With just a few drops of blood, Abbott's i-STAT Alinity traumatic brain injury (TBI) test can eliminate the need for a computed tomography (CT) scan of the brain, reducing exposure to radiation. The test provides lab-quality results in about 15 minutes and a “not elevated” test result helps clinicians rule out a CT scan, which can take more than three hours to complete and read.

Dr. George Hertner, chair of emergency medicine for UCHealth in southern Colorado, said the hospitals have used the test more than 175 times over the past six months with strong results. Evaluating patients for possible mild brain injuries – often suffered from falls or while playing sports – is commonplace in the emergency department. Hertner said the test is also frequently used for patients who have been in motor vehicle accidents or have suffered a blow to the head.

The test – done with a handheld device at the patient’s bedside - looks for two proteins released into the bloodstream after a brain injury. If the proteins are not present, patients can avoid a CT scan. If the test is positive, a scan is often still necessary.

“It’s a rule-out test – it helps us know when we don’t need to do a CT scan. In that capacity, it has performed very well,” Hertner said, adding that the test eliminated the need for scans in 80% of the cases.

“Avoiding a scan can shorten your stay in the emergency department, lower radiation exposure associated with a scan, eliminate the need for a radiologist’s evaluation and reduce costs for everyone,” Hertner said. “Everybody wins.”

He further explained: “When you hit your head, we want to know if there could be bleeding in the brain. A strong hit can damage brain cells, which release specific proteins into the blood. This test helps us see if that kind of injury may have happened and if a CT scan is needed. So if your test is positive, we should do a scan.”

There are some caveats for the test. Among them:

• It can only be used on patients 18 and older.
• It must be used within 24 hours of injury.

“We are exploring how we can safely use this test in a more broad range of people,” Hertner said. “This test is already demonstrating the ability to use resources where they are most needed.”

Signs of a potential head injury include loss of consciousness, headache, repetitive vomiting, blurred vision, difficulty thinking clearly and short-term memory issues.

About UCHealth

UCHealth is a nationally recognized nonprofit health system that pushes the boundaries of medicine through advanced treatments and clinical trials, improving health through innovation and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. Investing $1.6 billion in community benefits including $762 million in uncompensated and charity care each year, UCHealth is Colorado’s largest Medicaid provider and dedicated to the communities it serves. With the region’s only adult academic medical center, University of Colorado Hospital on the CU Anschutz campus, UCHealth includes 37,000 employees, 15 acute-care hospitals and thousands of physicians across Colorado, Wyoming and western Nebraska.

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A three-month pilot project on UCH’s Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) unit uses lifelike robotic cats, dogs and birds designed to provide companionship and emotional support for patients with dementia and delirium-related symptoms.

“We immediately saw incredible responses,” said Becky Fehlig, nurse manager of the ACE unit at UCH. “Many of our patients’ moods change entirely once we bring in a pet for them. It’s really powerful to see.”

The robotic pets respond to touch, sound and interaction, mimicking behaviors of live animals while remaining safe and accessible in a hospital environment. Each patient receives their own pet and can keep them once they’re discharged.

The program is designed for patients with moderate to advanced dementia, particularly those who may be disoriented, anxious or at risk for delirium. Some patients tend to become agitated, distressed or even violent while in the hospital, requiring “sitters” or behavioral health technicians to help calm them down and ensure their safety.

Andrea Cervantes, a charge RN on the ACE unit, says robotic pets have already reduced the need for these interventions by creating calming moments, emotional reassurance and a sense of responsibility during what can often be a stressful hospital stay.

“We see patients who come in really agitated, confused and not talking much, until we bring in a pet,” said Cervantes. “These pets are making patients happy, so it’s making nurses happy, because they’re able to do something that brings joy to the patient.”

Richard Walker, a 74-year-old patient who was brought to UCH after wandering out of his retirement home for multiple hours, named his gray robotic cat “Stuffy.” His sister, Donna Delano, says the connection he was able to build with Stuffy has brought her family peace of mind as well.

