At Rio Grande Hospital and Clinics, our greatest pride isn’t just in the procedures we perform—it’s in the people we care for, the relationships we build, and the unmistakable feeling of home that surrounds every patient who walks through our doors.
Gary Dickens knows a thing or two about grit and the feeling of home…

Long before he needed knee surgery, Gary spent years riding bareback bronc and bulls across Colorado—Deertrail, Nederland, Hugo, Montrose, Callahan, Parachute…just to name a few. That kind of life builds stories, character, and memories—but it can also take a toll on the body. For Gary, that toll showed up in his knee.

That’s what led him to Rio Grande Hospital and Clinics for a U-Knee surgery, also known as a Unicompartmental (Partial) Knee Arthroplasty. This procedure removes the bones affected by osteoarthritis in one specific area of the knee while preserving healthy bone and ligaments. And yes…RGH is very good at it.

But again—that’s not the most important part of this story.
What matters most is that Gary and his wife, Cheryl Morgan, felt so welcomed, so supported, and so immersed in the RGH family they allowed me to be part of their journey. That’s community. That’s trust. That’s home.

From check-in to Gary’s very first steps, everything felt personal. Gary said it best:
“It was like being family the whole time. I might as well have been at home.”
The food? Great.
The care? Exceptional.
And most importantly—Gary is feeling great.

I had the pleasure of seeing Gary and Cheryl again at his very first physical therapy appointment. And shockingly enough (though maybe not for a former bronc rider)—he was already walking, and walking well. Big smile on his face, walker in hand (doctor’s orders, of course), and confidence in every step.

Here’s Gary’s experience, in his own words:
RGH – “What can I say; amazing food, no waiting, excellent customer service, worst pain on Day 1? Only a 2, walking right after surgery, and best of all…it felt like home.”

Stories like Gary and Cheryl’s remind us why rural healthcare matters so deeply. Medical skill heals bodies—but human connection heals people. When patients feel known, valued, and cared for like family, recovery looks different.

Gary. Cheryl.
RGH loves you guys…. And like I always say—let’s hear it for the home team.