Optimism for the new year and beyond
By Amy Blasing, Saint Joseph Hospital President
We are all aware of the challenges the healthcare industry and Colorado’s Front Range hospitals are facing, including financial, regulatory and competitive pressures. Despite these challenges, I am optimistic about both the short-term and long-term future of Saint Joseph Hospital, and here’s why.
When I joined Saint Joe’s, I quickly connected with the mission to serve the poor and vulnerable and understood that it grounds us in the work we do each day. In my conversations with you, I know that you are deeply connected to that mission as well, which is one of the reasons that I believe we are positioned well for success in 2026. Our physicians, providers, leaders and caregivers show up every day and are dedicated to caring for our patients, each other and the community we have served for more than 150 years.
I also know that providing our patients with high-quality, safe and compassionate care and second-to-none experiences is our North Star. This is evidenced by the awards and accolades we continue to earn from third-party rating agencies such as Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and CMS, and, most importantly, our patients.
Another reason I am confident the future is bright is that in recent conversations with Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain, he made it clear that he and the Intermountain Executive Leadership and Peaks Regional Leadership teams are fully invested in the mission and success of Saint Joe’s. They are committed to providing the resources and allowing the time needed to rebuild our programs and services.
Finally, we have robust business development plans in place to restore patient volumes and enhance service lines. We have some key prospects and additions to the Saint Joseph medical staff in numerous specialty areas.
Specifically, the following providers/provider groups have joined or will begin practicing at Saint Joseph Hospital in the next few months:
Dr. Jordan Wlodarczyk, Colorectal Surgery
Dr. Katie Scott, Urology
Dr. Emily Speer, Increasing Bariatrics Cases at Saint Joseph Hospital
Dr. Phillip York, Spine Surgery
Three new orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Davis Hurley, Dr. Laura Snyder and Dr. Erisha Tashakori, opened the Orthopedic Centers of Colorado affiliated clinic in the East Campus Specialty Building
13 new physicians from Colorado Retina Associates
2 new medical oncologists
Ongoing discussions are also happening to increase volumes in the specialty areas of OB/GYN, Radiation Oncology, Neurosurgery, Complex Hernia and Plastic Surgery.
And we are excited that the new Saint Joseph Cancer Center will open in its new location on campus in the first quarter of 2026 to provide even better experiences for our patients, physicians, providers and caregivers.
The Senior Leadership team and I value transparency and your feedback, so please reach out if you have thoughts and questions you’d like to share.
The new year holds many promises for all of us, and it is my privilege to be on this journey with you.
With gratitude,
Amy