“He’s talking. He’s interacting. He’s happy. He looks good. He looks healthier than when he came here. We were scared,” said Delano. “Thanks to that cat, I know that even when I can’t be here, he’s still happy.”

The ACE unit’s pilot project began on April 1 and has benefited dozens of patients so far. Because of the positive results and outcomes, UCHealth plans to expand access to the robotic pets throughout the hospital, including for post-anesthesia patients and those on other acute care units experiencing behavioral or dementia-related symptoms.

"At UCHealth, we are committed to finding innovative approaches that enhance patient care and improve outcomes," said Jen Rodgers, chief nursing officer at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. "This pilot has proven that small interventions can make a significant difference in a patient’s experience. We’re thrilled by the results so far and are excited to bring this program to more patients across the hospital.”

The procedure replaces the thumb joint with a small prosthetic ball joint to restore strength, mobility and function while reducing recovery time and post-surgical pain.

The first procedures were performed at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital by a team of hand surgeons who trained in France, Belgium and Switzerland to learn the surgical technique to install the prosthesis.

The Touch CMC1 Dual Mobility Trapeziometracarpal prosthesis has been used successfully in Europe since 2018 but only received conditional FDA approval in the U.S. in 2025. UCHealth is one of only four medical centers participating in the post-approval clinical trial to monitor outcomes in American patients.

“This is a game changer for patients with thumb arthritis,” said Dr. Louis Catalano, hand surgeon and professor of orthopedics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “The new prosthesis allows patients to recover in a matter of weeks, not months. They also experience less pain during recovery and regain more thumb movement and strength afterwards.”

Thumb arthritis affects millions of Americans, especially women older than 40. The condition can make everyday tasks such as opening jars, turning doorknobs, texting or gripping objects painful and difficult. Traditional surgical treatment, thumb CMC arthroplasty, involves removing a small wrist bone called the trapezium and reconstructing the joint using tendon tissue, which often requires lengthy and painful recovery.

“Patients want to return to living their lives as quickly as possible,” said Dr. Fraser Leversedge, chief of hand surgery at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. “Since we began this new procedure, we’re seeing similar outcomes to what we’ve seen in Europe: better outcomes in a few weeks than we’d normally see in a few months.”

Traceyrené Martz Delgado had her surgery in February, becoming the first patient in the western U.S. to receive the implant in her right thumb. She says the procedure changed her life.

“It’s been amazing,” Delgado said of the procedure and her recovery. “After many years, I can finally work, hold my grandson and ride my e-bike without pain or limitations.”

Rather than a cast or a hard splint, which is standard after a traditional thumb CMC arthroplasty, Delgado left her procedure with her hand wrapped in gauze and an ace bandage and only needed two pills of prescribed pain medication.

Delgado plans to get the same procedure done on her left thumb in the future.

Aurora, Colo. (April 9, 2026) – Neurosurgery experts with CU Anschutz performed Colorado’s first implanted brain‑computer interface (BCI) surgery at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital marking a significant advance for patients with neurological injury or disease. Commonly known as BCIs, the implanted technology can restore lost motor and sensory function by translating brain signals into actions for people with paralysis or neurodegenerative movement disorders. 

The 41-year-old UCHealth patient who underwent the groundbreaking surgery was in an accident approximately 10 years ago that paralyzed him from the neck down. Now, the implanted device will record and interpret his brain’s electrical signals, learning the relationship between the brain’s activity and his intended behavior. This will allow him to regain function and independence through external devices like controlling a robotic arm and using a computer. The research team will also stimulate sensory areas of his brain to restore sensation, aiming to help the patient feel his hand again for the first time since his injury.

What makes this surgery especially unique is where in the brain the device was placed. The physicians are among the first in the world to implant the technology in higher‑level areas of the brain that allow for more natural and complete sensory and motor control. This approach allows doctors to help restore function in a more complete way, and also allows for rare insight into how the brain turns thoughts into actions.

