Southwest Health System

02/24/2026

Nikki Young, Quality Coordinator in the Southwest Health System’s Quality department, is recognized as Southwest Health System’s January employee of the month!

Nikki was recognized by a co-worker, who said, "Nikki took extra steps to complete her job through many actions completed throughout 2025. Nikki was the instrumental force for SHS in developing the “Family Birthing Friendly” steps, setting up Colorado state agencies and SHS on the application, workgroups, monthly data, and ongoing initiatives required. The work in the background from Nikki required pulling together an interdisciplinary team to address this initiative and complete the needed policies, education, and ongoing reporting to occur. Without Nikki at the helm, SHS would not have met this goal.

Nikki has also continued to grow the nurse leadership collaboration by encouraging and guiding the team to remain engaged. Nikki has gone above and beyond with learning LEAN techniques and assisted with teaching other employees. Nikki continues to be the SHS representative to the community for su***de awareness and education. Nikki also remains supportive in her nursing role to the Family Birthing Department for shift coverage and continued quality reporting. She is frequently managing her quality role and nursing responsibilities.

Also, Nikki maintains NRP education every other month for the organization, with feedback from providers stating, “This is the best class I have ever been to.” Nikki is a valued and instrumental resource for patients’ needs and family concerns, entering the organization as well. Nikki is the team member that you know will be there for you, an improvement process, a concern, or to support a new and growing idea with enthusiasm and a “let’s figure it out” mentality. Nikki is a trusted peer within the organization who is consistent with a smile and an inclusive approach that leaves you feeling supported and valued.

With Nikki’s hard work and dedication, SHS received an official CMS “Family Friendly Birthing Designation” this week—an achievement made possible through the instrumental role she played in this effort."

Congrats to Nikki Young on her selection as the January 2026 SHS Employee of the Month! We are so proud of her accomplishments and are so thankful to have her as a member of this great SHS caregiver team!

02/19/2026

We are looking for volunteers, specifically people who are interested in providing health education to our community. If you are interested, please fill out this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/26HealthFair

We are excited to host a Health Fair in partnership with the Montezuma County Health Department! To best serve our community during this event, we’re looking for amazing volunteers to lend a hand. There are several opportunities to help across different areas of the fair.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please complete this online form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/26HealthFair

02/12/2026

🗣 Speech Therapy for Adults
✅ Now accepting new referrals!

Our Speech-Language Pathologists are here to help adults:
✅ Swallow safely
✅ Speak more clearly
✅ Find the right words
✅ Communicate more effectively
✅ Improve memory and thinking skills
✅ Strengthen voice quality

📄 Ask your doctor for a referral today!
📞 Questions? Call us at 970-564-2460

02/10/2026

Southwest Health System (SHS) is pleased to announce that we have issued our latest Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), a report following a comprehensive and in-depth examination of the community’s healthcare use, practices, and needs.

We invite all community members to review and provide feedback on the CHNA and Implementation Plan report. Information on how to provide feedback is included at the end of the report, as well as at the site of the report download.

https://www.swhealth.org/community-health-needs-assessment/

02/05/2026

As part of Southwest Health System’s commitment to community care, we actively seek opportunities to contribute to local events and groups through sponsorships and donations. Whether it's supporting non-profit events, school activities, youth sports, or other community-driven endeavors, we strive to make a meaningful impact within our region.

Please take a moment to fill out the provided form, https://forms.office.com/r/tZRLMmuB0e, with details about your event. Even if the specifics are still forthcoming, your submission ensures that we can consider your event for support. Kindly note any pending details on the form, and rest assured that we will follow up as needed.

The deadline for submissions is February 27, 2026. For any inquiries or assistance regarding the submission process, please don't hesitate to contact Jaycee Hart, Marketing Specialist, at jhart@swhealth.org or (970) 564-2156, or Chuck Krupa, Chief Information Officer, at cmkrupa@swhealth.org or (970) 564-2376.

02/04/2026

Today, we proudly celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our fellow caregivers over the past year!

Our honorees included clinical caregivers, administrative caregivers, leaders from across the organization, entire departments, and exceptional individuals.

