Just thirteen miles outside Grand Junction, or a ten-minute drive down Interstate 70 to the west sits the outdoor enthusiast community, Fruita. A small town in Western Colorado with a passion for mountain biking and a community that hangs out the welcome sign to visitors coming from around the world. Visitors and locals alike find a laid-back, pizza-eating, brewery beer-drinking small town with less than 14,000 full-time residents. The medical gem sits in the center of town, just two blocks north of the interstate exit ramp – a Level IV Trauma Center, the Family Health West Hospital. A healthcare facility equipped to provide the highest level of care for patients with life-threatening injuries.
Circa 2009 brought the former hospital and nursing home conglomerate into the technology age of modern medicine with a brand new 25-bed hospital and medical center. Just over a week ago, on July 23, the Family Health West Hospital celebrated 15 years of treating patients in our hospital and medical offices that share the same square footage on Ottley Avenue. Those medical offices include (in-patient and out-patient) FHW Rehabilitative Therapy, FHW Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Clinic, FHW Pain Specialist Clinic, FHW Behavioral Health Clinic, two surgery centers, FHW Radiology and FHW Laboratory services, along with the FHW Emergency Department.
It’s so often the staff in the emergency department that sees patients in the most crisis and stress-induced moments. The FHW Emergency Department averages a three-minute wait time (and often less). Compassionate registration staff works through enrollment alongside getting medical care immediately for those emergent needs. Did you know as the patient you have the right to direct paramedic and ambulance services to take you to Family Health Hospital for treatment? Our team of experienced and compassionate doctors, nurses, and staff are dedicated to providing our patients with the care they need and deserve, and to providing them with a positive and healing experience.
One such emergency department caregiver is 17-year nursing veteran, Geoff Dalgren, RN. Geoff often gets patient feedback about his compassion, bedside manner, and leaving the patient feeling a sense of care about them directly. When Geoff was asked about his ability to create connections with patients he had a few things to say about it.
“When I enter a room with a new patient, I know that I am not seeing them at their best, they hurt, they are scared and anxious,” Geoff said. “During that initial conversation, I pick out tidbits that I need to expand on. If there is time I will ask about the patient’s personal life, work, family, weather, or if the valley has been their home for a long time. I also love humor and jokes, so if the patient is open to that and tells me a joke or vice versa, that really helps us connect. I do genuinely care for my patients.”
Geoff values his ability to be calm during incidents of trauma and stress. Often patients aren’t having the best day when he has the opportunity to care for them and providing them compassionate care in a time of distress is a real skill not everyone has. He enjoys caring for all ages of patients – both young and old, he said. And working in the FHW Emergency Department brings patients of every age, race, culture, and background, along with a wide variety of healthcare needs.
While some Mesa County historians may recall the Family Health West Hospital of the past – the FHW Hospital built in 2009 is state of the art with compassionate caregivers. Come see us, we treat you like family. You can find the FHW Emergency Department entrance on the south side of the FHW Hospital building, located at 300 W. Ottley Ave., in Fruita. For more information visit FHW.org.
