2012 Rural Health Excellence Award Winner

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The Rural Health Excellence Award is a prestigious award given annually by Colorado Rural Health Center to honor those who have made a notable contribution to health, healthcare, or a healthcare delivery system in rural Colorado. To be eligible for the award, a candidate must have made a significant contribution to the health, healthcare, or a healthcare delivery system in a rural Colorado community, area, or region. Healthcare providers, board members, administrators, volunteers and others are eligible for nomination.

The 2012 Rural Health Excellence Award recipient is Dr. Scott Rollins, MD, at Plateau Valley Medical Clinic located in Collbran, CO (Mesa County). He was nominated by Sarah E. Lauderdale, RN, MSN-FNP Candidate 2012, who completed her 280 hour clinical rotation with Dr. Rollins this past summer. Her nomination states:

"Beyond feeding my interest in rural medicine, he is deserving of the award for many other reasons. Dr. Rollins participates in CU's Colorado Rural Health Scholars program as a preceptor for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year medical students who have declared to commit to the provision of health care in Colorado's underserved areas. Every year he inspires the next generation of rural health care providers by exposing them to the joy and challenges of rural medicine.

In addition, he has practiced in Collbran since 1994. Through his loyalty and commitment, he has provided the town of Collbran with high-quality, patient-centered care for over 15 years. Dr. Rollins is ACLS and Advanced Trauma Life Support certified and emergent care is available to Collbran and neighboring towns 24/7--which is quite a necessity in rural practice. Dr. Rollins has taken calls every other weekend for 16 years. This amount of time and effort alone deserves recognition.

Furthermore, his patients would attest that the care that he provides is top notch. One of the recent transitions in health care is the emergence of the patient-centered model in which the plan of care and goals for health are created within a patient and provider partnership. Dr. Rollins epitomizes the ideal of this type relationship. He begins many of his dictations with the goal that the patient has stated."

We commend Dr. Rollins' dedication to ensuring that all rural Coloradans have access to comprehensive and high quality healthcare! Thank you for all the submissions - the 2012 nominees included:

• Tom Henton, Weisbrod Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home
• Shirley Olson, FNP, Ouray Family Medicine, LLC
• Matt Guy, Southeast Colorado Area Health Education Center
• Konnie Martin, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center
• Gail Finley, Colorado Hospital Association
• Dr. Christopher Fanale, Swedish Medical Center
• Governor Bill Ritter, Former Colorado Governor
• Dr. Beuford Durmon and Gurdon Durmon, Moseley Health Care Complex