New NCMC campus is a good move for all involved

We're glad North Colorado Medical Center has decided to expand its operations to southern Weld County. This move can only be good for the people of Weld.

North Colorado Medical Center Inc. announced last week that it plans to develop a medical campus in Frederick, near Interstate 25 and Colo. 392. This is a good move for all parties concerned.

The campus in Frederick will serve southern Weld. This is one of the fastest-growing parts of the county. The new medical campus will bring a new level of medical service to that community and bring new jobs to the area.

Development of the new medical campus will take place during the next several years. The plans call for the first phase of the development to be emergency and medical imaging facilities. The campus could also become a home for the second Med Evac helicopter. NCMC recently added a second medical helicopter as part of its partnership with Dallas-based Med-Trans Corp. The second helicopter is currently based at Erie Municipal Air Park.

As big as Weld is, stretching from near Wyoming in the north to close to Longmont in the south, having this medical emergency capability in the southern part of the county will benefit Weld's residents.

The move by the managers of NCMC, which has facilities in Greeley, Eaton, Windsor and Johnstown, also shows a forward-looking management style that is prepared to expand its services and grow as Weld does. Because NCMC is so important to Greeley and Weld, it is important that the hospital thrive and do well along with Weld.

It is easy to forget about the growth that is going on in southern Weld. We are glad that NCMC's managers haven't. The plans for a new medical facility in southern Weld will be good for everyone.