MONTROSE, Colo. (May 8, 2025) – Sally O’Connor, director of care management at Montrose Regional Health (MRH), has been recognized by the Colorado Hospital Changemakers for her tireless efforts in creating the Care Transitions Program, an initiative designed to reduce patient readmissions at MRH.

A hospital readmission occurs when a patient must return after discharge due to complications. The national hospital readmission rate is 14.67%. In rural Colorado, that rate is significantly higher at 21.7%. The mission of the Care Transitions Program is to reduce these statistics and promote uninterrupted recovery at home. Some of the program elements include patient education, attending appointments with patients, medication management services, and more. “Care Transitions is a program that identifies complex patients, provides intensive care management/coordination services to reduce the risk of hospital re-admission, and optimizes transitions into the community,” O’Connor said. “It strengthens post hospital communication with community providers and agencies, and helps patients and families understand their health and resources available to them.”

Colorado Hospital Changemakers, an organization that highlights advancements in Colorado hospitals, has recognized the many achievements of Montrose Regional Health’s Care Transitions Program, including:

•      Assisted 200 patients since launching the program in November 2024.
•      Strengthened partnerships with community providers.
•      Opened the program to community provider/clinic referrals.
•      Secured housing for two previously unhoused patients.
Montrose Regional Health is proud to care for every patient like family with services like the Care Transitions Program. To learn more about the program or refer a loved one, contact Sally O’Connor, director of care management, at [email protected].

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Caption: Members of the Care Transitions Program, from left: Trisha Bush, Sally O’Connor, and Sherrie English.

About Montrose Regional Health (MontroseHealth.com)

Montrose Regional Health (MRH) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) healthcare system serving Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Gunnison, Delta, Hinsdale, and San Juan counties. Licensed for 75 beds, MRH offers a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, including cardiology, oncology, minimally invasive surgery, laboratory services, medical imaging, Mountain View Therapy, a Level III Trauma Center, an Acute Rehabilitation Unit, a Spine and Pain Center, advanced respiratory and pulmonary care, and a family birthing center. Known for adopting advanced technologies such as robotic-assisted surgery and UVC disinfection, MRH is the second-largest employer in Montrose County, with more than 850 employees and 100 providers representing 27 medical specialties. MRH is recognized for its warm, personalized care and lives its tagline: “Caring for you like family.”