Keefe Memorial Health Service District receives $2M Congressional Directives grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration

Keefe memorial hospital harmony healthcare and community revitalization project. Renovation of rural critical access hospital facilities in cheyenne wells, Colorado (see attachment) - keefe memorial hospital (Keefe Memorial Health Service District), the sole critical access hospital serving cheyenne county, Colorado — a frontier community of approximately 1,730 residents with a population density of roughly 1 person per square mile — is using this cpf/cds construction award to complete four capital improvement projects at its facility at 602 north 6TH street west, cheyenne wells, co 80810. The hospital is a designated level IV trauma facility and the only acute care provider within the county. Patients requiring higher-level trauma or tertiary care must travel approximately 137 miles (2.5 hours) to Colorado springs or 179 miles (3 hours 36 minutes) to the denver metro area, underscoring the critical importance of maintaining and modernizing this facility. The four projects are: (1) new front hospital parking lot — demolition and full reconstruction of the existing 18,085 sq. Ft. Parking lot to address safety hazards, reduce trip-and-fall risk, and improve ADA accessibility for patients with mobility challenges, including installation of an ev charging station; (2) specialty clinic buildout — renovation of existing space within the 1962 core hospital building into a dedicated specialty clinic with three ADA-compliant exam rooms, a nursing/provider work area, and updated infrastructure, expanding access to specialty care for a rural underserved population; (3) end-of-life area — creation of a family-centered end-of-life care space within the existing facility, including an ADA-accessible tub and shower room, family gathering room, and patient rooms configured for dignified care, reducing reliance on acute care settings and supporting primary caregivers; and (4) cafeteria remodel — renovation of the hospital kitchen and cafeteria, including expansion into former space, ADA-compliant dining and service areas, an upgraded commercial kitchen, and a grab-and-go kiosk, generating additional revenue, improving nutritional access, and creating a community gathering space. All four projects are alteration/renovation of existing kmhsd-owned facilities, with no new building square footage added. Construction will be managed by kmhsd's head of facilities as on-site project manager, with the parking lot outsourced through competitive procurement and the three interior projects performed by in-house facilities staff to the extent possible. Period of performance: september 1, 2026, through august 31, 2029. This award will bring significant capital, safety, and community benefit improvements to the lifeline health care provider for one of Colorado's most geographically isolated frontier communities.