CEO Update: Celebrating Rural
November is a time to give thanks and show gratitude to the many people who live and work in our rural communities. In 2011, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health created National Rural Health Day, held annually on the 3rd Thursday of November, as a day to honor and celebrate rural communities and the vital work they undertake. Governor Polis also recognized the great work of our rural communities and issued a proclamation.
Every year, the Colorado Rural Health Center chooses a rural community to visit to celebrate this day and honor the work of our rural healthcare workers. This year we celebrated with Melissa Memorial Hospital. Michael Hassel, Chief Executive Officer, Melissa Memorial Hospital says, “National Rural Health Day is vital as it shines a spotlight on the critical, life changing and lifesaving work hospitals like ours do every day. We are all charged to do more with less while remaining engaged and responsive to the needs of our communities. This is not just a moment to celebrate, but a call to action to keep pushing forward.”
Opening in 1918, Melissa Memorial Hospital, located in Holyoke Colorado, is a 15-bed critical access hospital serving the community of nearly 2,200 people. Not only does Melissa Memorial Hospital and their rural health clinic, Family Practice of Holyoke, serve their community through direct patient care, but they played a pivotal role in the passage of SB24-168 during this year’s state legislative session. This vital piece of legislation signed into law in May expands access to Remote Patient Monitoring services and Continuous Glucose Monitors for Medicaid members across Colorado. You can read more about the bill on CRHC’s website and can view a short advocacy video, featuring testimony from members of Melissa Memorial, on CRHC’s YouTube channel.
The efforts of Melissa Memorial Hospital (and countless other facilities and partners) made the passage of SB24-168 possible this year. From testifying in front of committee to education campaigns, the work of dedicated advocates in Holyoke was vital to the passage of this bill.
Thank you to Michael Hassell, CEO at Melissa Memorial Hospital, their Board and dedicated staff for allowing CRHC the opportunity to celebrate NRHD with you.
