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Our History

Peak Vista Community Health Centers has proudly served Colorado communities since 1971. Our center began as an all-volunteer organization − open just two nights a week for walk-in patients. Today, we provide high-quality medical, dental, and behavioral health care to more than 81,000 patients in Colorado's Pikes Peak and East Central regions.

For over fifty years, our commitment to reducing access barriers for individuals and families has never wavered. We continue to build upon our founding ideals and expand to meet the changing needs of our patient population. Our history is a story of community support, strong partnerships, and dedicated staff, and we encourage you to follow our journey below.

Peak Vista's Key Milestones

2022

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  • 2022: Moved Developmental Disabilities Health Center (DDHC) to a downstairs location at Academy to remove access barriers and better serve our patients
  • 2022: Opened the Health Center Downtown (replaced Health Center at Rio Grande)
  • 2022: Consolidated some clinics to maximize short staff resources
  • 2022: Dr. Emily Ptaszek named as President & CEO
  • 2022: Opened the Enrichment and Counseling Center at Wahsatch

2020-2021

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  • 2021: Celebrated our 50th Anniversary, 1971-2021
  • 2021: Dr. Lisa Ramey, Chief Medical and Dental Officer, served as interim CEO
  • 2021: Administered over 46,000 COVID-19 vaccines to staff and members of the community
  • 2020: Served over 93,000 patients with a staff of 800 employees
  • 2020: Held our Breakfast of Champions as a live virtual fundraiser
  • 2020: Opened our first dedicated Enrichment and Counseling Center at Academy
  • 2020: Switched gears for the evolving COVID-19 pandemic: Face masks, hand sanitizer, remote work, temperature checks, temporary clinic closures, telehealth availability, drive-through testing centers, and more
  • 2020: Opened our community-based Family Health Center at Mitchell High School as a partnership with Colorado Springs District 11

2018-2019

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  • 2019: Opened Health Center at Jet Wing, serving the "health care desert" in the 80916 zip code community
  • 2019: Inaugural class of eight post-graduate clinical training residents graduated from Peak Vista's Family Medicine Residency (FMR) program; the only program in Colorado Springs
  • 2019: Dr. Lisa Ramey named Chief Medical and Dental Officer to replace Dr. Michael Welch who retired after holding the position for 25 years
  • 2018: Held first National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA) graduation ceremony
  • 2018: Pediatric Health Center at Academy awarded Delta Dental's Colorado Medical-Dental Integration Project (CO MDI) Funding
  • 2018: Pain and Wellness Center introduced at 340 Printers Parkway (through 2021)
  • 2018: Homeless Health Center's name changed to Health Center at Rio Grande (through 2022)
  • 2018: Peak Vista integrates behavioral health care into all of its health center locations

2015-2017

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  • 2017: Adopted Pediatric Associates, P.C. and renamed to Pediatric Health Center at Academy (through 2022)
  • 2017: Well-Child Waiting areas named to honor Julie Penrose, Spencer Penrose, and El Pomar Foundation
  • 2016: Adopted Dr. Charles Johnson's practice and renamed to Health Center at 155 Printers Parkway
  • 2016: Graduated Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) inaugural class of fellows; Four of the five Fellows stayed with Peak Vista in our family health centers
  • 2016: Welcomed Family Medicine Residency (FMR) program's inaugural class of eight Residents
  • 2015: Opened Health Center at South Circle in partnership with SET Family Clinics (through 2017)
  • 2015: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Fellowship (APRN) welcomed inaugural class of five Fellows
  • 2015: Served nearly 84,000 patients with a staff of 785 employees
  • 2015: Health Center at Fountain begins hosting free monthly Mobile Food Pantry in partnership with Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado (through 2020)

2011-2014

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  • 2014: Corporate address officially changed to 3205 N Academy Blvd, Ste 130
  • 2014: Merged with Plains Medical Centers (est. 1978) to serve 5 counties in the Eastern Plains with clinics in Limon, Strasburg, Kiowa (through 2022), and Flagler
  • 2014: Opened Lane Family Health Center (4863 N Nevada Ave) and Health Center at Fountain in a new building (350 Lyckman Dr)
  • 2013: Moved Health Center at Union, Health Center at International Circle, Convenient Care Center, and Developmental Disabilities Health Center to 3205/3207 N Academy campus
  • 2012: The Falcon Peak Health Center within Falcon School District 49 opened part-time and expanded to full-time (through 2022)
  • 2011: Pam McManus named President and CEO
  • 2011: Partnered with AspenPointe to open Moreno Health Center (through 2016)
  • 2011: Opened the Developmental Disabilities Health Center

2008-2010

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  • 2010: Served over 58,000 patients with a staff of 504 employees
  • 2010: Opened Colorado Springs Senior Health Center (722 S Wahsatch) (through 2014)
  • 2010: Unveiled Homeless Medical Van for outreach into El Paso County
  • 2009: Debuted Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Colorado (through 2018)
  • 2009: Cripple Creek-Victor Mountain School-Based Health Center opened (through 2015)
  • 2008: Debuted Logan Refugee Health Center, located at the Myron Stratton Home
  • 2008: Collaborative Clinic established with numerous community partners for diagnosis and treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS at S Union
  • 2008: Opened Family Health Center, Pharmacy, Lab, Registration, and Well-Child Waiting areas at renovated 225 S Union building

