Healthcare Collaboration Will Serve Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Peak Vista Community Health Center, in partnership with The Resource Exchange, Inc. (TRE), HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Colorado Springs and AspenPointe, Inc. formally dedicated the Developmental Disabilities Health Center (DDHC) on February 10, 2011. The Center provides direct primary care to adults with a variety of developmental disability diagnoses. It also coordinates other health related services, including specialty care, health promotion and wellness customsized to people with developmental disabilities.
The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS) Beth El College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the region’s two large health systems, Memorial Health System and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services are also planning to be a part of this effort.
“We have been working for two years on this unprecedented collaboration and are thrilled to see it become reality,” said TRE Executive Director David Ervin. “Our clients have long needed access to healthcare that can be directly tailored to their needs. For too long, people with developmental disabilities have experienced barriers to quality healthcare. Too many have had to use local emergency rooms as a very expensive alternative for primary care. This community will significantly benefit from this initiative which could serve as a template for other areas of the country.”
According to Ervin and BJ Scott, President and CEO of Peak Vista, this model of healthcare delivery to an underserved population could become a template for other areas in the country.
“We are all about collaboration,” states Scott. “We can do so much more when the community partners on significant efforts such as this new Developmental Disabilities Health Center. Patients, their families and the medical community will now have an invaluable resource to tap for the specific needs of people with developmental disabilities. It is a wonderful example of best practices.”
Peak Vista and TRE will jointly staff DDHC. Nicola Adams, MSN, FNP, from Peak Vista will be the Family Nurse Practitioner providing primary medical care. David Hatfield, Ph.D., BCBA, and Ashley Williams, Ph.D. from TRE will provide the behavioral health care that is an integral piece of the care model. TRE and Peak Vista will co-manage DDHC. AspenPointe, Inc. will be able to offer psychiatric services when needed. DDHC will present clinical training opportunities for nurses-in-training at Beth El College of Nursing. DDHC will coordinate specialty care for patients when necessary.
DDHC will be open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Appointments are required and can be made by calling 719-632-5700 and speaking to a Peak Vista representative about receiving care at DDHC.
About The Resource Exchange
The Resource Exchange (TRE) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build independence for people with developmental disabilities. TRE supports clients and their families in El Paso, Park and Teller Counties. The Resource Exchange offers an array of services and supports to individuals who are diagnosed with a developmental disability and are eligible for services. TRE serves more than 2,500 people with its services and those of its partner agencies. For more information go to www.tre.org or call 719-785-6440.