Aspen Medical Care has served patients in the upper Roaring Fork Valley since 1997.
Jason Charme/Aspen Daily News
Long-time uppervalley primary care provider Aspen Medical Care will integrate with Aspen Valley Health in May, according to a Wednesday release.
The move marks the end of AMC, founded in 1997, as one of the upper Roaring Fork Valley’s signature healthcare providers, while expanding AVH’s growing primary care practice. Representatives from both organizations say the move will broaden and streamline the services available to patients.
“This decision was made with our patients at the center,” pediatrician Charlene Guggenheim said in the release. “Joining Aspen Valley Health allows us to continue that care while giving our patients greater access to resources, technology and a broader network of services.”
AMC patients can still receive care, including walk-ins, at AMC’s downtown Aspen location in Obermeyer Place, though the facility will technically be part of AVH after May 4. Primary care will also be available at the AVH Medical Center in Aspen on Castle Creek Road.
AMC’s downtown Basalt location will close on Apr 30, and midvalley patients can begin receiving care at AVH’s location on East Valley Road near Willits.
AMC internist Bryan Gieszl and pediatrician Mary Harris will join AVH and continue providing care at the downtown Aspen and Midvalley locations. AMC physician Charlene Guggenheim is also anticipated to join AVH later this fall, according to the release. Those physicians have already been members of AVH’s medical staff for over a decade, according to AVH spokesperson Jennifer Slaughter.
AVH has not confirmed the transition of other AMC staff, though those personnel will have the option to apply for open positions, Slaughter told the Aspen Daily News in an email.
AVH will integrate AMC patients’ electronic medical records into its electronic health record system.
“We recognize that changes in care can feel uncertain, especially when patients have longstanding relationships with their providers,” Catherine Bernard, Chief Medical Officer of Aspen Valley Health, said in the release. “Our focus is to make sure every patient feels supported throughout this transition.”
AMC announced the change to its patients on Mar. 2 before providing additional details on the merger on Wednesday. AVH’s elected board of directors discussed the integration at its Mar. 9 meeting, where staff members described it as a continuation of AVH’s effort to grow its primary care offerings.
AVH has nearly doubled its primary care physicians in the last year, according to a presentation from the March board meeting. Along with Gieszl and Harris, AVH recently added pediatrician Kelsea Loveless-Hoffman and internist Megan Hiles, bringing its total primary care practice to nine physicians. AVH established its primary care practice in 2019.
“There’s a lot of growth in that practice, and we’re excited to be able to serve our community with that primary care,” said AVH Chief Operating Officer Alyssa Franklin at the board meeting.
AVH did not clarify whether it is purchasing AMC.
Patients can begin scheduling appointments with Gieszl and Harris starting April 1, with visits available beginning May 6. The downtown Aspen location will be closed from May 4-15 while AVH updates the space with new IT equipment and signage.
The renovations will cost AVH up to $100,000, according to a budget request from the March board meeting. AVH has signed a three-year lease on the downtown space.