Скачать или смотреть WesternSlopeNow meets with president and CEO of Health Solutions West

On March 10, West Springs Hospital closed its doors, which prompted questions from community members about where they'd be able to receive psychiatric help.

Nearly one month ago, the facility was transferred to new ownership of Health Solutions West.

And on Tuesday, for the first time, WesternSlopeNow got to sit down one-on-one with the new CEO about the psychiatric changes coming to the Western Slope.

Jason Chippeaux, president and CEO of Health Solutions West. states, “We try to elevate the significance and importance of the behavioral health domain of someone's life.”

But in early April, Health Solutions took over the location and is looking to repair the reputation of the hospital.

Chippeaux states, “We had been looking for expansive opportunities and so we were interested in expanding the behavioral health safety net in specifically rural and small communities.”

WesternSlopeNow sat down with Chippeaux, where he spoke about the two areas of improvement are: repair and scaffolding.

“The first one is infrastructure. And so because of the acute financial distress that the organization was under, there are many areas where the infrastructure has been anemic,” Chippeaux said.

Before the acquisition of the hospital, Mind Springs was reported to be $18 million in the hole. But Chippeaux says the financial difficulties were addressed and he assures there are plans to move forward.

“We were aware of the challenges that were present within the organization financially and that some of the horsepower that we could bring to the table and to the community, we are well positioned to be able to address those,” Chippeaux said.

But what's truly important is helping the Western Slope community.

Health Solutions West Chief Operating and Clinical Officer Heather Hankins states, “There's times we've accessed services, and without these services, people are losing their life at an early stage, and we want to prevent that. We want to decrease suicides. We want to be here for the community and we want to provide what each community needs.”

Chippeaux tells WesternSlopeNow that he and his colleagues are looking forward to what's ahead.

“We have people that are passionate, willing and able, and competent to provide the level of care that's needed within all the communities that we serve right now,” Chippeaux explains.