What does $34 million mean to a mountain town? For the Vail Valley, it means access to health care and healthier futures. In 2023 alone, Vail Health invested that staggering amount back into the community through financial donations and subsidies. As one of the top contributors in the Vail Valley, their investment reaches every corner of our community.
A Community Health Needs Assessment, conducted every three years, guides spending for every dollar to pinpoint where support matters most. The five focus areas — Access to Care, Whole-Person Health, Clinical Education and Research, Community Partners and Financial Assistance — shape how Vail Health channels its resources. The impact is both immediate and lasting.
Photos courtesy of Vail Health
BEYOND SICK CARE
Health in the mountains isn’t about surviving — it’s about thriving. That philosophy is at the heart of Vail Health’s mission to elevate well-being across communities. Their approach goes beyond traditional sick care, embracing whole-person health to keep people living longer, stronger and more fulfilled lives.
The Vail Valley consistently ranks as one of the healthiest counties in Colorado. Access to nature helps, but that’s only part of the picture. Community health is shaped by environment, social and economic conditions and health infrastructure. That’s where Vail Health steps in. By expanding services, funding education and prioritizing early intervention, they’re building a healthier community from the ground up.
“Vail Health’s goal of focusing on population health is an important shift from traditional sick care to total health care for our community,” says Will Cook, president and CEO of Vail Health. “We continue to work on keeping people healthy, getting ahead of chronic health conditions — including mental health — before they become more serious and costly. If we can improve people’s overall health, then we can improve their quality of life while reducing the higher cost of more expensive care.”
Even with its resources, Vail Health knows it can’t achieve this mission alone.
“Vail Health partners with people and organizations in the community who are willing to step up and help,” says Sally Welsh, Vail Health’s public relations director. “Collaboration is the most important thing to move the needle.”
Through partnerships with nonprofits, schools and advocacy groups, Vail Health ensures resources reach people who need them most.
PREVENTION FIRST
Health starts with prevention — and Vail Health is making it a priority. As a nonprofit, it reinvests money back into the community, expanding proactive services and improving access to care.
The impact shows up in everyday moments. Last year, a nurse hotline through Colorado Mountain Medical answered more than 29,000 calls, providing patients with free health guidance when they needed it most. The ThinkFirst Helmet Safety Program distributed more than 800 bike helmets and 200 ski helmets to local children, protecting the youngest riders and skiers in the Valley.
Prevention also means breaking down barriers to essential care. In partnership with the Vail Breast Cancer Group and the Vail Valley Charitable Fund, the group provides free mammogram screenings for uninsured women in the provider area. It’s a simple but powerful goal: catch issues early, and before it’s too late.
Mental health deserves the same proactive care as physical health. Regular therapy helps people build tools to manage stress and challenges before they spiral into crisis. Vail Health Behavioral Health provides support and access to care for everyone in Eagle County, with 23 providers delivering 15,000 behavioral health sessions in 2023.
EDUCATING + EMPOWERING
Good health thrives on knowledge. Through a wide range of educational programs, Vail Health empowers people to make informed choices and embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Free wellness talks bring experts into the community, covering everything from fitness as you age to holistic practices and women’s health. For older adults, programs on Aging Well offer guidance on fall prevention, while Caregiver Connections helps families navigate the challenges of in-home care.
Nutrition plays a role, too. Through additional funding, Eagle Valley Community Foundation offers cooking and nutrition classes that make healthy eating more accessible and approachable.
Today’s students become tomorrow’s caregivers. With Vail Health’s support, Eagle Valley High School earned the prestigious Project Lead The Way (PLTW) award, bringing hands-on, project-based STEM curriculum into classrooms. Through the Patient Care Tech and Clinical Assistant programs at Colorado Mountain College, 25 local workforce students have become employees of Vail Health.
OWNING YOUR HEALTH
At its heart, Vail Health’s work is about empowerment.
“We want people to have the tools and resources to own their health and live a happier life,” explains Welsh.
And that’s exactly what their investments achieve. Vail Health ensures wellness in the Valley isn’t a privilege — it’s a community standard.
