Aspen Valley Hospital to Start Third Phase of Construction

ASPEN, Colo. — The third phase of construction for Aspen Valley Hospital will begin on April 20. The hospital is going into its third phase of construction, which will include about 33,000 square feet of space for a new emergency department, surgery suite and diagnostic imaging.

When completed at the end of 2017, the hospital expects more than 24,000 patient visits. The hospital was originally constructed as an inpatient facility with minimal outpatient services and as a result, the outpatient areas were small, lacked sufficient storage and have small waiting areas.

With the completion of Phases III and IV, the hospital will be able to place the helipad on top of the building. It will also be able to better accommodate emergency admissions by ambulance, including patients in need of hazardous material decontamination and in the event of a mass casualty situation. The hospital will also better serve ambulatory emergency patients with a separate identifiable entrance and it will provide enhanced privacy and comfort during an emergency visit to the hospital.

The hospital is also aiming to enhance patient safety with space to accommodate multiple pieces of equipment and numerous staff representing various specialties during emergencies and surgeries. Additionally, the hospital is planning to provide adequate space for all diagnostic imaging modalities, many of which are new technologies added after the existing hospital was constructed in 1977.

The hospital wants to enhance patient care further by eliminating inappropriate interactions among patients and the general public and providing quiet, private spaces for families dealing with loss. The hospital is also going to provide medical office space to specialists from Glenwood Springs and Denver who consult with patients in Aspen on a regular basis.

On the administrative side, the hospital plans to register patients and discuss payment and billing in a private setting and will accommodate additional local medical practices to provide a health campus that addresses a full spectrum of care, including prevention, wellness, early detection, diagnosis and treatment.

Funding sources for the final phases of the project include philanthropy and hospital resources. A $60 million capital campaign is currently underway, spearheaded by the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. This funding allocation — like Phase II, which also included tax-supported general obligation bonds — does not place an undue burden on any one group of citizens and is consistent with the community’s philanthropic history for hospital construction.

Atlanta-headquartered Heery International is the architectural firm handling the third phase, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.