In Cripple Creek, there’s a healthcare clinic with a feel-good vibe that serves locals with a thermometer and a smile.

Founded 30 years ago by Fran Gorman, DNP, and Charles Ripp, MD, Gorman Pain Management and Primary Care clinic is distinguished by the stories.

In a place nearly 10,000 feet above sea level, reached by a two-lane state highway, the clinic is a medical resource for the neighbors.

“This is not like a regular doctor’s office,” Gorman said. “People just walk in.”

The clinic is one of two founded by Gorman and Ripp.

“We have 7,000 clients in our clinic in Colorado Springs,” she said. “Dr. Ripp and I opened that clinic thirteen years ago.”

But there’s something special about the clinic in Cresson Elementary School in Cripple Creek.

“All of us drive far distances to come up here, from Falcon or Denver, for instance,” Gorman said. “All of us came from ER and ICU backgrounds, every one of us.”

Several years ago, Ambyr Hodkins, NP, volunteered to be the clinic’s directoroffice manager.

“She was my student who at the time lived in Denver,” Gorman said.

The clinic treats newborns, pregnant women as well as people with a variety of medical needs.

“We had a brand-new baby that was born on a couch the day before,” Gorman said. “I’m very proud of my NPs (nurse practitioners), that they step up to the plate. They take care of people and prepare them for emergency medicine.”

In another case of an infant in distress, nurse practitioner Kim Meidinger treated a 12-month-old baby who was dehydrated and diagnosed with strep.

“We started an IV, and got the baby rehydrated, even before EMS got here,” Gorman said.

Soon after treating the baby, Meidinger dealt with another crisis, this one for a three-year old who was having difficulty breathing, had a fever and was lethargic.

“It was bad; we started an IV, put the baby on oxygen, gave the baby Ibuprofen and Tylenol,” Gorman said.

With Southwest Teller EMS, under the direction of Eric Murray, about two blocks away, people in southern Teller County have backup.

“There has been more than one time when I’ve called EMS and had them come over,” Gorman said. “I’ve had people with chest pain, or symptoms of a stroke, for instance.”

Gorman says one day is unlike any other.

“Ambyr had one that was in kidney failure and called EMS which got him to the hospital where he died two days later,” Gorman said. “He didn’t take care of himself so by the time he walked in the clinic, he was pretty sick.”

In addition to all the common ailments, many of them serious, the clinicians have become specialists.

“We see 480 patients up here with EDS, autoimmune disease,” Gorman said. “We’re seeing more EDS (Ehle Danlos Syndrome) patients; they don’t have any place to go. We diagnose and treat them. It’s a newer disease so a lot of doctors don’t take care of those patients.”

Gorman clinics rely on grants to keep current with treatments.

“With the grants we’re able to have the equipment we need – our newest is an EKG machine,” Gorman said. “This morning, we had a patient with blood pressure of 180 over 110. We put him on an IV drip, did an EKG, stabilized him, gave him medication, checked his blood sugar and it ended where he didn’t need a trip downtown.”

In the day and age when getting a medical appointment is a hassle, Gorman clinicians make house calls and see patients via the telehealth model.

“The town needs to know that we’re here for them. We’re all coming a great distance,” Gorman said. “We care and we’re prepared to take tough cases.”

For information, call (719)820-7740.