Conejos County Hospital ER Expansion and Remodel

October 11, 2018, La Jara, Colorado

The signing and swinging of a beam symbolizes the construction/remodel of the emergency department at Conejos County Hospital in La Jara, Colorado is in full force.  After years of planning and designing and number-crunching, the team from G.W. Phipps led the construction of the addition to the Emergency Department at CCH.  The project is expected to produce a modern, safe and convenient single entry point with state-of-the-art emergency rooms. Additional scope of work includes improvements to the radiology Hospital Administrator Kelly Gallegos signs the beam to be installed in the new contruction additiondepartment and new heating/air conditioning equipment to improve the environment for our staff and patients.  Upgrades are being made to the fire detection and fire containment systems.  These upgrades will improve patient and staff safety.  With a projected finish date of June, 2019, the emergency rooms have been relocated to the other side of the hospital and will remain open during the construction period.  The public access for emergencies and outpatient visits will be the east entrance, just past the construction zone, where there is ample parking.  The “ambulance only” entrance will be in the back of the hospital. 

Kelly Gallegos, Administrator for SLV Health, Conejos County Hospital shares,  “Our hospital serves an important need in the southern part of the San Luis Valley and northern New Mexico.  We have dedicated staff along with a very welcoming inpatient atmosphere where patients get personal attention and top-notch access to x-ray, laboratory, and therapy services.” 

Jimmy Maestas, Superintendent with GH Phipps Construction Companies, organized a ceremony for the staff at CCH to sign a beam before it was put into place. Several employees have been with the organization for over 30 years and it was an exciting and emotional time for them as well as for the leaders and other employees.  ED Medical Director Dr. Donna Nelson added, “This improvement will directly benefit the citizens of Conejos County and because we also live in this area and work here, we are elated with this addition to our facility.  It is our passion and privilege to deliver compassionate and high quality health care to travelers, friends, neighbors, and family.”

Artist rendering of completed entrance