Welcome to Montrose Regional Health

Array
(
    [0] => WP_Post Object
        (
            [ID] => 9667
            [post_author] => 11
            [post_date] => 2026-07-07 16:26:00
            [post_date_gmt] => 2026-07-07 22:26:00
            [post_content] => 










Additional pulmonologists will provide coverage while Hersh serves on temporary Air Force assignment
MONTROSE, Colo. (July 7, 2026) — Andrew Hersh, M.D., a pulmonologist at Montrose Regional Health (MRH) and a member of the U.S. Air Force for 19 years, has been deployed on a temporary military assignment. He is expected to return in November.
"We're incredibly grateful for Dr. Hersh's service to our country and equally committed to ensuring our patients continue receiving the high-quality pulmonary care they expect from MRH," said Jeff Mengenhausen, CEO of Montrose Regional Health.
Patients with existing appointments should plan to keep their scheduled visits unless contacted directly by the clinic. MRH Pulmonology continues to provide robotic navigation for lung nodule cancer diagnostics without interruption. Patient evaluations, lung nodule workups, and diagnostic testing will continue throughout Hersh's deployment. The clinic will also continue evaluating pulmonary valve patients, with procedures tentatively scheduled following his return.
During Hersh's deployment, board-certified pulmonologists Heather Howe, M.D., and Bruce Suckling, M.D., along with visiting pulmonologist Rage Geringer, M.D., will provide coverage to ensure continuity of care. Howe will assume Hersh's lung nodule diagnostic responsibilities, with support and mentorship from Geringer, a NOAH Robotics superuser recognized for achieving one of the nation's highest first-pass diagnostic yields using robotic bronchoscopy. Geringer will focus on supporting the clinic's advanced diagnostic program rather than seeing clinic patients. Suckling will provide additional support for both diagnostic procedures and outpatient clinic care.
Howe has more than 15 years of medical experience and has provided pulmonary care in partnership with Montrose Regional Health for four years. Before joining MRH in March 2026, Suckling spent more than 20 years practicing pulmonary medicine in Colorado Springs. Both are board-certified pulmonologists. Geringer is a pulmonologist at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and is board-certified in pulmonary medicine and critical care. He has more than eight years of experience in pulmonary medicine. He was recently named an "Early Career Rising Star to Watch" by CHEST Magazine.
The expanded physician coverage allows MRH to continue offering advanced pulmonary diagnostics locally, helping patients avoid unnecessary travel for specialized lung nodule evaluation and care.
For more information about services available through the MRH Pulmonology Clinic, visit montrosehealth.com/pulmonology or call 970-252-2753.










###


About Montrose Regional Health (MontroseHealth.com)
Montrose Regional Health (MRH) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) healthcare system serving Montrose and surrounding Western Colorado counties. The system includes a 75-bed hospital with a Level III Trauma Center, along with an Ambulatory Care Center, and Montrose Regional Medical Group outreach clinics. An award-winning health system and one of the region’s largest employers, MRH includes more than 950 employees and approximately 190 providers representing over 30 medical specialties, delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care close to home.

Photo Caption: From left: Dr. Andrew Hersh, Dr. Heather Howe, Dr. Bruce Suckling, and Dr. Rage Geringer. 


            [post_title] => MRH Pulmonology Clinic Maintains Care During Dr. Andrew Hersh's Military Deployment
            [post_excerpt] => ndrew Hersh, M.D., a pulmonologist at Montrose Regional Health (MRH) and a member of the U.S. Air Force for 19 years, has been deployed on a temporary military assignment. He is expected to return in November.
            [post_status] => publish
            [comment_status] => closed
            [ping_status] => closed
            [post_password] => 
            [post_name] => mrh-pulmonology-clinic-maintains-care-during-dr-andrew-hershs-military-deployment
            [to_ping] => 
            [pinged] => 
            [post_modified] => 2026-07-07 16:26:00
            [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-07-07 22:26:00
            [post_content_filtered] => 
            [post_parent] => 0
            [guid] => https://montrosehealth.com/?p=9667
            [menu_order] => 0
            [post_type] => post
            [post_mime_type] => 
            [comment_count] => 0
            [filter] => raw
        )

    [1] => WP_Post Object
        (
            [ID] => 9656
            [post_author] => 11
            [post_date] => 2026-07-01 16:49:41
            [post_date_gmt] => 2026-07-01 22:49:41
            [post_content] => 



[While this is not a Montrose Regional Health program, we are pleased to help share this community announcement on behalf of the Curecanti Medical Society.]
Scholarships support the next generation of health care professionals in western Colorado



MONTROSE, Colo. (July 1, 2026) – The Curecanti Medical Society has awarded $4,000 in scholarships to seven students pursuing careers in healthcare, continuing a 36-year tradition of supporting the future healthcare workforce in western Colorado.
Made up of physicians serving the Montrose and Gunnison communities, the Curecanti Medical Society is dedicated to advancing access to quality medical care throughout the region. As part of the Colorado Medical Society, the organization supports future healthcare professionals through educational scholarships and other community initiatives.
Preference is given to applicants from the Montrose and Gunnison areas who intend to return to their hometowns after completing their education and serve the communities where healthcare professionals are needed most.
The 2026 scholarship recipients are:



Audra Bailey


Brian Plotner


Caroline Graham


Charity English


LaVae Lake


Raul Martinez


Shiloh Warthen



"The Curecanti Medical Society is proud to invest in these outstanding students as they prepare for careers dedicated to caring for others," said Curecanti Medical Society President Gayle Frazzetta, M.D. "We hope these scholarships help them achieve their educational goals and encourage them to bring their skills and compassion back to the communities we serve."
For more than three decades, the Curecanti Medical Society has helped support students pursuing careers in medicine and other healthcare fields. The organization hopes these scholarships will help encourage the next generation of healthcare professionals to serve communities throughout western Colorado.
For more information about the Curecanti Medical Society, please email [email protected].


