Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital is welcoming women from across the community to join a fun and meaningful Ladies Night Out on Tuesday, July 28 from 5 to 8 pm, MT, an evening designed to celebrate wellness, connection, and the power of prioritizing your health.

The event will bring women together to learn, recharge, and enjoy time with friends. 

Guests can expect health resources‑, conversations with trusted caregivers, and engaging activities created to support women at every stage of life.

“Women carry so much for their families, workplaces, and communities,” said Noah Knisely, president of Intermountain Platte Valley Hospital. “Ladies Night Out is our way of creating space just for them—where they feel supported, encouraged, and reminded that their health matters.”

Guests can connect with local healthcare providers, learn about the services available locally, practice hands-only CPR, have blood pressure checks, practice line dancing, enjoy food, and have a chance to win great prizes.

Topics to explore include labor and delivery services, mental health resources, breast health, women’s heart health, cancer care, blood pressure checks, menopause care, and more.

Gentry Johnson, nursing director for inpatient services at Intermountain Platte Valley Hospital, has great memories of the previous Ladies Night Out events that were held annually prior to the pandemic.

“The event is always packed and filled with enthusiasm,” she said. “It is truly exhilarating to witness the positive impact these gatherings have on the women in our community.”

From offering health screenings, educational resources, refreshments and giveaways to providing therapeutic benefits of laughter, each year brings a unique sense of fulfillment, Johnson said. “Volunteering at Ladies Night Out quickly became something I eagerly anticipated each year.”

Tickets for the event are available for $25 and can be purchased online at Ladies Night Out.

U.S. News & World Report has named 26 Intermountain Health hospitals to its 2026 Best Hospitals for Maternity Care for mom and baby outcomes, education, and patient satisfaction.

The 26 Intermountain hospitals earned a high performing designation in maternity care for uncomplicated pregnancies in areas such as cesarean sections in lower-risk pregnancies, vaginal births after cesarean-section (VBAC) rates, newborn severe complications rates, birthing friendly and education practices, and outcome disparities based on race/ethnicity, among other measures.

Intermountain Health has more hospitals named by U.S. News & World Report for 2026 than any other health system in the country.

Intermountain hospitals cited by U.S. News & World Report for 2026 include:

• Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Cassia Regional Hospital (Burley, Idaho)*
• Intermountain Health Cedar City Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Delta Community Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Garfield Memorial Hospital (Panguitch, Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Heber Valley Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital (Miles City, Mont.)
• Intermountain Health Intermountain Medical Center (Murray, Utah)
• Intermountain Health Layton Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health LDS Hospital (Salt Lake City)
• Intermountain Health Logan Regional Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital (Wheat Ridge, Colo.
• Intermountain Health McKay-Dee Hospital (Ogden, Utah)
• Intermountain Health Orem Community Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Park City Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital (Brighton, Colo.)
• Intermountain Health Riverton Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver)
• Intermountain Health Sanpete Valley Hospital (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital (Richfield, Utah)*
• Intermountain Health Spanish Fork Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital (Utah)*
• Intermountain Health St. James Hospital (Butte, Mont.)*
• Intermountain Health St. Mary's Hospital (Grand Junction, Colo.)
• Intermountain Health St. Vincent Hospital (Billings, Mont.)
• Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital (Provo, Utah

"This recognition is meaningful because it reflects what families experience at the bedside: safe, consistent, high quality, compassionate care," said Sean Esplin, MD, a maternal fetal medicine physician and senior medical director of women’s health at Intermountain Health.

"Our clinical program has worked across hospitals to align on proven evidence-based care practices to lower cesarean-section rates in low‑risk pregnancies, thoughtfully support VBAC deliveries, reduce newborn complications, elevate patient education, and advance equity so every mother and baby can expect excellent outcomes," he added.

U.S. News also recognizes Maternity Care Access Hospitals, which provide maternity services to communities that might otherwise have inadequate access to maternity care, sometimes referred to as "maternity care deserts." The report identified 147 critical access hospitals in total, with nine Intermountain hospitals making the list (noted "*" above).

Intermountain  Health is determined to provide the highest quality care to pregnant and postpartum patients and their babies, by improving outcomes and access to care within its six-state region. For example, Intermountain recently announced an innovative care program for pregnant and postpartum women with hypertension, and published a study identifying hypertension risks during pregnancy.

