Rio Grande Hospital

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Rio Grande Hospital

Rio Grande Hospital is part of Valley Citizens' Foundation for Healthcare, Inc., a nonprofit. The tradition of hospital care at Del Norte started when St. St.

Rio Grande Hospital is part of Valley Citizens’ Foundation for Healthcare, Inc., a community non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide health care to the Western San Luis Valley. Joseph’s Hospital opened in 1907. Joseph’s closed its doors in 1993. In 1996, Rio Grande Hospital at Del Norte re-opened at the old St. Joseph Hospital Building. The Rio Grande Hospital moved to its present location on August 11, 2004. The originally ten-million-dollar facility has grown since its opening.

02/27/2026

🌟Community. Compassion. Excellence. 🌟

Rio Grande Hospital & Clinics and SLV Health are proud to partner together to ensure our Southern Colorado nurses receive the recognition they so greatly deserve. This collaboration reflects the strength of the San Luis Valley — healthcare organizations united to honor those who care for our communities every day. 🥰

On March 27th, we will welcome the 2026 Excellence in Nursing Awards Regional Event to the RGH Wellness Center, celebrating more than 25 outstanding nurse nominees from across the region.

The Excellence in Nursing Awards recognize Registered Nurses who demonstrate exceptional clinical expertise, leadership, mentorship, and dedication to patient care. From the Circle of Excellence to Distinguished Nurse honors, these awards celebrate those who elevate the profession through innovation, evidence-based practice, and compassionate care. 👩‍⚕️

With the support of generous community sponsors and Arlene Harms, RGH CEO, serving as Master of Ceremonies, this promises to be an organized, meaningful, and uplifting evening.

RGH is honored to co-host this impactful event with SLV Health as we celebrate the very best in healthcare across the San Luis Valley — and invest in the future of nursing in Southern Colorado.

02/26/2026

🚨 Now Hiring: Emergency Department Registered Nurse 🚨 (Seasonal)

Rio Grande Hospital is seeking an experienced ED RN to join our team for the busy summer season (Mid-May through Mid-September).
•12:00 PM – 12:00 AM
•Full-Time | 36–48 hours per week
•Rio Grande Hospital
•Full Benefits

Candidates must hold a current, unencumbered RN license and required certifications (ACLS, PALS, BLS, TNCC; ENPC preferred). A minimum of 2 years of Emergency Department experience is preferred. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and are passionate about delivering exceptional patient care, we encourage you to apply.

📞Khrystynn Cano – 719-657-4090 khrystynnc@riograndehospital.net

📞Ellen Lane – 719-657-4120 ellenl@riograndehospital.net

https://riograndehospital.org/seasonalrn/

02/25/2026

🎨 From the Valley to the Nation — the youth are our foundation!

DAY 1 — FOUNDATION DAY COMPLETE! 🎉
The foundation has been laid — and what a beautiful start it was!
Last Saturday was all about structure. Blue painter’s tape turned into bold designs, base colors began bringing the vision to life, and those cool shapes started telling a story. What began as blueprints is now becoming som**hing truly special.

Just look at those Del Norte teachers — hard at work, carefully creating a lasting memory that will live on these walls for years to come. 💙 Their time, talent, and heart are helping build more than a mural… they’re helping build pride, opportunity, and inspiration for our students.

🧱 Day 2 is this Saturday!
That’s when the kiddos will imprint their own vision and inspiration onto the wall — adding their personal touch to som**hing they helped build from the ground up. Hard hats on. Paint brushes up. Big dreams loading…🔃
We are so happy and proud to be part of these kids’ future.

And like I always say…
📣 LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE HOME TEAM!!! RGH! 💙

02/23/2026

🌟 Now Hiring: Medical Assistant or LPN 🌟

Rio Grande Hospital & Clinics is looking for a Full-Time Medical Assistant or LPN to join our caring team!

