December 30, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Medical Director Hired for Lake City Area Medical Center
The Lake Fork Health Service District announced the hiring of Dr. Ann Treisman as the new Medical Director for the Lake City Area Medical Center effective January 1, 2024. Ann will be replacing Dr. Bill Gattis who is returning to practice in Gunnison.
Dr. Treisman is a practicing hospitalist in the Montrose Regional Health and Gunnison Valley Health systems. During 2024, she will continue work according to contractual obligations in those systems as she transitions to more time at the Lake City clinic.
Lynn McNitt, President of the Health District Board shared that “Dr. Treisman joining our clinic is a huge lift for us. We are looking at the long-term picture with her and are very excited about the future of the clinic. Staffing continues to be challenge for us as we continue to work through attracting and retaining medical and dental staff. Being able to offer competitive compensation packages and living within our budget limitations is one of our biggest issues. Our staff is extremely dedicated, well-trained, professional, and caring. We are doing everything we can to maintain our high standards of healthcare service and office hours availability.”
Dr. Treisman replaces Dr. Bill Gattis who joined the Lake City clinic in 2020 as Medical Director and primary physician. Bill also provided services from time to time on a temporary basis since 2017 as an interim Director and physician. Dr. Gattis is leaving on good terms to return to practice in Gunnison. He has been a stabilizing force during a period of significant change to the staff and District Board of Directors.
Dr. Treisman earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2017. During medical school, she was a rural track graduate, earned Honors in all preclinical courses, earned Honors or High Pass in five out of seven clinical courses, and received the Firminger Award for outstanding performance in pathology and laboratory medicine.
She comes to Lake City already familiar with the clinic and area having worked at the Lake City Area Medical Center during the summer of 2014 as a medical student. She also filled in part-time at the clinic during 2022. Ann and her husband Zack already own property in Lake City.
Dr. Treisman did her internship at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver in 2017 - 2018. Her residency was at Peak Vista Family Medicine center in Colorado Springs in 2019 – 2022. She joined Gunnison Valley Health in June of 2022 and was hired by Montrose Regional Health in October of the same year.
Dr. Treisman said that “I have been hoping to work at the Lake City Area Medical Center ever since 2014 when I was here during my medical school rural track summer rotation. I feel the Lake City medical center embodies the true spirit of providing access to care in a rural setting. The town of Lake City is dear to my heart as I have been coming here to hike and explore for decades! My husband Zack and our two children Stanley, four, and Toby, two, are excited for our upcoming adventures in the town of Lake City and surrounding areas.”
In addition to her medical degree, Dr. Treisman holds a PhD in mathematics from the University of Chicago in 2007. She worked as a mathematics teacher at various universities including the University of Chicago, the University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Western Colorado University in Gunnison.
The Health District Board and Lake City clinic continue to work through staffing challenges at the clinic. Physician Assistant Bob Downs has previously announced his intention to retire in February of 2024 leaving a significant gap in advanced practice provider staff.
McNitt added that the Board is “still working on a replacement for Bob’s position, although we have a couple people interested in filling in part-time. Bob has said he would help us too, so I feel we are in a decent spot as far as our overall staff.”
Nurse Practitioner Sherry Huisman rejoined the clinic staff in 2022 having originally come to the clinic in 2015. Sherry and Bob fill the two positions on staff for advanced practice providers. Rounding out the medical provider staff is Dr. Treisman as Medical Director. Ann is expected to also provide physician services in the future as she transitions to more time in Lake City from her current obligations in Gunnison and Montrose.
Dr. John Quigley is Dental Director since 2020 and provides dental services. Appointments are available for a full range of dental services including hygiene and cleaning in the fully-equipped Healthcare Complex dental office. John has continued to work with the Health District Board in upgrading equipment and services.
The Health District operates with revenue sources that include property tax levy at a level approved in 2014, sales tax that was approved when the District was formed in 2003, patient revenue, grants, and donations. Patient revenue is complicated by limitations for reimbursement of services by Medicare and insurance companies.
The Lake Fork Health Service District is a special tax district in the State of Colorado. The District owns and operates the Moseley Healthcare Complex providing a wide range of urgent care, family practice medical and dental services, and community services. The Complex is home to the Hinsdale County EMS office, ambulance garages, and training facility. The Complex also has the Zeller Wellness and Education Center for conferences, meetings, wellness group activities, and emergency operations support.
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