Patients lament 2015 closure of Boulder Community Health’s therapy pool
By Joe Rubino, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
That is why, since she returned to
Severely injured after being struck by a truck in
"I start out aqua jogging in the deep end, just to get my blood moving and warm up; get my body moving forward linearly," she said of her therapy routine. "I'm young and active -- or I was -- so that is one of the only times I get to actually move and feel normal."
That is why Tsondru--and many other regular users of the pool located inside BCH's Mapleton Center,
"We are totally restructuring our operations to operate more cost effectively," BCH spokesman
Sheehan said BCH, which sold the Mapleton Center to
He said the 2,072 square-foot therapy pool, heated to 94 degrees, costs an average of
"We really need to focus our resources on providing health care services," Sheehan said of the pool's eventual closure.
Longmont United's pool only comparable option in the area
"I wouldn't say I'm upset. I would say I'm dismayed and disappointed and disheartened," Tsondru said. "It's like one more blow to handicapped people."
As far as alternatives to the Mapleton pool go, warm water options in
Neither
Tsondru and other Mapleton users, however, say that traveling to
"Driving is very stressful for me so the stress of that would outweigh the benefit," she said. "There are plenty of pools in
"People who cannot move can move in the warm water," she said, adding that her doctor wrote her a prescription for warm water therapy after she had a hip replacement last year, meaning her insurance covered some of the cost of admission.
She agreed the
"I know a lot of people are very upset and don't know where to go for any help," Babcock said. "I think it's a top priority for somebody to pick it up and go with it."
Another frequent pool user,
Hey said there appears to be hope that a different facility may be secured in the
She said that while the
The recreation department is in the process of doing long-term planning and intends to hire a consultant to do an aquatics feasibility study before 2014 is through, Rhodes said. Though a new, large-scale therapy pool might take years to plan, finance and build, she said if the community will is there and is evident during the study process, the department could explore some shorter term alternatives.
"There are a lot of different community groups that love aquatics so we would love to build a facility in a cost effective manner," she said.
"But in the meantime, what can we do with what we have? Through partnership it can become a lot more manageable for everybody, so maybe the hospital becomes a partner."
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