Hospitals shift gears to compete

For the past couple of years, the boards of directors at the North Colorado Medical Center and Poudre Valley Hospital have been thinking about the same thing: How, in the face of diminishing financial returns, to continue to deliver top-quality patient care while staying competitive within their respective service areas.
Each drew a different conclusion.
In January 1995, North Colorado Medical Center aligned itself with the $762 million private, nonprofit Lutheran Health Systems. Meanwhile, Poudre Valley Hospital elected to maintain its independent status and protect its viability with new products and services.
Officials at both hospitals maintain their decisions…