Future Plans
Colorado Plains Medical Center is about to begin two new programs designed to reduce travel for patients and allow them to receive specialized services right here, close to home. Plans call for opening a geriatric behavioral health unit and an outpatient cardiac catheterization lab in the fall.
"This service will allow many regional community members to stay closer to home," Ken Cochran, chief nursing officer, said of the behavioral health unit.
This geriatric behavioral health unit will accommodate anyone age 50 and over who has medical conditions and mental health problems such as dementia, Alzheimer's, bipolar disorders or schizophrenia. This unit will offer treatment for both physical and mental health issues.
It will also ease the burden on area nursing homes and on mental health professionals who currently have to transfer patients out of the county when they need hospital care. The unit is licensed for 10 patients and will be aiming to accommodate at least six patients per day. Plans call for taking the first patients in October and formally opening the unit on November 1st.
Likewise, the outpatient cardiac cath lab will enable patients to undergo heart catheterization locally instead of having to travel. Currently, cardiologist Dr. Ahmad Shihabi sees patients locally but has to perform cath procedures in Greeley. He will be able to perform them at Colorado Plains Medical Center when the unit opens in October. Dr. Shihabi is a fellow in cardiology and has extensive experience with catheterization. The cath unit will be located in the medical office building adjacent to the Heart and Lung Clinic operated by Dr. Shihabi and Dr. Khalid Ismail.