In Brief: Sign up for childcare support, Aspen Valley Hospital nabs accolades

Childcare support 

Aspen and Kids First, an affordable childcare resource, is once again launching its annual financial aid program to help local working families offset the cost of childcare.

“Recognizing the financial challenges that working families face in securing childcare, Kids First strives to ease the burden through financial assistance,” a news release states.

The deadline to apply for this program is Feb. 1, 2025, with assistance beginning on March 1, 2025. Families who are already receiving financial aid do not need to reapply.

To apply or learn more, visit aspen.gov/316/Financial-Aid.

For questions regarding applying, call Kids First at 970-925-5363 or email kristy.grau@aspen.gov.

Aspen hospital accolades

Aspen Valley Hospital has received three national awards recognizing excellence in patient experience, according to a Tuesday announcement.

The accolades, from global leader in healthcare experience solutions Press Ganey, include one Pinnacle of Excellence Award® and two Guardian of Excellence Awards®.

These distinctions recognize AVH’s consistent dedication to exceptional patient care across multiple departments, including urgent care, emergency care and inpatient services, a news release states.

The Pinnacle of Excellence Award places AVH among the top 5% of healthcare providers nationally — Press Ganey works with more than 41,000 facilities — in delivering patient experience over three consecutive years. Additionally, the Guardian of Excellence Award acknowledges sustained performance in the top 5% for each reporting period during the award year.

“These awards reflect our entire team’s unwavering commitment to providing extraordinary medical care with excellence, compassion and trust,” Dave Ressler, Aspen Valley Hospital CEO, said in the release. “As a critical access hospital serving both our local community and visitors from around the world, we’re proud to consistently deliver healthcare experiences that rank among the nation’s best. This recognition validates our approach of treating every patient as a valued neighbor while providing sophisticated medical expertise.”

AVH earned the following distinctions across multiple service areas:

• Pinnacle of Excellence Award for Patient Experience in Urgent Care.
• Guardian of Excellence Award for Patient Experience in Emergency Department and Inpatient Services.

Press Ganey Chair and CEO Patrick Ryan lauded AVH’s commitment to its mission.

“Aspen Valley Hospital is setting the standard for excellence in a spectrum of patient services,” Ryan said in the release. “They are leading the way by turning words into action and creating a culture where every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive impact. It’s clear they’re committed to making a difference.”