The VA Rocky Mountain Network was established in March 1996 and is one of 21 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN). The Rocky Mountain Network Office is located in Glendale, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. The Network spans over 470,000 square miles across several states and is one of the largest networks in terms of geographic area. Its service area covers the entire state of Utah; and nearly all of Colorado, Montana and Wyoming; and portions of Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada and North Dakota. Network topography includes the Rocky Mountains, and areas subject to extreme winter weather. From late fall through spring, travel in the area is often difficult and sometimes impossible due to severe snow, wind and occasional road closures.

Health care delivery is influenced by many factors, including the large geographic area, a wide range in population density and socioeconomic conditions. The population varies from large urban areas such as Denver, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah to rural and even frontier areas, especially in Montana and Wyoming. Significant portions of the Rocky Mountain Network population have an income below the poverty level and much of the service area is designated as "Health Manpower Shortage Areas," especially for primary care and mental health services.

The Network facilities include:

• VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System and VAMC Grand Junction, Colorado.
• VA Montana Healthcare System, Montana
• VAMC Salt Lake City, Utah
• VAMCs Cheyenne and Sheridan, Wyoming

Four facilities/Health Care Systems; Cheyenne, WY; Denver, CO; VA Montana HCS, MT; and VA Salt Lake City HCS, UT, have active academic affiliations with medical schools and graduate medical education practice programs. These relationships allow for the education and training of medical students and house staff in VA healthcare facilities. The hospitals at Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT are large highly affiliated tertiary facilities.
 
Mission

Our mission is to become a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system providing excellence in health care value, excellence in service as defined by our veteran patients and excellence in education and research.

Core Values

• Trust
• Respect
• Commitment
• Compassion
• Excellence