Though their roles varied, one thing united every recipient: each truly earned their recognition through dedication, excellence, and heart.

We are thrilled to announce that Megan Nishihara, Physical Therapist, has been named the 2025 SHS EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR!

Megan has been a committed member of the SHS family for 2 years and 4 months, demonstrating unwavering dedication since joining in 2023.

Megan was recognized as the SHS July Employee of the Month 2025. Here is a recap of her nomination: Megan has been an inpatient Physical Therapist with the Rehabilitation Services Team at SHS for over a year, and in that time her impact has been exceptional. She brings creativity, enthusiasm, and deep commitment to helping patients maintain functional independence and quality of life. Whether coordinating resources, supporting families, or going the extra mile, Megan consistently centers her patients’ goals.

She has a strong passion for working with the geriatric population, especially individuals with dementia. Her empathy, compassion, and thoughtful communication help patients feel supported while ensuring their autonomy and dignity. She frequently invests extra time in caregiver training and team education, adapting her approach to meet each patient’s needs.

Megan continues to grow professionally by
completing wheelchair evaluations—an intensive service not commonly offered—and has developed a process to help patients with mobility deficits access appropriate equipment and transportation.

This year, Megan also became a Clinical Instructor, taking on five student Physical Therapists despite the demands of inpatient care. She provides high‑quality teaching, guidance, and hands‑on learning experiences, earning strong appreciation from her students and enhancing SHS’s reputation as a clinical site.

Beyond her clinical excellence, Megan leads through daily actions. She has provided patients with items from her own home, purchased low‑cost equipment for those in need, and worked patiently and diligently with families to ensure safe discharge plans. She is proactive, collaborative, and always attentive to when additional services—such as speech‑language pathology—may benefit her patients.

Megan’s kindness, dedication, and professionalism make her an invaluable member of our team. Her work is deeply appreciated, and the difference she makes is felt throughout our hospital and community.

Congrats to Megan Nishihara on her selection as the 2025 SHS Employee of the Year! We are so proud of her accomplishments and are so thankful to have her as a member of this great SHS caregiver team!

02/02/2026

Southwest Health System Rehabilitation Services Needs Your Help!

We are looking for donations of gently used wheelchairs with leg rests, like the ones pictured, to support our rehabilitation staff and patients.

Your generous donation can significantly impact our patients' lives, aiding them on their recovery journey. If you have a wheelchair with legs to donate, please drop it off at the rehabilitation department check-in desk (1311-A North Mildred Road, Cortez, CO 81321). If you have any questions, please contact us at 970-564-2460.

Thank you for your support!

01/28/2026

Southwest Health System (SHS) is thrilled to announce that the Family Birthing Center at Southwest Memorial Hospital has officially been designated a Birthing-Friendly Hospital — the highest recognition from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for excellence in maternity care! 👶💖

This prestigious Birthing-Friendly designation is the first national CMS quality marker focused solely on maternal health outcomes. Earning it means our team demonstrates an outstanding commitment to safe, high-quality, evidence based maternity care for every mom and baby we serve.

To achieve this recognition, SHS met key requirements through the CMS Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program, including:
✔️ Participation in statewide or national perinatal quality collaboratives
✔️ Implementation of proven, evidence-based interventions that reduce maternal complications

“This designation is a significant achievement and a true testament to our staff’s dedication to excellence and teamwork,” said Lisa Gates, Chief Nursing Officer. “It reflects our commitment to providing safe, supportive, and inclusive care for families during childbirth and highlights SHS as a leader in maternal care for our community.”

At the Southwest Health System Family Birthing Center, families can expect:
✨ Home-like birthing suites
✨ One-on-one nursing care
✨ Natural and anesthesia-supported birthing options
✨ Expert training in fetal monitoring, lactation support, and childbirth education

Quality Coordinator Nikki Young added, “We are proud to stand among hospitals nationwide that prioritize maternal safety and continuous improvement. This recognition affirms our commitment to delivering exceptional care close to home.”

SHS will continue advancing maternal health by participating in perinatal quality collaboratives and strengthening evidence-based practices—ensuring families in Montezuma County and the surrounding region receive the compassionate, high-quality maternity care they deserve.