🕖 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📅 4-day work week (2 days in South Fork & 2 days in Creede)
❤️ Patient-centered, team-focused environment
🎁 Benefits available

If you're motivated, compassionate, and ready to make a difference in our rural communities, we’d love to hear from you!
📞 Jennelle Gallegos – 719-657-4114
📧 jennelleg@riograndehospital.net

Come serve where you’re valued. 💙
https://riograndehospital.org/medicalassistant/

02/20/2026

❤️ Heart Month at RGH – What an Incredible Evening! ❤️
Last night at the RGH Wellness Center, we had the privilege of hosting an inspiring and educational Heart Health presentation featuring our very own Arlene Harms (CEO), Dr. Heidi Helgeson, and Andy Torres.

From learning about the latest advancements like GLP-1 medications to exploring the powerful lifestyle lessons of the Blue Zones—regions of the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives—the information shared was eye-opening and empowering. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the U.S., but as we were reminded, it is largely preventable with awareness, lifestyle choices, and proactive care.

One of the most powerful moments of the evening was hearing Andy Torres share his incredible journey—from surviving a “widow maker” heart attack to becoming RGH’s Super Coach. His story is a true testament to resilience, heart, and the impact of community support. 💪❤️

A huge thank you to Eric Valdez for preparing a delicious, heart-healthy assortment of appetizers, and to the amazing staff who made the Wellness Center look absolutely beautiful. Events like this don’t happen without a dedicated team working behind the scenes!

We are so proud of the awareness and knowledge shared with our community. Let’s hear it for the home team!! 👏❤️
RGH strong!

02/19/2026

🚧 Groundbreaking – Continued…we’re moving right along! 🚧

Wellness path is framed ✔️
Gravel is down ✔️
Gazebo is officially going up! ✔️

I’d say we’re moving along swimmingly… even if the weather occasionally tries to remind us who’s boss. Snow on the ground, tools in hand, and this crew just keeps pushing forward.

We’re still on track for a timely completion, and we truly can’t wait to show all of SLV what’s coming together out here. It’s going to be som**hing special.

Here’s to the home team… RGH! 💙

02/17/2026

❤️ February is Heart Month! ❤️
Heart disease has affected my life greatly, and I truly believe everyone should be aware — or at the very least have the knowledge to act when it matters most.

That’s why we at Rio Grande Hospital and Clinics are offering you the opportunity to KNOW.

Join us this Thursday evening at the RGH Wellness Center for an important Heart Health Presentation with our very own CEO Arlene Harms and Dr. Heidi Helgeson. They’ll share valuable information about prevention, heart health, and simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.

-Thursday, February 19th
-5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
-RGH Wellness Center
-Light meal provided
-Free to attend (donations welcome)

Your heart matters -take the time to learn how to care for it. We hope to see you there! ❤️
RSVP via the QR code on the flyer or email ericv@riograndehospital.net.

02/16/2026

Welcome Kendra Cox to Rio Grande Hospital & Clinics 💙

We’re excited to welcome Kendra Cox, PA-C, to the RGH family!
Originally from Trinidad, Colorado, Kendra recently earned her Physician Assistant degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. Her passion for healthcare began at just 12 years old after undergoing scoliosis surgery — an experience that showed her firsthand how much of a difference compassionate providers can make. 👩‍⚕️

Now living in Alamosa with her two cousins, Kendra is thrilled to be back in Colorado and close to family. Outside of work, she loves traveling, music, reading (37 books last year!) 🤓 and even tap danced for 7–8 years!

Her personal motto? “Soft heart, strong soul.”
A perfect reflection of the empathy, strength, and dedication she brings to healthcare.

Kendra, we’re so proud to have you here. Welcome home! 💙

02/13/2026

👩‍⚕️🏥 Now Hiring: Medical Assistant to join our incredible, patient-centered team serving South Fork & Creede (2 days in each location).

Position Details:
Title: Medical Assistant
Schedule: Full-Time (4 ten-hour shifts)
Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

You’ll be right in the action — supporting providers with:
✔️ Direct patient care
✔️ Assisting with exams & minor procedures
✔️ Diagnostic lab work
✔️ Limited radiology services
✔️ Administrative & clinical coordination
This isn’t just a desk job. It’s hands-on, fast-paced, and impactful.