Receiving this designation is evidence of the unwavering dedication of our nurses, physicians, midwives, and teams who show up for mothers and babies every day to deliver high‑quality care—and a reminder to keep improving together, for every family we serve,” added Dr. Esplin.

For more information regarding Intermountain Health pregnancy and maternity services, please visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/womens-health/pregnancy.

Click here for more information about the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

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Intermountain Health has named Noah Knisely, a longtime healthcare leader, president of Intermountain Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton, CO.

Knisely has more than 15 years experience in healthcare leadership, including five years as a hospital president and CEO.

“Noah brings with him a wealth of experience and passion for community hospitals,” said Scott Peek, president of Intermountain Health's Front Range market. “He is exceptionally well-prepared to lead Platte Valley Hospital into its next chapter.”

Most recently, Knisely served as regional vice president for Presbyterian Healthcare Services in New Mexico, overseeing five community hospitals. 

His leadership has consistently driven a strong organizational culture, strategic growth, and a steadfast commitment to safe, high-quality patient care. He’s also known for building meaningful engagements with providers, staff, and community stakeholders.

Before his time at Presbyterian, Knisely led hospital operations, strategy, business development, and provider services in Nebraska and Iowa. 

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and later earned his MBA in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University.

“I'm so grateful and excited to join the wonderful team at Platte Valley Hospital and to be a part of such an amazing organization with Intermountain Health,” said Knisely. “As I start, my focus during the first few months will be on getting to know the team and medical staff at Platte Valley Hospital, further understanding all the strengths we have as an organization and beginning to assess where I can help. My focus will always be on our people and supporting the amazing patient care they provide each and every day.” 

Knisely begins his new role at Platte Valley Hospital on July 21.

Visit Intermountainhealth.org for more information about Platte Valley Hospital and its award-winning care across Adams and Weld counties.

Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital welcomes the holiday season with its annual Festival of Trees this month. 

Decorating takes place Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15 and 16.

The Festival of Trees tradition began three years ago to celebrate the holiday season and raise money for hospital programs that serve the community. This year’s event will feature 16 trees decorated by hospital departments, community groups, and businesses. Funds raised will go toward Platte Valley Women’s Health programs including increasing coordination and access to mental health for women. 

Groups will come to the hospital between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday to decorate their trees.

The beautifully decorated trees will be on display in the main hallway near the front entrance of the hospital, 1600 Prairie Center Parkway, Brighton. From Nov. 18 to Dec. 8, people can buy raffle tickets and use those to win their favorite tree. Tickets are $50 for one or $100 for 3.

From 1 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 8, the hospital will host a holiday tea in the bistro. The $50 entry includes one raffle ticket, crafts, music, and refreshments. The winning ticket for each tree will be drawn during the holiday tea. Each tree then will be wrapped in protective plastic so the winner can take it home and display it for the holiday season.

This year’s tree themes include O Holy Night, The Grinch, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Candyland, White Christmas, and Santa Paws which is organized by participants in the hospital’s pet therapy program.

In 2023, the hospital displayed 10 trees and raised about $10,000 from the event.

For more information about buying raffle tickets or attending the holiday tea, please visit https://f0t2024.cbo.io. 

Five Intermountain Health hospitals in Colorado received recognition in the latest US News & World Report rankings including Saint Joseph Hospital, which was named the No. 2 hospital in Colorado and the Denver Metro Area.  

In addition to the No. 2 ranking, Saint Joseph Hospital was listed as High Performing in pulmonology, lung surgery, and geriatrics, and High Performing in 13 procedures: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma; colon cancer surgery; lung cancer surgery; abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, heart attack, aortic valve surgery, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, TAVR, maternity care, hip replacement, knee replacement, and pneumonia. 

Other hospitals that were recognized were: 

• Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette. High Performing in five procedures and conditions: colon cancer surgery, prostate cancer surgery, heart attack, stroke, and maternity care 
• Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge. High Performing in three procedures and conditions: heart attack, stroke, maternity care 
• Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton. High Performing in maternity care 
• St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Grand Junction. High Performing in five procedures and conditions: prostate cancer surgery, heart attack, stroke, maternity care, and hip replacement 

“We are proud of the excellent, high quality medical care our caregivers deliver every day.  While we don’t chase recognition, we appreciate it when national publications recognize the incredible care our professionals deliver on a daily basis,” said Intermountain Health Region President Jim Sheets.   

You can learn more about the rankings at US News & World Report.  