💙 Congratulations to our incredible team—and thank you to the families who trust us with their care.

We’re honored to be your Birthing-Friendly Hospital!

01/26/2026

We’re excited to announce that Shelley Jordan, IT Coordinator, has been named the 2025 SHS Leader of the Year!

Shelley has been part of the SHS family for over 16 years, showing unwavering dedication, compassion, and a commitment to supporting both staff and patient care. From guiding major IT transitions to being a steady source of support for her coworkers, Shelley leads with heart, patience, and positivity.

She reminds us:
“Every role impacts patient care. Ask questions, stay curious, and never underestimate your worth.”

Please join us in celebrating Shelley — and all of our outstanding honorees — for the incredible work they do for SHS and our community! 👏💙

01/24/2026

Join Our Team at Southwest Memorial Hospital!

We’re excited to share several nursing career opportunities for passionate healthcare professionals. At Southwest Health System, you’ll be joining a compassionate, mission‑driven team that works collaboratively to deliver exceptional patient care every day. Our nurses, caregivers, and clinical staff support one another, value open communication, and take pride in serving our community with dedication and heart. If you’re looking to make a real impact while working alongside a supportive and experienced team, explore our current openings:

📌Registered Nurse - Emergency & Trauma Services - https://shs.applicantpro.com/jobs/3887166
📌Registered Nurse - Med/Surg - https://shs.applicantpro.com/jobs/3821451
📌Registered Nurse - Same Day Care/PACU - https://shs.applicantpro.com/jobs/3862513
📌Registered Nurse - Family Birthing Center - https://shs.applicantpro.com/jobs/3182620
📌Registered Nurse - Intensive Care Unit - https://shs.applicantpro.com/jobs/3700709
📌Certified Nurses Aide (CNA) - https://shs.applicantpro.com/jobs/3965863
📌RN Clinical Coordinator - https://shs.applicantpro.com/jobs/3936223

📅 Apply Today: https://www.swhealth.org/careers/

01/22/2026

Alan Laird, Southwest Health System’s Laboratory Director, is recognized as Southwest Health System’s 4th Quarter 2025 Leader of the Quarter!

Alan received his nomination for the Leader of the Quarter award from Meghan Higman, who said, "I would like to take a moment to recognize my friend Alan for not only his hard work, creative problem solving, and dedication to the laboratory profession and SHS but also for simply being an awesome human and colleague. The laboratory has been working to get 2 new chemistry analyzers for several years. Our current analyzers are 8 and 12 years old, respectively, and the replacement cost for these machines is well over $500,000. After years of contractual negotiations, Alan stepped into the Director position and approached this with new eyes and a creative, logical, and financially astute solution. Alan was able to accumulate data on our current reagent use and associated expenses for running these diagnostic tests and based on this data the company supported placing the new equipment within our facility at no additional cost aside from disposable purchases!! That is a savings of over $500,000! Wait … it gets better. Given we owned our current analyzers, Alan was able to arrange a buy-back option in which the company pays us about $80,000 for our older analyzers. The great work Alan is doing doesn’t stop here. Medical laboratory professionals are in high demand globally; thus, one can only imagine the struggle to recruit to rural health care. Alan is pursuing creative staffing solutions with H-1B employer-sponsored visa pathways to support the lab workforce. This solution is a more cost-effective solution than short-term travelers and is a sustainable long-term resolution. He is also investigating BioMérieux which would allow us expedited identification of organisms from blood cultures in efforts to ensure our patients are receiving narrow-spectrum antibiotics early on in their course of treatment and ultimately decreasing their antibiotic days. This will positively impact patient care and outcomes in addition to antibiotic stewardship. Alan is fun, crazy, and wicked smart. I am sure he has dissected this recognition and found my grammatical errors already. Nonetheless, Alan is our modern-day Einstein who is not afraid to bust out a good ol dad joke here and there. He is a great asset to the laboratory profession as well as SHS. We are lucky to have him on our team."

Congrats to Alan on his selection as the 4th Quarter 2025 SHS Leader of the Quarter! We are so proud of his accomplishments and are so thankful to have him as a member of this great SHS caregiver team!