Telluride Med Center: Scheidegger Returns as Primary Care Practice Manager 

16 Feb Telluride Med Center: Scheidegger Returns as Primary Care Practice Manager 

Long-time Telluride Medical Center (TMC) staff member, Paula Scheidegger, returns as Practice Manager for Primary Care.

Paula has played multiple roles and been an integral part of the TMC team since 2007.  She returns after a year in Denver pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Paula Scheidegger

Paula and her family moved to the United States from Colombia when she was 19.  Having previously worked for the Colombian government, her father sought political asylum in the U.S. and moved the family to West Palm Beach, Florida. Paula attended the local community college where she studied English and biology and obtained her Associate of Arts degree. She continued her studies at the University of Miami and graduated on the Dean’s List with Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Marine Science in 2006.

While attending the University of Miami, Paula met her future husband Kane, who is originally from Ridgway, Colorado. Upon graduation, the couple decided to move back to Kane’s hometown. After working briefly as a biologist for Bio-Logic Environment in Montrose, Paula accepted a position with the Telluride Medical Center in 2007.

Initially working at TMC’s front desk doing patient relations and medical interpretation, Paula pursued training as an Emergency Medical Technician and became Dr. Grundy’s Medical Assistant (MA) in 2010. While working as an MA, she assisted with chronic disease registries, managed state and federal grants on behalf of the TMC, and eventually transitioned to Care Management (CM).  After two years of working as a CM and seeking to expand her role, she decided to return to school and pursue a BSN.

Paula was accepted into Regis University’s Accelerated BSN Program in 2014. Despite protests from TMC patients who had grown attached to her, Paula spent 2015 in Denver taking classes and doing clinical rotations.  She graduated in December with her BSN, again finding her way onto the Dean’s List.

In her new role as Practice Manager for Primary Care, Paula spends three days a week reviewing operations, developing policy and procedure, monitoring the budget, managing grants, acting as a liaison with the Emergency Department, managing staff training and facilitating TMC’s Patient Advisory Council. Additionally, she spends one day a week as Case Manager for high-risk patients.

Paula is passionate about TMC and the Telluride community. She seeks to makes a difference in the health and quality of life of patients by helping them transition to a healthier lifestyle. She has been a bridge between TMC and the local Hispanic community by working with patients, interpreting on behalf of fellow staff, and facilitating outreach efforts that encourage participation in health and assistance programs.

When asked about the team at TMC, Paula says, “This is my family. They have supported me through everything.  They pushed me to pursue a meaningful career and changed my life.”  

For more information about the Telluride Medical Center or to access the patient portals, visit http://www.tellmed.org/.