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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our History