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Yampa Valley Medical Center and UCHealth finalize merger

Yampa Valley Medical Center
John F. Russell

Yampa Valley Medical Center and UCHealth announced Thursday morning the two organizations have signed an agreement finalizing a deal to merge YVMC into UCHealth.

The agreement includes more than $105 million in investments into the YVMC community from UCHealth, including a significant donation to the YVMC Foundation, resources for an expanded emergency department, ongoing infrastructure improvements and resources for additional behavioral health and substance abuse work, according to a news release.

The agreement was signed Wednesday, about three months after YVMC officials first announced that they were exploring the possibility of a partnership with UCHealth, a nationally recognized Front Range-based hospital system.



YVMC will become one of eight hospitals in the UCHealth family, and the broader network of care will provide assistance and resources for patients, medical providers and staff, according to hospital officials.

The integration of the two organizations is expected to be complete in late summer 2017.



“Today is day one of a very bright future for health care in northwest Colorado,” said YVMC CEO Frank May in a news release. “As part of the UCHealth family, YVMC will soon be able to improve access to and coordination of health care for our patients. Patient-centered, personalized care will continue at YVMC as we all work together to improve the health of individuals, our community and the value of health care.”

In July 2016, YVMC first announced its intention to seek a Front Range partner, and on March 1, hospital officials said the organization was pursuing a partnership with UCHealth.

“We are excited to welcome YVMC, their patients, employees and providers into the UCHealth family,” said Elizabeth Concordia, UCHealth president and CEO. “UCHealth believes in providing advanced care close to home, and we’ll be looking for opportunities to continue YVMC’s growth and tradition of excellence while adding new services and access to specialists for patients in this region.”

YVMC’s Board of Trustees will continue to provide local governance of the hospital.

Following receipt of regulatory approvals, YVMC will become part of UCHealth and YVMC employees will become employees of UCHealth.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.


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