Part two of a series

MINERAL COUNTY—The history of health care in Mineral County is wrought with struggles, road blocks and hurdles. The county and the city of Creede, literally “moved mountains” to achieve a program that would promote and ensure a stable medical environment and manage emergencies and trauma.
The first clinic was located in a local home, known as the Gray house, and was converted for medical needs in 1963. Dorothy Steele, RN, managed the clinic and provided medical services to the community. Prior to this, Steele was the county school nurse. Steele received her training during her service in the Army.
The town, located in mountainous country, which forms the headwaters of the Rio Grande, had a population of about 700. Folks along Willow Creek set up a medical clinic under the guidance of the health council. Bonnie Wardell had a lot of praise for Steele, and her husband, Charles. They donated the use of a house for the clinic.
In 1968 the Mineral County Public Health Council was formed and plans were underway to build a new health clinic in the historic town of Creede. This was good news for Creede, once a boisterous, rich mining camp, but too small in the previous few years to have a doctor. Wardell was instrumental in this process as chairman of the fund drive committee. “The doctorless days have ended,” Wardell said. Three physicians, one from Del Norte and two from Monte Vista would be serving the health needs of Creede.
The clinic had outgrown its quarters, but that didn’t stop members of the health council and folks in the mountain village. They started raising funds to build a new clinic. The fund drive was every day; canvassers solicited in Creede regularly. Before the formal drive, considerable interest and support had been in evidence. Summer residents had sent in contributions totaling $3,000. Homestake Mining Co. promised to match up to $10,000 based on a percentage of every $3 donated. Other foundations also promised funds.
“From its inception,” Wardell stated, “the clinic has been a success. In the first seven months the doctors took care of 652 office calls.” In the next five months, the doctors took care of 1,137 individuals. During the year, 243 Creede families or individuals had made 1,615 calls at the clinic—in addition to the 174 calls by visitors and tourists.
The clinic was more than a first aid station, but didn’t take the place of hospitals, which were located in Del Norte, Monte Vista and Alamosa, 39 to 70 miles away. The council hoped the clinic would attract the services of other Valley physicians. Practicing doctors and semi-retired physicians were among the hundreds of summer vacationers who come to the colorful San Juan Mountains, and the town was hoping they would be on tap to staff the clinic.
Dr. S. T. Jones and wife, Ellen, ran the clinic from 1974 to 1982. Jones stated he had been coming to Creede for 50 years, and added, “I’m only 51.” Prior to Dr. Jones moving here from Cordell, Okla., there had been no permanent doctor in Creede for nearly 40 years. He had always wanted to live in Creede.
In the following years, the clinic was served by other physicians from the area, Dr. Hundley, Dr. Haug and Dr. Durmon. In 2001, Dr. Jennifer Harbert became the full-time physician. Several physicians’ assistants and nurse practitioners were added to the clinic staff and patient needs’ increased in number.
Other struggles over the years included gaining acquisition of necessary equipment to deal with injuries and obtaining an ambulance. At that time many victims were treated and transported in private vehicles—a station wagon belonging to Steele and her husband and pick-ups. Steele requested the purchase of an ambulance by the county commissioners which was unanimously approved. In 1971 the Mineral County Ambulance Committee was established. Glen Hinshaw was director, and Frank Foote was secretary-treasurer. An ambulance barn was created in 1972. A need for a second ambulance was realized as the community was left without transport service if the current ambulance was required to make long distance runs.
Those early days were without communication radios, a 911 call system and trained EMS personnel. There was reluctance on behalf of doctors and nurses to trust EMTs. Soon, many Creede citizens were trained as EMTs. In 1974 another dimension was added to emergency services when a veteran paramedic came to Creede and taught people how to rappel and safely rescue victims that required high angle recovery.
All of the progress in the medical community geared to serve the needs in this tiny, remote Colorado town is due to the determination and will of its members. Resources were slight and few funds were set aside to build, purchase and equip the clinic, public health and EMS facilities. The following years saw much growth and progress in forming the current health facility, which continues to be supported financially, in large part, by Creede residents, part-time summer residents, visitors, tourists and grants.
In the next portion of this series, Mineral County will be outlining celebrations for the decade of service in the newest medical facilities and visions of expanding services. The desire is to decrease time and medical costs for procedures and services for patients and to provide these services locally.
Part three of a “Mineral County Dream” will be included in next week’s Mineral County Miner.