Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center is a nonprofit, Critical Access Hospital (CAH) in Salida, CO. The hospital serves visitors to and the residents of the Upper Arkansas Valley and San Luis Valley, which include Salida, Buena Vista, Poncha Springs, Villa Grove, Saguache, Granite, Howard, and surrounding communities.
After multiple site visits, discussions with staff, and feedback from departments, RTA has developed the following design objectives to inform the facility master plan and drive the proposed building additions and tenant improvements to the existing facility and campus.
Strong support, cooperation, and involvement from community members is one of the Hospital’s most significant assets. Integration of community art throughout the facility's interior creates a strong connection between the Hospital and its patrons. Improved hospital facilities will benefit the entire community by enhancing the hospital’s healing environment and expanding wellness programming.
The Hospital prioritizes personalized and exceptional care in order to put the “care” in healthcare. Taking into account best practices for patient care and applying Trauma-Informed Design and Prospect and Refuge design strategies, existing and new patient care spaces will be reevaluated to create more positive healing and restoration healthcare experiences.
Staff is the most valuable asset of any healthcare organization. Design solutions for new and remodeled staff work and support spaces within the hospital should promote staff collaboration, operational efficiencies, and state-of-the-art procedural and patient care services. Commitment to the staff work environment positively impacts morale and staff retention, while enhancing desired medical outcomes that foster patient trust and satisfaction.
The Hospital places a high priority on the safety and security of its staff, patients, and community members. A number of recommendations are proposed for improving security in healthcare facilities based on current knowledge and best practices. Security improvements focus on sight lines between staff and patient spaces, secure entry vestibules, access control, and electronic security devices.
The Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center has experienced an ever-increasing number of annual users from Salida, Buena Vista, and the broader Service District. In order to better meet the expanding healthcare needs of the growing community, strategic expansion of healthcare services, additions, and tenant improvements, will be explored and proposed under the Facility Master Planning evaluation and design process.
