Hilltop Health Services Corporation history

By the late 1890’s the area was covered with numerous small towns filled with miners and their families, as well as two large cities, Cripple Creek and Victor, that boasted populations in the tens of thousands.

Reportedly, as early as mid-1893, there were 80 doctors practicing in the new Gold District.

After much opposition from El Paso County authorities and members of the State legislature, on March 25, 1899, Teller County was officially formed from the western most portion of El Paso.

As for the smaller St Nicholas Hospital, it had been purchased from the Sisters of Mercy by a local Doctor's group in 1924.

1580 Sullivant has been home to a wide variety of businesses since the 1930's, such as dry cleaners, alarm system sales, and, most recently, Oldaker Doors Sales Inc.

It was built in the mid-1940's and originally contained seven apartment units in addition to the retail space on the first floor.

After that, medical and hospital services continued to be offered there until 1960, when the building was reportedly sold to the County for $1.

In 1961, the Teller County Hospital closed its doors for good.

Meanwhile, in 1969, Doctor Eugene Wiegman, who had recently been hired as president of Pacific Lutheran University, was asked by the community to chair the newly formed Tacoma Urban Coalition.

In 1971, the Tacoma Urban Coalition, in continued support of the fledgling clinic's efforts, published the results of a study confirming that Tacoma lacked sufficient accessibility to healthcare, especially in the Eastside, South End, and Hilltop neighborhoods.

By 1972 it could no longer meet code and regulation requirements to remain open as a Nursing Home and was closed.

Federal Model Cities funding provided modest financial support for the clinics' operation, but that program came to an end in 1974.

When formed in 1975, it began as the Southwest Teller County Hospital District.

In the 1980’s Debbie Arseneau, Teller County Public Health Director, was awarded a grant from The Colorado Trust that helped open a clinic staffed by Mike and Mary Szymanski, nurse practitioners.

A new clinic in Sumner would follow soon after, opening in April 1981.

In 1986 the concept of urgent care was just beginning.

Gaming was approved for Cripple Creek by voters in 1990.

Congressman Norm Dicks (center) given a faux exam, Hilltop Children's Clinic opening reception, Tacoma, 1991

In June 1992 the 24-hour service began operations with one ambulance staffed by one paramedic and one EMT. Candy Shoemaker was hired as the Director.

In September 1993, a new clinic opened in Tillicum.

A September 2, 1994 News Tribune article got right to the point: "Bad management threatens the future of a Pierce County agency that provides medical care for about 14,000 poor people, according to a stinging federal report.

In 1995, David Flentge was hired as the new CEO, tasked with bringing the organization back into compliance with federal standards in order to renew funding.

Community Health Care Delivery System administrative offices, Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma, 1996

Hilltop was instrumental in the 1997 launch of HealthChoice, Maryland’s Medicaid managed care program.

The City of Cripple Creek contributed support for EMS. In 1999 voters of the district approved a 1.64 mill levy to support emergency services and help with capital improvements at the nursing home.

As CHC entered the 2000s, growth and expansion continued, and the organization responded to changes in the area's population: By 2000, CHC employed 11 bilingual medical and dental providers and 35 bilingual support staff.

The year 2001 brought accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

In mid-June 2002, the Beltzhoover Citizens Community Development Corporation (BCCDC) and the Hilltop Community Health Care Partnership it had formed, contacted the Sto-Rox Neighborhood Health Center (SRNHC) to provide primary care in the Hilltop.

Sto-Rox applied for and received notice it was an approved grantee for the funding by September 2003.

A little over a year later, in November 2004, primary medical care began in a modular unit at 317 Climax Street in Beltzhoover.

Through very focused financial management, and negotiations leading to debt reductions, the Board serving since 2005 achieved a debt free status for the nursing home, including retirement of the mortgage.

In 2009, 40 years after the creation of the first clinic, Doctor Tanbara was honored with the opening of the new Kimi & George Tanbara, MD Eastside Family Medical Clinic at Salishan.

In August 2010, Sto-Rox Neighborhood Health Center became aware of the availability of space within the former South Hills High School.

Hilltop’s Hospital Community Benefit Program—launched in 2011 with grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Kresge Foundation—continues to be an important resource for state and local policymakers.

In April 2012 they were notified that they were approved and construction began to renovate one of the gym areas in the former school at 151 Ruth Street in November of the following year.

The Board dropped the name Cripple Creek Rehab and Wellness Center, and began the year of 2013 operating as the

After almost two years of operation in the Hilltop Community, the opening of the new facility occurred in July 2014 where they have been operating for almost three years.

© 2015 Southern Teller County Health Services District

Most recently it was St Matthew's Fire Baptized Holiness Church, but St Matthew's decided to relocate and the building was sold in November 2018.