“This surgery is an important step forward not only for this patient but for neuroscience as a whole,” said Daniel Kramer, MD, assistant professor of neuroscience at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine and a neurosurgeon at UCHealth. “While most BCI procedures focus only on purely motor regions, implanting this device in higher‑level brain areas will offer new insights into how the human brain works during everyday thinking and movement.”

Shaping the future of neurological treatment 

The BCI device will remain implanted for many years, allowing the physicians and researchers to study how brain signals represent complex cognitive tasks, as well as how they change from day to day and respond to stimulation. By gathering unprecedented, detailed data on higher‑level brain functions – such as learning rules, planning, decision‑making, and turning thoughts into action – they aim to lay the groundwork for future treatments for not just pure motor control, but cognition as it relates to control of actions. The hope is that this research will eventually inform new therapies for conditions that affect cognitive control, such as mood disorders or dementia, expanding the potential of brain‑computer interfaces beyond paralysis alone.

“Being able to both perform this surgery and collect and analyze long‑term data from unique areas of the brain places CU Anschutz and UCHealth at the forefront of brain‑computer interface research,” said Luke Bashford, PhD, assistant adjunct professor of neuroscience and neurotechnology at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine. “Movement and cognition are uniquely linked. With this research program, we will begin to investigate the ways in which the brain generates and governs these processes.”

Access to advanced research and the possibility of regaining lost abilities  

By offering this advanced brain‑computer interface study in Colorado, UCHealth and CU Anschutz are bringing a leading-edge opportunity closer to home for patients with spinal cord injuries, neurodegenerative conditions and cognitive challenges. Patients across the Rocky Mountain region now have access to participate in research that could help shape the future of neurological care by developing more innovative treatment options. 

The research is supported by equipment and funding from Blackrock Neurotech and conducted under a consortium led by Richard Anderson, PhD, at Caltech, with Charles Liu, MD, PhD, at the University of Southern California. To learn more about participating in this BCI study, please contact the study team directly by emailing luke.bashford@cuanschutz.edu.

To learn more about other neurological treatment options available at UCHealth, visit UCHealth Neurosurgery.

Estes Park, Colo. – Every second counts when treating a stroke. 

With this urgency in mind, UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center (EVMC) has introduced telestroke services in its emergency department, transforming care for the Estes Park community. Telestroke connects the local EVMC care team with a virtual neurologist 24/7, enabling rapid diagnosis and treatment for patients.

“The telestroke service enhances collaboration between our local care team and an acute-care neurologist, allowing faster, more thorough care for patients,” said April Kendall, associate nurse manager in EVMC’s emergency department.

Strokes happen when there is a sudden interruption of blood flow to the brain, which can be caused by a blockage of a blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. Reductions in oxygen and nutrients to the brain can cause cell death.

In the U.S., more than 795,000 people have a stroke each year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strokes are the leading cause of long-term disability, with some of the most common outcomes being partial paralysis, slurred speech, reduced mobility and death. Although most strokes happen in patients 65 and older, the number of strokes is on the rise in younger patients.

“Every minute a stroke goes untreated can lead to permanent brain injury, and our telestroke service allows us to act quickly, even from a distance,” said Dr. Kelsey Eklund, a UCHealth neurologist with the telestroke service and assistant professor of neurology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. “By shortening the time to evaluation and treatment, we help ensure all patients receive high-quality care that can dramatically improve outcomes, recovery and long-term quality of life.”

With the combined expertise of emergency physicians, nurses and now a virtual neurologist, EVMC’s team can diagnose strokes and start treatment within minutes, maximizing patient recovery and minimizing lasting effects.

“The addition of telestroke services will make us more efficient, allowing us to evaluate, diagnose, treat and transfer patients to a higher level of care more quickly,” said Kendall.

In 2025, EVMC received 45 patients in the emergency department who were evaluated and transferred for higher-level neurological care. In 2026, that number is already at 13, highlighting the growing need for efficient diagnoses and treatment.