April Vialpando, RN, believes victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, should be able to access care from a forensic nurse as soon as is possible. It should not take days, extensive travel, or a grueling wait for the victim.

Better access is now possible at Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton thanks to a $438,000 grant from Adams County.

Platte Valley will use the funds to expand the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. The program provides critical, compassionate service for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. 

“By expanding the SANE program, we are ensuring that victims of these horrific crimes receive the care and support they need without unnecessary delays or obstacles,” said Adams County Commissioner and Chair Emma Pinter. “This grant is a significant step in our commitment to improving public health and safety in our community.”

Vialpando, the program’s coordinator, explained that victims get emergency medical treatment for physical injuries, but a forensic exam must be performed by a certified caregiver. Not all hospitals offer that, and some might not have a trained clinician available.

“If you have to wait multiple nights in a row for hours (to see a forensic nurse), you probably give up or you don’t want to pursue getting any kind of help,” she said.

Platte Valley introduced its SANE program in January. Six specially trained nurses, dedicated equipment, and rooms designed for the care of sexual assault victims make up the program. It was created to treat patients and collect forensic evidence from victims who have experienced sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Since the program began, Vialpando said she has been surprised by the amount of violence against women. They have treated about 45 patients, which also includes a few men, since the program began. Only a quarter stem from sexual assault with the rest being victims of domestic violence. Both acts are “much more prevalent than anyone wants to think about,” Vialpando said.

While she sees so much violence, there are rewards as well.

“The most rewarding...is taking care of victims who think no one will believe them, and I care for them. I believe them and I reassure them,” she said.

Law enforcement officers appreciate taking victims to the local hospital rather than driving farther away from their service area.

In addition to doing the forensic exam, the nurses work closely with Adams County and the 17th Judicial District to act as expert witnesses and testify in court.

Vialpando has worked as a nurse for 20 years and said she has known from the start she wanted to care for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. 

“When the opportunity arose, I took full advantage and did the training so I could meet one of my own personal goals,” she said.

The Platte Valley team will evaluate patients 18 years and older affected by violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and strangulation.

If a patient chooses to report a crime, forensic evidence collected by the Platte Valley SANE program team will provide a valuable resource for police investigation and prosecution.   
 

Intermountain Health's Platte Valley Ambulance Service (PVAS) in Brighton and Fort Lupton Fire Protection District have entered into a new partnership that began on April 2, 2024. 

As a reult of this new partnership, Platte Valley Ambulance Service is now the primary emergency medical services (EMS) provider for the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District, which covers 88 square miles in Weld County.  

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in PVAS’s commitment to serving and expanding their reach within these fast-growing communities. Both PVAS and the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District are dedicated to offering the highest standard of care and emergency response services to those in need. 

“We are thrilled to join forces with the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District,” said Jaime Campbell, president of Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital. “Our shared mission is to ensure the health and safety of the Fort Lupton community through prompt, reliable, and compassionate care.” 

“We are immensely excited to embark on this partnership with Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a collaboration that promises to bring more effective, efficient, and community-centric emergency medical services to the people of Fort Lupton,” said Phil Tiffany, chief of the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District.  “This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to the well-being of our residents and we are confident that together, we will achieve great things.”  

The Fort Lupton community can expect enhanced EMS coverage, faster response times, and a seamless integration of services between the two agencies.  

Intermountain Health has announced that Joel Meyer, MD, has joined Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton as chief medical officer effective March 4.  

 “Dr. Meyer brings with him a wealth of experience and a dedication to service that aligns perfectly with our mission to provide exceptional care to our community,” said Platte Valley Hospital President Jaime Campbell. 

Dr. Meyer's career spans 32 years of service in the Army, where he held various clinical leadership roles, faculty positions, and executive leadership positions. He served as the director of Primary Care for all of Army Medicine and later as the chief medical officer of Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, the largest and most robust medical center in the Military Health System. Most recently, he served as the regional chief medical officer with ChenMed, providing primary care to underserved seniors. 

A native of Flint, Mich., Dr. Meyer earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., where he earned his medical degree. Dr. Meyer completed his residency training in family medicine at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia and is board certified in family medicine. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Healthcare Executives. 

 At Platte Valley, Dr. Meyer will work to further elevate the level of care provided to the community.  

Outside of work, Dr. Meyer enjoys spending time with his three adult children, who reside in Virginia and Arizona.