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Yampa Valley Medical Center launches Craig clinic

Ben McCanna
Jamie Felten, a medical assistant, stands in front of the entrance to Yampa Valley Medical Center’s new clinic in Craig. Felten said the clinic has served 180 to 200 patients per month since opening.
Shawn McHugh

Yampa Valley Medical Center, based in Steamboat Springs, launched a new medical clinic May 4 in Craig, and spent the summer enhancing services and adding physicians.

The clinic, which occupies 6,378 square feet at 651 Yampa Ave., in downtown Craig, now includes five doctors and laboratory services.

The physicians are Kristen Fahrner, who specializes in ear, nose and throat surgery, allergies and asthma; obstetricians/gynecologists Diane Petersen and Dave Schaller; pediatrician Steven Ross; and internal medicine physician Charlie Petersen.



YVMC public relations director Christine McKelvie described the clinic’s launch in May as a “soft opening.” However, while the clinic is relatively new, the physicians it now houses have been practicing in Craig for years.

“It seemed like a really good opportunity to provide a space where they could be found,” McKelvie said. “A decision was made to try to centralize as many practices as possible in one building.”



YVMC laboratory services are a new addition to Craig.

“We have a great laboratory and we want to make it available to people in Craig, some of whom travel (to Steamboat) to get the laboratory tests done,” McKelvie said.

Lab tests are conducted in Craig and processed at YVMC’s Steamboat Springs location, she said.

Lab tests are available from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, according to the news release.

McKelvie said it’s common for people to track their own health through direct-access testing.

“They can come in and do direct-access testing if they know the tests they want and if we offer it,” McKelvie said. “No appointments are necessary for the lab work.”

Business at the clinic has been good so far, clinic medical assistant Jamie Felten said.

“We’ve seen an average of 180 to 200 patients every month,” Felten said.

George Rohrich, chief executive officer of The Memorial Hospital, said he isn’t troubled by the arrival of the YVMC clinic in TMH’s market area.

“A little competition is good for everybody,” Rohrich said. “The Memorial Hospital continues to work hard at providing the best value and experience for our customers and, in the end, we think that’s what’s important.”


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