“The neat thing about telestroke services is having the neurologist right at the bedside getting firsthand information from the patient and family,” said Dr. John Meyer, an emergency physician with UCHealth Estes Valley Medical Center. “The technology of the tablet is set up so the neurologist can do a physical exam alongside the nurse and emergency physician. This also provides a faster diagnosis and treatment plan, which saves neurons in the brain.”

To help Estes Valley residents identify the signs of a stroke, EVMC is offering a free B.E. F.A.S.T. magnet at community events, or residents may pick one up at the hospital main lobby Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information about strokes, visit the UCHealth stroke page.

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The  Ion robotic-assisted platform enhances traditional bronchoscopy procedures by combining robotic navigation with three-dimensional imaging of a patient’s lungs. Using a CT scan to create a detailed 3D airway map, physicians can guide a thin robotic catheter deep into the lungs to locate and biopsy suspicious nodules.

Nodules are small masses of dense tissue, typically about an inch in size, that appear in imaging tests as white spots. Most are non-cancerous.

Dr. Joshiah Gordon, an interventional pulmonologist with Pueblo Pulmonary Associates, said the technology represents a significant advancement in the ability to diagnose lung disease earlier and more accurately.

“Robotic bronchoscopy allows us to reach very small nodules that were previously difficult or sometimes impossible to access,” Dr. Gordon said. “By combining detailed CT imaging with robotic precision, we can guide the bronchoscope directly to the area of concern and obtain tissue samples with a much higher level of accuracy.”

One challenge in traditional bronchoscopy procedures involves a concept known as “divergence,” where the airway map created from a CT scan may not perfectly match the patient’s anatomy during the procedure. The Ion system uses advanced shape-sensing technology that significantly reduces this difference, helping physicians maintain accurate navigation inside the lungs.

The system also uses an ultra-thin robotic catheter that can maneuver through the smallest airways of the lung. Once the catheter reaches the target area, physicians can lock it in position and obtain multiple biopsy samples without the instrument shifting.

Traditional bronchoscopy procedures diagnose lung nodules about 75 percent to 80 percent of the time. ION robotic bronchoscopy can increase that accuracy to roughly 90 percent to 95 percent, Dr. Gordon said.

“Being able to lock the catheter in place allows us to take several precise biopsies from the same area without losing our position,” Dr. Gordon said. “That stability reduces variability during the procedure and greatly improves our ability to obtain an accurate diagnosis.”

Early detection plays a critical role in improving lung cancer outcomes. Lung cancer often does not cause noticeable symptoms until the disease has advanced, making early diagnosis difficult.

“When lung cancer is detected at stage one or stage two, we can start talking about cure rather than simply treatment,” Dr. Gordon said. “Technology like this helps us identify and biopsy smaller nodules earlier, which can make a meaningful difference for patients.”

The addition of robotic bronchoscopy technology also means patients in southern Colorado can receive advanced diagnostic procedures close to home.

“These robotic bronchoscopy systems are still relatively new and not widely available,” Dr. Gordon said. “Having this capability here in Pueblo allows patients across southern Colorado to receive advanced lung diagnostics without having to travel long distances.”

The Ion system has the capacity to treat approximately 10 patients per week at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center.

If a biopsy confirms cancer, patients are referred to specialists who may include medical oncology, radiation oncology and thoracic surgery depending on the stage of disease. If a nodule is benign, patients continue follow-up care with pulmonary specialists to monitor or treat the underlying condition.

Dr. Gordon is board certified in interventional pulmonology and has been performing advanced bronchoscopic procedures since 2008. He is currently the only physician in southern Colorado with board certification in interventional pulmonology and serves as the director of pulmonary and advance bronchoscopy at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center.

For patients, Dr. Gordon said the ultimate goal is simple.

“Patients who learn they have a suspicious lung nodule should not have to wait months for answers,” he said. “With this technology, we can often reach those nodules sooner, obtain tissue safely and quickly provide patients with clear answers about what comes next.”

History of the UCHealth Transplant Program

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