New president to take reins at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital

Proven health care leader brings unique blend of experience to Longmont hospital
Feb. 6, 2019
Lonnie Cramer will become the president of UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital on Feb. 25. Photo courtesy of The Unfound Door.

 

Longmont, Colo.  (Feb. 6, 2019) – A new president will lead a team of more than 500 employees at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital and oversee the organization’s continuing expansion of services in the Longmont and Carbon Valley areas.

Lonnie Cramer will bring more than 20 years of health care leadership experience to Longs Peak Hospital when he takes the reins on Feb. 25.

Lonnie Cramer, was selected to be the second president of UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont, Colorado. He will take the reins on Feb. 25, 2019.

“I’m excited to welcome Lonnie to UCHealth,” said Kevin Unger, president and CEO of UCHealth’s Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland and Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. “His commitment to providing the best patient care and experience and to meeting the needs of this growing community make him a perfect fit for this position.”

Cramer is currently the chief operating officer at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, where he has worked in various leadership positions since 2007. Clinically, Cramer specialized in diagnostic imaging. He worked at a high-volume radiology department in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and oversaw operations of five outpatient imaging facilities in Louisiana. He offers a unique blend of health care experience that includes patient care, service line leadership, physician relations, hospital operations and community partnerships.

Longs Peak, located at 1750 E. Ken Pratt Blvd. in Longmont, is a 51-bed full-service hospital that  features an intensive care unit, four operating rooms, a birth center with a Level II special care nursery and a Level III trauma center and emergency department. The hospital opened in August 2017 and cared for patients in more than 24,000 visits in the first year alone.

Dan Robinson, the first president of UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital, lead the creation, opening and growth of the hospital, which opened in August 2017.

“It’s an honor to join the Longs Peak team and to build upon the tremendous impact the hospital has had on lives in this community in such a short time,” Cramer said. “I’m incredibly impressed with the culture at Longs Peak and how everyone is focused on doing what’s right for the patient. I look forward to working closely with the patients, staff, physicians and partners in the community to continue this tradition.”

Cramer, who will be the second president in the history of the hospital, will replace Dan Robinson, who announced his retirement in October. Robinson, who has worked in health care for more than 36 years, was instrumental in the creation, opening and growth of Longs Peak. Under his leadership, the hospital has achieved excellent quality and safety scores in addition to superior experience ratings from patients.

“Dan has developed this unique culture at the hospital focused on providing the very best care and an excellent experience for all patients, visitors, physicians and staff. It’s what makes Longs Peak stand out,” Unger said. “I can’t thank him enough.”

About the author

Kelly Tracer is a media relations specialist at UCHealth, based in northern Colorado. For nearly 20 years, she worked as a newspaper reporter, editor and designer before diving into the world of health care communications.

She believes there is an amazing story inside everyone and considers it an honor to get to meet and work with so many extraordinary people – patients, families, providers, volunteers and staff – every day. She is also fascinated by health care innovation and programs that empower and inspire people and families to live healthier lives.

A native of Nebraska, Kelly received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She and her husband have two children and enjoy paddle boarding all summer and skiing all winter.