How We’re Different – Independent Care that Puts You First
Personal, Local, Physician-Led Care at Boulder Medical Center
At Boulder Medical Center, we believe health care works best when it’s personal, local, and guided by the people who know you best—your providers. Since 1949, we have remained a local, independent, physician-owned practice rooted in the Boulder County, CO community.
Local Care With Deep Roots in Boulder County
Because we’re local—not part of a national hospital system or corporate network—we’re able to stay closely connected to the unique needs of our community. Our clinics, services, and providers are built around the people who live here, not around corporate expectations and goals elsewhere. This means we understand and have the flexibility to respond to the specific needs of the Boulder County community, aligning our priorities without external pressure.
A 2023 community health survey found that 78% of patients who receive care from local, independent practices report feeling “connected” to their healthcare provider, compared to 41% of those receiving care at large hospital systems.
Being local also means we are part of the fabric of the community, not just a healthcare business. We sponsor local music events such as RockyGrass, the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, and Boulder Roots Music Fest; participate in the Bolder Boulder; and collaborate with schools, employers, nonprofits, and businesses to promote health across the county.
Better Care Because We’re Independent
Independence is more than a business model—it’s our identity. Being physician-owned means the providers who care for you are the same people guiding the direction of the practice. We’re free from outside investors, hospital chains, and distant shareholders who might dictate how care is delivered.
Research indicates that patients who receive care from independent physicians report 26% higher satisfaction compared to those seen in practices owned by hospital systems. This personal relationship leads to better diagnoses, tailored treatments, and overall patient satisfaction. And physicians are more satisfied, too. A survey of more than 3,500 physicians found that 67% of those in independent practice report “significant autonomy” in clinical decision-making, compared with 38% in hospital-employed positions.
Our independence allows our physicians to make decisions based solely on what’s best for you.
Decisions Begin and End With You
Everything at Boulder Medical Center starts with a simple principle: your health is personal. Our independence gives us the ability to:
- Spend the time you need to get your questions answered
- Recommend treatments based on clinical expertise, not external pressures
- Coordinate care seamlessly across specialties
- Innovate quickly in ways that directly benefit patients
- Maintain a long-term focus on wellness, prevention, and whole-patient care
When your provider is empowered, you are empowered. That’s the advantage of choosing an independent practice where decisions begin and end with you.
Health Care That Feels Different—Because It Is
From our long-standing roots to our collaborative teamwork across specialties, we’ve built a model of care designed to put patients first. We don’t just say we’re different—we’ve operated differently for more than 75 years. And we’re proud to keep it that way.