2005-2007

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  • 2007: Established an Emergency Department Diversion program, initially at Memorial Central Hospital, to educate patients about the ways in which primary care improves overall health and reduces the need for emergent care
  • 2007: Established a designated Outreach Department to support Peak Vista's focus on working effectively with community agencies and helping individual patients navigate health care systems and processes
  • 2007: Included as a partner in the new Myron Stratton Consortium. With a $1.5 million donation from the Myron Stratton Foundation, dedicated to renovating an existing structure on the property, the new Family Health Center at Myron Stratton opened in July
  • 2006: With federal funding, opened new Divide Health Center building (34 Hybrook Road South)
  • 2006: Purchased 34,000 sq-ft building to expand Family Health, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Enrollment and Well-Child Waiting services (225 S Union)
  • 2005: Inaugural Breakfast of Champions® fundraiser is held featuring Mary Lou Reton and honoring Bishop Richard Hanifen as the 2005 Champion of Community Health
  • 2005: Established Peak Vista Community Health Centers Foundation
  • 2005: Became accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc (AAAHC). NOTE: We continue to achieve these three-year quality assurance certifications

2001-2004

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  • 2004: Changed name to Peak Vista Community Health Centers
  • 2003: Adopted the First Visitor program to work with parents of children ages 0-3 to teach parenting skills, promote positive care-giving and maternal/child health, and to establish links to other community resources
  • 2003: Received a State of Colorado Comprehensive Primary and Preventative Care Grant with funding directed toward our Clinic Re-Engineering Initiative
  • 2003: Opened newly remodeled Women's Health Clinic at 340 Printers Parkway
  • 2002: Southern Teller County Health Clinic opened in Cripple Creek (through 2006)
  • 2002: BJ Scott named new President and CEO
  • 2001: Pediatric Health Center opened on the fourth floor of the Community Health's Springs Center for Women
  • 2001: Opened the Senior Health Clinic at International Circle

1996-2000

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  • 2000: Served over 35,000 patients with a staff of 284 employees
  • 1999: Opened the Fountain Valley Health Clinic (through 2001)
  • 1998: Established our company's first website
  • 1997: Women's Clinic opened in Springs Center for Women including an outpatient birthing facility (through 2001)
  • 1997: Assumed management of Silverheels Health Center in Fairplay (through 2001)
  • 1997: Teller County Health Center opened in Woodland Park before moving to Divide in 1999
  • 1996: Community Health Center celebrated its 25th anniversary
  • 1996: Acute Minor Illness Clinic opened, adding weeknight and weekend hours (renamed Immediate Care Clinic in 1999)
  • 1996: Named a Recipient Agency of the Gazette's Empty Stocking Fund

1990-1995

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  • 1995: Served over 21,000 patients with a staff of 130 employees
  • 1995: Became Colorado's first community health center to receive accreditation through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO)
  • 1994: CEO William North became one of the original founders of Colorado Access, a Medicaid HMO whose membership included every community health center in the state of Colorado
  • 1993: Dental Program received federal funding for indigent schoolchildren and a training program
  • 1993: Name changed to Community Health Centers
  • 1990: Opened a walk-in clinic to increase access and treat a greater number of patients

1988-1989

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  • 1989: Opened Health Center with Women's Health, Pharmacy, Lab, Well-Child Waiting area, and Administration at 2828/2840 International Circle
  • 1988: Received a $2.5 million grant from the El Pomar Foundation, believed to be the largest of its kind ever awarded to a private, nonprofit health service agency
  • 1988: With federal funding, opened Sierra Madre Clinic, later being renamed Homeless Health Center and moving to S Wahsatch before being replaced by Health Center at Rio Grande in 2009
  • 1988: Began providing prenatal care thanks to a grant from the El Pomar Foundation
  • 1988: Changed name to El Pomar Community Health Center

1971-1987

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  • 1986: Opened a new satellite clinic on E. Platte Ave (through 1989)
  • 1985: Expanded Wahsatch location to a full, two-story clinic with the help of El Pomar Foundation funding
  • 1983: Karen K. Marczynski named Executive Director
  • 1983: Moved back to 722 S Wahsatch due to funding cuts
  • 1982: Served as a founding member of the Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN)
  • 1981: Received our first United Way allocation
  • 1979: Moved into larger quarters at 1301 S 8 Street (through 1982)
  • 1976: Received our first federal grant and moved into larger space in the Health Department at 501 N Foote St (through 1979) with our first full-time staff physician
  • 1973: Renamed to Community Health Center, serving nearly 7,000 patients a year
  • 1972: Received 501(c)(3) status from the IRS as a nonprofit public charity
  • 1971: A few local community activists, along with a handful of volunteer doctors and nurses, began as the Colorado Springs Free Clinic, open just two nights a week for walk-in patients at 722 S Wahsatch