Alpine Women’s Centre and Family Center honored for perinatal quality, breastfeeding excellence, and comprehensive women’s health services
MONTROSE, Colo. (September 2, 2025) – Montrose Regional Health (MRH)’s Alpine Women’s Centre and the Family Center have earned multiple statewide honors for excellence in perinatal and women’s health care. These awards highlight the organization’s commitment to proven medical practices that improve outcomes for mothers and babies. In addition to these recognitions, MRH provides patients with 24/7 access to delivery services through both board-certified obstetricians and certified nurse midwives.
“At Montrose Regional Health, we are deeply committed to providing exceptional women’s health services that support every stage of life,” said Jeff Mengenhausen, CEO of MRH. “Through the Alpine Women’s Centre and the Family Center, patients have access to board-certified physicians, certified nurse midwives, and a skilled team of caregivers. From prenatal visits to delivery, postpartum care, and broader women’s health needs, families can feel confident knowing they have world-class services close to home.”
Statewide Awards in Perinatal and Breastfeeding Care
The Family Center recently received two Quality Improvement Awards from the Colorado Perinatal Care Quality Collaborative (CPCQC) for its participation in the SOAR (Supporting Vaginal Delivery for Low-Risk Mothers) program. The Q2 2025 Collaboration Award and Q2 2025 Data Award recognize the unit’s success in reducing unnecessary cesarean sections among first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies, improving outcomes for both mothers and babies.
MRH earned the Celebrate 6 Award of Breastfeeding Excellence from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). This recognition is given to birthing facilities that implement at least six of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’s Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, evidence-based practices proven to increase breastfeeding success and improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
“These awards demonstrate our team’s dedication to evidence-based, family-centered care,” said Mengenhausen. “They reflect the hard work and compassion of our providers and staff who strive to deliver the highest quality care for women and newborns in our community.”
MRH participates in multiple statewide quality initiatives through CPCQC. The Turning the Tides initiative focuses on supporting pregnant and postpartum individuals affected by substance use disorders through evidence-based care and community partnerships. MRH has also joined SPARK (Strengthening Postpartum Care), a statewide effort to improve maternal health outcomes by standardizing postpartum discharge education, identifying early warning signs, and connecting families to follow-up care and community resources.
“Our participation in CPCQC’s initiatives reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing the quality of maternal health care in our community,” said Jennifer Eckerman, Family Center director. “By engaging in programs like Turning the Tides and SPARK, we are working to ensure every mother and baby receive the safest, highest-quality care possible.”
Commitment Beyond Maternity Care
In addition to maternity and newborn care, MRH provides a full spectrum of women’s health services through Alpine Women’s Centre, including gynecology, family planning, hormone replacement, menopause care, and preventive screenings. At the Family Center, care is available around the clock, with both obstetricians and midwives providing deliveries and advanced support for newborns.
MRH provides vital services through its Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, which offers compassionate, specialized care for survivors of assault across the Seventh Judicial District of Colorado. Earlier this year, the program received a $63,538 grant from the Crime Victim Services Advisory Board to continue its work.
“We are honored to receive this grant, which allows us to sustain our program serving the entire Seventh Judicial District of Colorado,” said Eckerman, who is also a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) nurse. “For a rural hospital, this support is especially meaningful, as it ensures we can continue providing vital services for survivors of sexual assault and other violent crimes. This grant strengthens our ability to stand alongside survivors and uphold our commitment to compassionate, comprehensive care.”
Trusted Care Close to Home
With a combination of statewide recognition, board-certified providers, and 24/7 coverage, MRH is reinforcing its role as a trusted destination for women’s health services across the Western Slope. Families can also hear directly from MRH caregivers in a short video (https://bit.ly/MRHWomensHealthVideo) that features providers from both the Family Center and Alpine Women’s Centre. In this video, MRH shares how close collaboration between midwives, physicians, and nursing staff helps reduce unnecessary C-sections, how MRH supports patients’ individual birth plans, and how the facility offers inclusive care in a centralized, family-friendly setting.
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.”
Photo caption: MRH Women’s Health Services recognized for outstanding care
Photo caption: Jennifer Eckerman, RN, Family Center director at Montrose Regional Health, leads statewide quality initiatives and the hospital’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program.
