Our History

In 1961, the voters of Western Garfield County voted to create a special district to help fund a hospital in Rifle (Grand River Hospital District). The district covers 1500 square miles. On December 2, 1962,  Clagett Memorial Hospital opened its doors to serve the community on 5th Street.  The hospital was named after a beloved physician in the community Dr. Oscar F. Clagett. It was always Dr. Clagett’s dream that Rifle would one day have its own hospital.

In 1968, the Hospital district built an adjacent long-term care Center, the E. Dene Moore Care Center, named after another beloved physician in Rifle.

Throughout the decades, the hospital experienced very lucrative years followed by very challenging years because of the boom/bust cycle in the local energy sector.  In 1999 the hospital needed to build additional space for the growing population and remodeling the existing hospital was not an option.  In 2000, the GRHD Board of Directors decided to ask the voters to support building a new hospital on newly acquired land on Airport  Road. The initiative passed and in the spring of 2002 the new hospital, Grand River Hospital and Medical Center opened its doors at 501 Airport Rd.

Focusing on a new direction, the hospital became quite successful in the 2000’s  and in 2009 built a new three story Medical Office Building. In 2012, the organization rebranded itself as Grand River Health. In 2014 Grand River built a new medical clinic in Battlement Mesa (Clinic West). In 2017, the Grand River Hospital District board once again went to the voters, asking them to  pass a bond and mill levy to build a new three story patient wing, and a long-term care center.   The initiative passed.   

Today Grand River Health employs over 50 physicians and over 700 staff members.   Grand River Health is proud to serve well over 32,000 people and offers a wealth of healthcare services for the community!

Our Mission

is to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.

Our Vision

is to be our communities first choice for quality healthcare.

Our Three Keys to Excellence

  • Clinical excellence
  • Patient & community satisfaction
  • Financial health & stewardship of resources.
Grand River Health logo

About 90% of our revenue is generated from payment we receive for patient care. This revenue goes to support operating expenses such as paying doctors, nurses, and other employees and purchasing patient care supplies. About 10% of our revenue is generated from tax dollars. This money allows Grand River Hospital District to pay for buildings, equipment, and infrastructure to ensure that we will be able to provide local healthcare for many years to come. It also allows us to provide charity and sliding-scale care to those in need. We strive to be good stewards of your investment in community healthcare. Although only 10% of total revenue comes from tax dollars, this support is the key to our ability to provide exceptional local healthcare so you don’t have to leave home in order to receive the best possible care.

Grand River Hospital District is governed by an elected Board of Directors – seven individuals who represent the interests of the communities we serve. Our Chief Executive Officer, Jim Coombs, is responsible for management of the District’s facilities and employees. Along with our 750+ employees, he ensures that the Board’s strategy for providing exceptional local healthcare is carried out.

Grand River is your Hospital District. Our Board and Management Team want to hear from you. Please share your questions, concerns and ideas by calling 970.625.6406.