The Upper San Juan Health Service District was formed in 1981 under Colorado’s Special District laws for the purpose of providing healthcare facilities and services for the residents. The District’s boundaries include virtually all of Archuleta County and the portions of Hinsdale and Mineral Counties south of the Continental Divide, encompassing approximately 1,800 square miles in southwestern Colorado.
As the community of Pagosa Springs and surrounding areas continued to grow, the need for a hospital became apparent. A bond mill levy was passed in 2006 to provide the necessary funds for the enormous task of building a hospital. After developing the dream of Pagosa Springs Medical Center into an exciting reality, the Dr. Mary Fisher Medical Foundation stepped in to help ensure the success of the facility. The Dr. Mary Fisher Medical Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, separate from, but whose sole purpose is to support the District through fund raising, donor and community relations. Their active involvement led to over $1M being contributed to sustain the hospital through its startup phase, until a revenue stream could be established.
Up until the opening of Pagosa Springs Medical Center (formerly named Pagosa Mountain Hospital) on January 8th, 2008, the nearest hospital serving our area was Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, some 60 miles away. During the accreditation process, the Pagosa Springs Medical Center was first licensed as an Acute Care facility, following which the hospital immediately applied for Critical Access Hospital status. PSMC, currently in its 3rd year of operation, can now provide immediate critical services to patients before deciding if emergency transport is needed. As well as emergency services for the community, diagnostic testing is also available, which a few short years ago would require travel. Goals for further increasing the hospital’s capacity to provide a range of health care services are well underway at this time.
The success of Pagosa Springs Medical Center could not have been possible without the incredible support of the community. In addition to the District employees, both hospital and Emergency Services, the volunteer boards for the District and the Mary Fisher Foundation are an invaluable factor in the success of the District. To view more information on our history & articles, please visit our blog