In the 17 counties of the Eastern Plains, there is one physician for every 995 residents, compared with one per 295 residents in urban Colorado, according to the Colorado Rural Health Center. There are about 90 oncologists in Colorado with active licenses, according to data from the Colorado Medical Society and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. Leathers and his wife did have to to travel to Colorado Springs for a 7 a.m. vascular surgery. Gates was a nurse in the U.S. Army for 20 years before her career eventually took her to Colorado Springs. “A lot of patients don’t have cellphones.”Working with rural patients is more rewarding, she said, because they are regularly thanking her for coming to their town.

Source: Daily Sun December 21, 2025 11:04 UTC