Otero County Backs Funding to Upgrade Radiology at Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center
Description: Otero County supports federal funding to upgrade radiology equipment at Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center, improving rural healthcare access in Southeast Colorado. Read the full Letter...
Federal Funding Sought to Modernize Radiology Services at Rural Hospital in Southeast Colorado
March 17, 2026
The Honorable Michael Bennet
United States Senate
261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable John Hickenlooper
Dear Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper:
We are writing to express strong support for Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center's request for federal funding to modernize its radiology suite. As the primary hospital serving Otero County and much of southeast Colorado, Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center (AVRMC) plays a vital role in ensuring that residents in our rural region have access to timely and reliable healthcare services.
AVRMC is the only hospital within a 60-mile radius that provides advanced imaging services. For many residents of our community and surrounding rural areas, this hospital represents the closest and most accessible source of care. Modernizing the hospital's radiology suite by upgrading its CT imaging system and replacing its aging C-arm imaging device will strengthen the hospital's ability to perform surgeries and diagnose and treat serious conditions such as stroke, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. These improvements are especially important for rural residents who might otherwise need to travel long distances-over two hours in some cases-outside our region to receive these essential services.
Maintaining strong healthcare infrastructure is critical to the health, safety, and stability of rural communities like La Junta. Access to modern diagnostic imaging supports not only better health outcomes but also our community's emergency response capacity and overall quality of life. This project will help ensure that residents of Otero County and surrounding communities can continue to receive high-quality diagnostic and surgical care close to home.
For these reasons, we strongly support this funding request and respectfully encourage your consideration of this important investment in rural healthcare access.
Related Content:
Otero County Commissioners Approve Grants, Rail Priorities, and Infrastructure Projects in March 9 Meeting
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