A Simple Thank You | A Message from CEO Dave Ressler

For 92 years, healthcare providers across the country, along with Aspen Valley Hospital, have been celebrating National Doctors’ Day on or about March 30th. Having spent their lives in pursuit of medical knowledge and practicing at the highest level, physicians consider their profession an indelible part of their person. I know many physicians in their 70s, 80s and beyond, who continue to study the science of medicine and stay current with research and publications. It’s just who they are. They have dedicated their lives to maintaining their medical knowledge for the benefit of their patients.

This year, the theme for National Doctors’ Day is “Behind the Mask: Caring for Caregivers.” I couldn’t agree more with the underlying premise. Physicians across the country are in short supply, carrying large educational debts, and seeing their incomes squeezed as insurers and government payers don’t keep up with inflation and the costs of running a practice. These dynamics have driven over 77% of physicians to be employed rather than run their own practice, with hospitals and health systems comprising over half of the employers.

The same has held true in our medical community, as Aspen Valley Hospital has expanded our owned practices over the past 10 years, now including primary care, cardiology, ENT, general surgery and ophthalmology/optometry. However, a steady and predictable income isn’t enough. Our physicians are experiencing the same housing challenges as our staff, without affordable and desirable community options outside of AVH housing initiatives that are in process and, on rare occasions, community housing. The reality for us is that, without community support of AVH, we wouldn’t have the ability to recruit and retain top physicians.

Since the pandemic, our medical staff leaders have been concerned with the emotional wellbeing of our physicians. As this year’s Doctors’ Day theme indicates, we are not alone. Organizations and medical societies across the country are focused on resilience. Resilience is a function of activation and decompression, which we recently surveyed to find out how our physicians are feeling. Our physicians reported they are feeling a little better than two years ago, but they are still struggling with freeing their minds from work, sleeping and disconnecting. However, the good news for us and our community is that they find great meaning in their work and feel like they are making a difference.

How can you, our community, help? That’s easy. As one grateful patient has done in this month’s issue, take a moment to thank your doctor. Let them know the impact they are having on your life and remember they have committed their lives to serving us.