Aspen Valley Health provides new call rooms, RV hook-ups for traveling staff

Aspen Valley Health has announced the construction of the Styslinger Summit House, a new structure designed to align with evolving housing and staffing needs of healthcare professionals serving the Roaring Fork Valley community.

The new structure, containing 11 call rooms and three RV hook-ups, is possible due to a gift from the Altec/Styslinger Foundation. It’s located at AVH’s Medical Center campus in Aspen, providing accommodation for physicians, nurses, and other essential staff who travel from outside the Roaring Fork Valley to serve patients, according to a press release. Those staying at the house are within 30 minutes of the hospital, a requirement for responding to emergent surgical cases and trauma incidents.

“The Styslinger Summit House is a vital addition to our staffing and housing strategy,” Tom McCauley, chief human resources officer at AVH, said in the release. “In a market where housing has become one of our biggest challenges, these accommodations give us the flexibility to attract and retain talented caregivers who may live in other communities. The Altec/Styslinger Foundation’s generosity is helping us ensure that our hospital remains fully staffed and that our teams can continue providing exceptional care.”

The new facility supports what can be considered a “more flexible staffing model,” according to the release, allowing caregivers from as far away as Denver and Grand Junction to work multiple shifts before returning home. The house is aimed at helping offset the impact of limited local housing availability.

“Having access to the new call rooms has been invaluable,” Cait Burch, a nurse in AVH’s operating room who commutes from Denver and Glenwood Springs, said in the release. “After arriving from Denver and finishing a long shift, being able to stay in a safe, comfortable space just steps from the hospital allows me to rest and recharge before heading home. It’s a thoughtful investment in the wellbeing of staff, and it speaks volumes about Aspen Valley Health’s commitment to supporting its team.”

AVH employs approximately 550 team members, according to McCauley in the release, with only 66 owned units and 30 leased units — 22 of which are used as call rooms — available for staff. Even with the Styslinger Summit House, “there’s more demand than supply,” the press release states.

“With local housing costs continuing to rise, the need for creative solutions has never been greater,” the release continues.

AVH’s five-year financial plan, with which the Styslinger Summit House project aligns, outlines a commitment to strategic investment in workforce housing. AVH is aiming to bolster the health system’s ability to recruit and retain staff by “expanding access to safe, affordable, and accessible housing options in one of the most expensive housing markets in the country.”

AVH is also considering the redevelopment of existing housing at the Beaumont, located in the east end of Aspen.

According to McCauley, “Our ability to meet the community’s healthcare needs depends on having the right people in the right place.”