An Interview
with: Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center
Q. Can
you tell us more about your organization?
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center was first established in 1885 as the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad hospital for railroad employees. In 1962, the railroad decided to sell the hospital. Despite offers of purchase from two outside private companies a group of local community leaders gave money to buy the hospital. The hospital ran as a private corporation from 1962-76 when The Salida Hospital District formed and the community members who provided money in 1962 were reimbursed. In 1989, the hospital's name changed to Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, better reflecting the services offered and the area served
Q.What types of specialty
services does your organization provide?..
Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center is proud to offer exceptional care to the community and its visitors. We provide a full-range of services composed of modern equipment and a highly capable staff. Our 43 physicians provide everything from complete family care (obstetrics to geriatrics) to surgery (including General, Vascular, Thoracic, Cataract & Laser Surgery, Orthopedic, Foot & Ankle, Gynecological, and Urological). Plus, we have visiting specialists such Cardiologists and Oncologists that provide convenient service to our residents and provide consultations to our local physicians.
Q.Describe any future
expansion plans, added services or new developments for your facility?
The hospital has undergone many renovations, including two additions. After a fire in 1899, the hospital was rebuilt. This building still stands as the "core" of the medical center. During 1924-25, a large, two-story patient wing was added to the hospital. Another addition and further renovations were made in the early 1980's, which allowed for a new Intensive Care Unit, laboratory, emergency room, and two additional patient rooms.
The most recent renovations include the addition of ten semi-private patient rooms, a new operating room, Physical Therapy Department and Cardio-Pulmonary Department, an expanded Emergency Room, and an outpatient clinic for visiting specialists.
In addition to facility changes, Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center has kept up with medical technology by investing in several pieces of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including the latest CT Scanner, Nuclear Scanner, and a second Mammography unit.
Furthermore, the hospital has just relocated their rehabilitation department to a larger facility to provide additional space and service areas for Occupational and Speech Therapy.
Q. What
makes working in your organization different from working for other employers?
Being in a smaller facility in a smaller town, it's easy to get to know everyone and we understand the importance of every team member. We encourage cross training and all of our staff wears a lot of different hats, providing a growth opportunity for our employees. In our Mission Statement it is stated that we give personalized and exceptional care, and the influence of our mission statement is apparent throughout the hospital.
Q.Can you explain the
career opportunities available for new graduates in your organization?
We encourage and support hiring new graduates, although due to our size, we may only hire a limited number of new graduates at any one time. Initially, new graduates are normally hired on the Medical/Surgical unit, and we have a structured orientation program in place for new graduates.
Q. What
can a candidate expect during their interview process?
A candidate can expect to be interviewed about past experience, skills that they bring to the table, knowledge of procedures, hours that they are available, certifications, problem solving abilities, what they are looking for within the job, what they liked about their last job, what they did not like about their past job, and why they would choose this hospital. We would also like to know what brings them to small town life and a rural setting. A drug screen and background check are also required. Usually managers conduct our interviews.
Q.What are some common
mistakes candidates make when applying for jobs with your facility?
One of the biggest mistakes is not completing the application in full. We also encourage applicants to submit their resume along with an application for employment.
Q. Describe
the employee compensation and benefit packages available at your organization.
Q.Most facilities stress
only the positive aspects of working for their organization. What are some
of the challenges faced by new employees and even experienced personnel?
One of the challenges is the high cost of housing. It is more difficult for a family to locate affordable housing, than a single person. The existing staff has had challenges with the cross training. Staffing ratios can be a challenge. In the past, we had staffed at the level of one nurse to three patients. This is changing to one nurse to five patients. On call responsibilities for some units has also been challenging at times, and sometimes our staff must deal with low census. It's important to be able to fit into a close community and a close knit environment. This is a very relaxed community and people are very personable.
Q. What
is the best way for a candidate to apply for a job with your facility?
If provided,
please follow the link/s below to access employment opportunities
at Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center. If employment opportunity information is not available
at this time, you are advised to contact the facility's Human Resource
Department for more information.
To
help you get a better picture of the community surrounding Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center, you may also
want to check out any Related Links (Part IV), below, for further community, business and hospital information.
Community
Highlights
Outstanding small community with a great climate
Salida is bordered on all sides by mountains
Mountain Biking
Natural Hot Springs Pools
Ranked 30th in the nation among small art towns
Additional
Thoughts About The Community
Spectacular views, friendly people, and a small town environment, make Salida an excellent choice for someone who would enjoy living and working in a close-knit community with lots of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.
