Labor and Delivery Improvements Help Cortez Sustain Local Care | LOR Foundation
Complete Health

Labor and Delivery Improvements Help Cortez Sustain Local Care

  • Local Champion: Southwest Memorial Hospital
  • Date Funded: March 15, 2024
  • Grant Amount: $30,000

According to Becker’s Hospital Review, more than 200 rural hospitals have closed their maternity wards over the last decade. Cortez faced the same threat when Southwest Memorial Hospital announced last year that it would close its Family Birthing Center due to the high costs of providing labor and delivery services. Residents rallied and the hospital listened to the community, preserving local maternity care. But the community’s efforts did not change the hospital’s financial situation. Even with cuts, the hospital is still digging out of a hole, making replacing necessary equipment extremely difficult. The hospital’s CEO reached out to LOR with a solution: purchase new medical instruments so Cortez residents can continue to access high-quality maternal care. LOR’s funding will help the hospital acquire an updated infant warmer and newborn hearing screener, allowing Southwest Memorial Hospital to focus on creating a sustainable future for Cortez’s labor and delivery services.

Contact our community officer in Cortez. Meet Nicci Crowley
More Health Solutions
Health / Weiser Safe Kennels Protect Weiser’s Volunteers and Shelter Dogs
Local Champion:
City of Weiser
Date funded:
September 18, 2025
Grant Amount:
$12,254
Health / Libby Police Equipment Launches a Volunteer Reserve Program in Libby
Local Champion:
City of Libby
Date funded:
September 17, 2025
Grant Amount:
$27,982
Health / Monte Vista New Body Armor Protects Monte Vista Police Officers
Local Champion:
City of Monte Vista
Date funded:
September 17, 2025
Grant Amount:
$22,265
Health / Weiser Water Aerobics Equipment Makes a Splash with Weiser
Local Champion:
City of Weiser
Date funded:
September 15, 2025
Grant Amount:
$4,156
Health / Cortez A Nonprofit Addresses Cortez’s Protein Gap
Local Champion:
A Cortez local
Date funded:
September 12, 2025
Grant Amount:
$5,000
Health / Weiser A Health Screening Machine Puts Prevention Within Reach for Weiser Residents
Local Champion:
Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation
Date funded:
September 5, 2025
Grant Amount:
$14,500

Share an Idea

If you have an idea for improving quality of life in Cortez or Monte Vista, Colorado; Lander, Wyoming; Libby, Montana; Questa or Taos, New Mexico; or Weiser, Idaho, use this form to start a conversation with us.

"*" indicates required fields