Keeping the Dream Alive’ celebrates expansion, renovation of RGH

DEL NORTE—DEL NORTE—Please join the “Keeping the Dream Alive – New Beginnings” at the 12th Annual Rio Grande Hospital benefit dinner and auction, on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. It will be once again be held at the Del Norte School Bus Garage, 1055 French St.
“Keeping the Dream Alive” is an event in remembrance of the efforts of Dr. Norman Haug, creator of the vision of a new Rio Grande Hospital 13 years ago. Today utilization of the hospital structure is about five times what it was when constructed back then.
To continue to provide additional services needed by the community and to do so with quality and safety, the hospital began construction last November to enlarge its footprint.
Today the dream is not only alive, but is reaching new heights with this year’s Aug. 11 celebration of the hospital’s incredible upgrades, new departments and new services – to be completed before year’s end.
The new building between the hospital and clinic will house an expanded physical therapy department. It includes a gym area for conditioning and strengthening and separate private exam areas for evaluation by the therapists.
Additionally, the gym area will be used to provide cardiac rehabilitation for those who have experienced procedures such as stents, valve replacements and bypass surgery. Patients will be monitored by EKG telemetry and will safely become stronger and better conditioned in a structured exercise program provided by specially trained personnel. There will be an area for cardiac stress testing as well.
One of the other exciting new services will be a new wound care department to include a hyperbaric chamber, which provides the latest therapy for advanced wound care.
Additions are being made to the emergency room to add security, aid in better patient flow and provide more efficient care with privacy and a quiet environment.
In the administrative wing new conference rooms are being added to hold large employee training meetings and support networking for the community— one of the requests voiced during the hospital’s last Community Health Needs Assessment meetings.
Renovation of existing facilities includes adding new private recovery rooms and a designated room for colonoscopies and EGDs. Significant upgrades and remodeling of the Del Norte rural health clinic is making it more patient-centric and team-based.
Keeping the Dream Alive – New Beginnings begins at 5:30 p.m. with a fajita dinner, donated by Ron and Glenda Martinez of Mountain View Restaurant. A half-hour celebration program will follow at 6:30 p.m.; the live auction with auctioneer Jordan Brown begins at 7 p.m.
Featured auction items include Denver Broncos/Chicago Bears game tickets, Private Scenic Tour Flights of the Valley, Rio Grande Scenic Railroad concert tickets, multi rounds of golf with carts at the three local courses, passes to Sand Dunes Swimming Pool, Kristi Mountain Sports bicycling computer, lady’s cruiser bicycle from Pepsi, 4UR dinner for two by Chef Blake Bond, framed photographs by Ken Krahn and Candace Knowlan, Jewelry by Joe Mellott, Custom made quilt by Kathy Black, Custom crafted tray by Bill Sauvigne, free eye exam with Dr. Paul Heersink, Monte Vista Co-op ranch and farm basket, Brooke Stone granite pastry boards, Alamosa Home comforter and gift certificates, 32” class LED MDTV, Creede Repertory Theatre tickets, hotel stays, carvings, local honey basket, pies, craft beers, shrubs, trees, fly fishing outfit and much more
To thank the first 30 people who donate a minimum of $1,000, Rio Grande Hospital will give the donors a complimentary custom-made quilted bag by Marilyn Davey (Shades, Quilts, & Etc.) filled with gifts. Davey generously donates her hand-crafted bags to the “Keeping the Dream Alive” hospital benefit every year.
The generous sponsors for this year’s event are Centura Health, Community Banks of Colorado, Del Norte Bank, Mountain View Restaurant, Dr. Richard and Cheryl Santi, Eagle Air Med, Parkview Medical Center, Rio Grande Savings & Loan Association and San Luis Valley Federal Bank.
All proceeds go directly to Rio Grande Hospital, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to raise money for new equipment in the hospital’s expansion.
or of the vision of a new Rio Grande Hospital 13 years ago. Today utilization of the hospital structure is about five times what it was when constructed back then.  
To continue to provide additional services needed by the community and to do so with quality and safety, the hospital began construction last November to enlarge its footprint.    
Today the dream is not only alive, but is reaching new heights with this year’s Aug. 11 celebration of the hospital’s incredible upgrades, new departments and new services – to be completed before year’s end.
The new building between the hospital and clinic will house an expanded physical therapy department.  It includes a gym area for conditioning and strengthening and separate private exam areas for evaluation by the therapists.  
Additionally, the gym area will be used to provide cardiac rehabilitation for those who have experienced procedures such as stents, valve replacements and bypass surgery. Patients will be monitored by EKG telemetry and will safely become stronger and better conditioned in a structured exercise program provided by specially trained personnel. There will be an area for cardiac stress testing as well.
One of the other exciting new services will be a new wound care department to include a hyperbaric chamber, which provides the latest therapy for advanced wound care.   
Additions are being made to the emergency room to add security, aid in better patient flow and provide more efficient care with privacy and a quiet environment.
In the administrative wing new conference rooms are being added to hold large employee training meetings and support networking for the community— one of the requests voiced during the hospital’s last Community Health Needs Assessment meetings.  
Renovation of existing facilities includes adding new private recovery rooms and a designated room for colonoscopies and EGDs. Significant upgrades and remodeling of the Del Norte rural health clinic is making it more patient-centric and team-based.  
Keeping the Dream Alive – New Beginnings begins at 5:30 p.m. with a fajita dinner, donated by Ron and Glenda Martinez of Mountain View Restaurant. A half-hour celebration program will follow at 6:30 p.m.; the live auction with auctioneer Jordan Brown begins at 7 p.m.
Featured auction items include Denver Broncos/Chicago Bears game tickets, Private Scenic Tour Flights of the Valley, Rio Grande Scenic Railroad concert tickets, multi rounds of golf with carts at the three local courses, passes to Sand Dunes Swimming Pool, Kristi Mountain Sports bicycling computer, lady’s cruiser bicycle from Pepsi, 4UR dinner for two by Chef Blake Bond, framed photographs by Ken Krahn and Candace Knowlan, Jewelry by Joe Mellott, Custom made quilt by Kathy Black, Custom crafted tray by Bill Sauvigne, free eye exam with Dr. Paul Heersink, Monte Vista Co-op ranch and farm basket,  Brooke Stone granite pastry boards, Alamosa Home comforter and gift certificates, 32” class LED MDTV, Creede Repertory Theatre tickets, hotel stays, carvings, local honey basket, pies, craft beers, shrubs, trees, fly fishing outfit and much more
To thank the first 30 people who donate a minimum of $1,000, Rio Grande Hospital will give the donors a complimentary custom-made quilted bag by Marilyn Davey (Shades, Quilts, & Etc.) filled with gifts. Davey generously donates her hand-crafted bags to the “Keeping the Dream Alive” hospital benefit every year.
The generous sponsors for this year’s event are Centura Health, Community Banks of Colorado, Del Norte Bank, Mountain View Restaurant, Dr. Richard and Cheryl Santi, Eagle Air Med, Parkview Medical Center, Rio Grande Savings & Loan Association and San Luis Valley Federal Bank.
All proceeds go directly to Rio Grande Hospital, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to raise money for new equipment in the hospital’s expansion.