###

Photo caption: Curecanti Medical Society President Gayle Frazzetta, M.D., joins scholarship recipients Audra Bailey and Caroline Graham, along with Leah Walter, accepting on behalf of LaVae Lake, during the 2026 scholarship presentation.

            [post_title] => Curecanti Medical Society Announces 2026 Scholarship Recipients
            [post_excerpt] => The Curecanti Medical Society has awarded $4,000 in scholarships to seven students pursuing careers in healthcare, continuing a 36-year tradition of supporting the future healthcare workforce in western Colorado.
            [post_status] => publish
            [comment_status] => closed
            [ping_status] => closed
            [post_password] => 
            [post_name] => curecanti-medical-society-announces-2026-scholarship-recipients
            [to_ping] => 
            [pinged] => 
            [post_modified] => 2026-07-01 16:49:41
            [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-07-01 22:49:41
            [post_content_filtered] => 
            [post_parent] => 0
            [guid] => https://montrosehealth.com/?p=9656
            [menu_order] => 0
            [post_type] => post
            [post_mime_type] => 
            [comment_count] => 0
            [filter] => raw
        )

    [2] => WP_Post Object
        (
            [ID] => 9642
            [post_author] => 11
            [post_date] => 2026-06-29 11:30:06
            [post_date_gmt] => 2026-06-29 17:30:06
            [post_content] => 









National recognition highlights innovative approach to learning from safety events
MONTROSE, Colo. (June 29, 2026) – The Joint Commission has selected a patient safety initiative developed at Montrose Regional Health (MRH) for inclusion in its national resource library, recognizing the organization's Safety Event Review Team (SERT) program as a performance strength. The resource will be shared with healthcare organizations across the country as an example of effective safety event review, organizational learning, and continuous improvement.
Developed and coordinated by Kyle Kelley, RN, BSN, CPHRM, CPHQ, risk management coordinator at MRH, the SERT program was created to ensure findings and improvement opportunities from safety events are consistently shared across departments. The multidisciplinary team reviews safety events, conducts root cause analyses, and develops action plans designed to strengthen patient safety across the organization.
“Every safety event presents an opportunity to learn and improve,” Kelley said. “SERT was created to ensure lessons learned are shared across the organization so we can strengthen processes, improve patient safety, and foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous learning.”
One example highlighted by The Joint Commission involved MRH's Mass Transfusion Protocol (MTP), which is used during life-threatening bleeding emergencies. Following a SERT review, the hospital implemented standardized workflows, improved communication tools, enhanced staff training, clarified responsibilities, and updated policies related to the protocol. Since those improvements were implemented, MRH has reported no additional mass-transfusion-related safety events.
The Joint Commission also noted that the SERT program has helped strengthen staff engagement in safety reporting by providing visible feedback and demonstrating that reported concerns lead to meaningful action. The organization's resource summary highlighted improvements in transparency, trust, and communication across departments.
"This recognition reflects the dedication of caregivers across Montrose Regional Health who work every day to provide safe, high-quality care," Jeff Mengenhausen, MRH CEO, said. "Patient safety is a shared responsibility, and the success of SERT is the result of collaboration across departments throughout the organization."
The Joint Commission will share MRH's SERT program with healthcare organizations across the country as a resource for strengthening patient safety, communication, and organizational learning.









###


About Montrose Regional Health (MontroseHealth.com)
Montrose Regional Health (MRH) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) healthcare system serving Montrose and surrounding Western Colorado counties. The system includes a 75-bed hospital with a Level III Trauma Center, along with an Ambulatory Care Center, and Montrose Regional Medical Group outreach clinics. An award-winning health system and one of the region’s largest employers, MRH includes more than 950 employees and approximately 190 providers representing over 30 medical specialties, delivering comprehensive, patient-centered care close to home.

Photo Caption: Kyle Kelley, RN, BSN, CPHRM, CPHQ, risk management coordinator at Montrose Regional Health, developed the Safety Event Review Team (SERT) program recognized by The Joint Commission as a performance strength and selected for its national resource library.


            [post_title] => Joint Commission Recognizes MRH Patient Safety Program as Performance Strength
            [post_excerpt] => The Joint Commission has selected a patient safety initiative developed at Montrose Regional Health (MRH) for inclusion in its national resource library, recognizing the organization's Safety Event Review Team (SERT) program as a performance strength.
            [post_status] => publish
            [comment_status] => closed
            [ping_status] => closed
            [post_password] => 
            [post_name] => joint-commission-recognizes-mrh-patient-safety-program-as-performance-strength
            [to_ping] => 
            [pinged] => 
            [post_modified] => 2026-06-29 11:30:06
            [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-06-29 17:30:06
            [post_content_filtered] => 
            [post_parent] => 0
            [guid] => https://montrosehealth.com/?p=9642
            [menu_order] => 0
            [post_type] => post
            [post_mime_type] => 
            [comment_count] => 0
            [filter] => raw
        )

)