Mercy earns award for patient experience
Mercy Regional Medical Center announced last week that it has achieved the Healthgrades 2015 Outstanding Patient Experience Award. Mercy was identified as providing outstanding performance in the delivery of a positive experience for patients during their hospital stay, according to Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.
Healthgrades evaluated the 3,575 hospitals that submitted patient surveys to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), covering admissions from January – December 2013 in order to identify hospital performance in this area.
Healthgrades evaluated performance by applying a scoring methodology to 10 patient experience measures, using data collected from a 27-question survey of the hospital’s patients. The survey questions focus on patients’ perspectives of their care in the hospital.
Aspen asks how Ute Water plans to use its resources
Aspen and Pitkin County officials are raising questions about plans to send more water from Ruedi Reservoir down the Colorado River to benefit endangered fish, when the city needs the water for electricity and fishing.
The water is owned by the Ute Water Conservancy District, which purchased 12,000 acre-feet of Ruedi water in 2012, in anticipation of growth and as a backup for more than 80,000 customers and others in the Grand Valley if Grand Mesa supplies dry up.
Saying it has no need for Ruedi water this year, Ute has asked the Colorado Water Conservation Board about leasing the water to benefit four endangered species of fish in the Colorado.
“This is Ute trying to do something for the environment,” Ute General Manager Larry Clever said.
Clever said his goal is to put the water in Lake Powell, which some people fear could drop so low as to hinder electricity generation at Glen Canyon Dam. That could require the Bureau of Reclamation to take action to lower Upper Colorado River reservoirs to maintain the dam’s generating capacity.
Cortez sending reminders about backflow testing
The City of Cortez will be sending out reminders to have residents get their backflow assemblies tested.
Faulty backflow assemblies can allow contaminants to enter the potable water system through back-pressure or back-siphonage.
For a list of certified testers, go to the city’s website: www.cityofcortez.com - Government, Departments, Planning & Building, Backflow Prevention. Call 970-565-7320 ex. 3510 for more information.
Study: Climate change could hurt grouse habitat
A warming climate could significantly reduce the amount of greater sage grouse habitat in portions of Wyoming, a key stronghold for the troubled bird species, government scientists concluded in a new study.
U.S. Geological Survey scientists said a warming climate could reduce grouse nesting habitat in southwestern Wyoming by 12 percent by 2050.
The findings were published in the journal Ecological Indicators. Scientists analyzed past climate patterns across 3,200 square miles and compared that with rain and snowfall projections to predict future conditions.
Staff and Associated Press