meetings], I refused to meet publicly.”
Workman wrapped up the comments with a reiteration of the support for this affiliation, the need to find a strong partnership for long-term health care in Estes Valley, and a reminder of the hundreds of unpaid hours given by the current and previous board members to reach this point that is now so close to the finish line – or the starting line of a long relationship with UCHealth to provide quality, comprehensive health care in Estes Valley.
Next steps in the affiliation process
The next steps in the process to reach the closing date hangs on the review by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. Under the Colorado Hospital Transfer Act, the attorney general reviews the transaction to ensure it will not change charitable purposes of the hospital and that funds will not leave the state. As governed by Colorado law, the AG has a minimum of 60 days to review and respond to the submitted transaction documents, which were provided to his office on June 11, 2025.
As of August 21, no response has been received by UCHealth or Estes Park Health regarding Attorney General Weiser’s review of the transaction. Because the agreement has not received full approval, the potential effective date was postponed from October 1. Currently, the earliest the partnership may begin is November 1, 2025.
To view the entire recording of the meeting, visit August 21, 2025 Special PHD Board Meeting – Estes Park Health.