St. Vincent Health and Rocky Mountain Family Practice Unite
On May 3, 2021, St. Vincent Health announced a landmark collaboration with long-time Leadville physician Dr. Lisa Zwerdlinger: she is donating her family medicine practice to the hospital, creating a single, integrated primary-care provider under one roof.
Key Details of the Merger
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Effective Date: June 1, 2021
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New Name: St. Vincent Family Health Center
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Location: 735 Highway 24 South, Leadville
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Staffing: All existing RMFP providers and support staff—Dr. Zwerdlinger, physician assistant Amy King, nurse practitioners Lauren Huffman and Kia Tamaki Harrold, plus a new PA joining in June—become St. Vincent Health employees.
“Lake County deserves the highest quality, evidence-based care possible,” says Dr. Zwerdlinger, who has practiced here for 23 years and owned Rocky Mountain Family Practice since 2005. “By entrusting my clinic to St. Vincent Health, I ensure that this community will continue to receive comprehensive care long after I’m gone.”
Why It Matters
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Seamless Patient Experience: Appointments, medical records, and follow-up all fall under one organization—no extra paperwork or referrals needed. Dr. Zwerdlinger and her team will continue to offer family medicine, urgent care, telehealth, and house-call visits just as before.
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Expanded Services: With primary care and hospital services aligned, St. Vincent Health can roll out 24/7 urgent care at its new facility, plus telemedicine and in-home care programs that RMFP pioneered.
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Stronger Community Health: SVH CEO Brett Antczak notes, “This merger aligns our resources and amplifies our ability to attract specialists—cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, and more—to serve Leadville’s patients.”
Next Steps for Patients
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Continuity of Care: Patients keep their existing providers, phone numbers, and appointment schedules.
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Communications: Clinic staff will reach out in the coming weeks with details about billing changes, new patient portal login, and office hours.
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Questions?
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Karen Onderdonk, Chief Branding Officer, St. Vincent Health: konderdonk@stvincent.health | 719-486-7135
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Brett Antczak, SVH CEO: bantczak@stvincent.health | 719-486-7161
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About the Partners
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Rocky Mountain Family Practice: Founded by Dr. Lisa Zwerdlinger in 2005, RMFP has earned a reputation for patient-centered, evidence-based primary care, serving everyone from newborns to seniors. RMFP also partners with local agencies—public health, fire, law enforcement, schools, and colleges—to coordinate community wellness initiatives.
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St. Vincent Health: Established in 1879 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, SVH is America’s highest-elevation hospital, serving patients at 10,152 feet. Its new state-of-the-art facility opens in 2021, bringing expanded specialty care (cardiology, ENT, orthopedics, and more) to Lake County.
This merger marks a transformative moment in Leadville’s health-care landscape—uniting primary care and hospital services to ensure that every resident continues to receive top-quality medical attention for decades to come.