🎓 What You Need:
• High School Diploma
• Graduate of an MA Program
• CPR Certification
• Strong computer & EHR skills
• Team mentality & positive attitude

If you’re someone who:
✨ Wants more than “just a job”
✨ Is motivated, energetic, and ready to grow
✨ Thrives in a close community
✨ Brings patience, enthusiasm, and heart
We want to meet you.
📩 Apply today or tag someone who would be perfect for this role!

https://riograndehospital.org/medicalassistant/

02/12/2026

🧱 LET’S BUILD SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL — TOGETHER!
Hard hats on. Paint brushes up. Big dreams loading… 🎉
This year-long initiative is finally ready for its most colorful moment yet — IT’S PAINT TIME!

Our 5th and 6th graders of Del Norte are stepping into a hands-on, real-world experience that blends art, education, and community pride. Before they head Boston Bound, they’ll leave a lasting mark right here at Rio Grande Hospital — a mural that represents where they come from and where they’re going.

COME FEEL THE ENERGY!
• Paint-splattered smiles 😄
• Creative chaos (the good kind!)
• A construction meets creativity vibe 🦺🎨
• A wall transformed into a message of hope

LET’S HAVE FUN. LET’S BUILD A FOUNDATION. LET’S PAINT THE FUTURE. ❤️💪

02/10/2026

Recovery Clinic — Recovery starts with one brave step 💙

The RGH Recovery Clinic is a team of compassionate professionals dedicated to helping people heal from substance use, process addictions, and the trauma that often comes with them.

We offer support for substance use (to***co, opioids, alcohol, m**h, co***ne, ma*****na), process addictions (gambling, po*******hy, overeating), Hep C treatment, HIV prevention (PrEP), STD testing, and connections to community resources — all in a safe, confidential, trauma-informed environment.

NO referral. NO Rock Bottom. Real Support
Stigma keeps too many people stuck — I’ve lived it. What Dr. Walker and his team are building at RGH is powerful, hopeful, and long overdue.

A cleaner, healthier YOU - is closer than you think.
📞 Call 719-657-4100

Recovery Clinic Hours:
8:00 am -12:00 pm Del Norte Clinic
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Monte Vista Clinic
GO RECOVERY!!! 💪✨

02/09/2026

The Gary and Cheryl Experience ❤️
At Rio Grande Hospital and Clinics, our greatest pride isn’t just in the procedures we perform—it’s in the people we care for, the relationships we build, and the unmistakable feeling of home that surrounds every patient who walks through our doors.
Gary Dickens knows a thing or two about grit and the feeling of home...💪

Long before he needed knee surgery, Gary spent years riding ba****ck bronc and bulls across Colorado—Deertrail, Nederland, Hugo, Montrose, Callahan, Parachute…just to name a few. That kind of life builds stories, character, and memories—but it can also take a toll on the body. For Gary, that toll showed up in his knee. 🤠

That’s what led him to Rio Grande Hospital and Clinics for a U-Knee surgery, also known as a Unicompartmental (Partial) Knee Arthroplasty. This procedure removes the bones affected by osteoarthritis in one specific area of the knee while preserving healthy bone and ligaments. And yes…RGH is very good at it.

But again—that’s not the most important part of this story.
What matters most is that Gary and his wife, Cheryl Morgan, felt so welcomed, so supported, and so immersed in the RGH family they allowed me to be part of their journey.
That’s community. That’s trust. That’s home. 🌟

I had the pleasure of seeing Gary and Cheryl again at his very first physical therapy appointment. And shockingly enough (though maybe not for a former bronc rider)—he was already walking, and walking well. Big smile on his face, walker in hand (doctor’s orders, of course), and confidence in every step.

Here’s Gary’s experience, in his own words:
RGH – “What can I say, amazing food, no waiting, excellent customer service, worst pain on Day 1? Only a 2, walking right after surgery, and best of all…it felt like home.”

Stories like Gary and Cheryl’s remind us why rural healthcare matters so deeply. Medical skill heals bodies—but human connections heal people. When patients feel known, valued, and cared for like family, recovery looks different.

Gary. Cheryl. RGH❤️ you guys....
And like I always say—let’s hear it for the home team! 👩‍⚕️🏥

Address

310 County Road 14
Del Norte, CO
81132

Telephone

+17196572510

Website

http://RioGrandeHospital.org/

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