UCHealth to give community a sneak peek inside new Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont

Teddy Bear Hospital and Community Open House events planned for Aug. 5
By:
July 20, 2017

LONGMONT, Colo. (JULY 20, 2017) – Just as crews are putting the finishing touches on the UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont, clinicians and staff are getting ready for the new hospital’s big debut.

A photo of the new UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital and Longs Peak Surgery Center
The new UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital and Longs Peak Surgery Center will open in late August in Longmont. Photo by Kelly Tracer, UCHealth.

At two events on Aug. 5, the community will get a chance to look inside Longs Peak Hospital and the Longs Peak Surgery Center and learn more about the services that will be offered there.

The new 210,000-square-foot hospital at 1750 E. Ken Pratt Blvd. is set to open in late August with more than 50 inpatient beds and room to grow. The hospital will feature an intensive care unit, operating rooms, a Level III trauma center and emergency department, advanced cardiac services, a birth center with a Level II special care nursery, a surgery center and 24-hour retail pharmacy, laboratory and imaging services. In addition, Longs Peak Hospital patients will gain access to advanced treatments, complex surgeries and innovative clinical trials across the entire UCHealth system.

Matthew McMillan explains how his stuffed snake got injured and points out the rips in his skin as emergency physician Jamie Teumer sews up the wounds at a recent Teddy Bear Hospital event at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins.
Matthew McMillan explains how his stuffed snake got injured and points out the rips in his skin as emergency physician Jamie Teumer sews up the wounds at a recent Teddy Bear Hospital event at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. The staff at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital will be hosting a Teddy Bear Hospital event from 9 a.m.-noon Aug. 5. Photo by Kelly Tracer, UCHealth.

“A little more than a year ago, we started building this hospital so we can provide our patients with an exceptional experience and advanced care, close to home,” said Dan Robinson, the hospital’s president and CEO. “Soon, we’ll be opening our doors to care for our first patients and deliver the hospital’s first babies. We all are excited to start caring for our patients here, and we are excited to give the community a look at what’s in store.”

On Aug. 5, the morning will kick off with the Teddy Bear Hospital event, which will be held from 9 a.m. until noon. The Community Open House will be held from 1-5 p.m.

The new UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital will feature a Level III trauma center and emergency department
The new UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital will feature a Level III trauma center and emergency department. The facility will open in late August in Longmont. Photo by Kelly Tracer, UCHealth.

At Teddy Bear Hospital, kids will get a little TLC for their favorite stuffed animals or dolls. Parents and children alike will be able to learn about being healthy, staying safe and preventing injuries as well.

“Emergency room visits can be really scary for children and their families since many don’t know what to expect,” said Stephanie Koenig, the emergency department manager at Longs Peak Hospital. “This is a great opportunity to bring children through the emergency room and simulate what a visit might be like for the child – but their stuffed animal is the patient instead.”

Ethan Bell reaches over to hug his teddy bear after a quick visit with the doctor during a recent Teddy Bear Hospital event at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins
Ethan Bell reaches over to hug his teddy bear after a quick visit with the doctor during a recent Teddy Bear Hospital event at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Photo by Kelly Tracer, UCHealth.

At the Teddy Bear Hospital event, UCHealth emergency staff will bandage, suture and even X-ray the “patient” based on its injuries or illnesses reported to them by the child. “This is a free and fun event that can help decrease the anxiety and fear a child might have should they need to come to the emergency room as a patient themselves in the future,” Koenig said.

Emergency Physicians of the Rockies is giving mini teddy bears away to the first 250 young guests. Various community programs will host information and fun events, and emergency vehicles will be on site for the children to tour.

The Community Open House event is geared for the general public and will include a tour of the hospital and surgery center. Attendees will get to look around a number of areas of the facility, from the emergency room and one of the operating rooms to the intensive care unit, the birth center and even the gift shop.

Physicians and other providers will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate some of the latest technology that will be used to provide exceptional patient experience and excellent outcomes. Representatives from the hospital’s volunteer office and foundation also will be on hand to share more information about opportunities to get involved at the hospital.

WHERE TO GO

Providers and staff at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont are offering the community two opportunities to get a sneak peek at the new hospital at 1750 E. Ken Pratt Blvd. before it officially opens later this summer. Both events are free and open to the public. No RSVPs required.

  • Teddy Bear Hospital, 9 a.m.–noon Saturday, Aug. 5: The emergency department staff at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital will provide treatment for participating children’s favorite stuffed animals and dolls at the Teddy Bear Hospital, a fun event that helps relieve some of the fears kids can feel about visits to the hospital or doctor’s office. Children should bring their own stuffed animal.
  • Community Open House, 1–5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5: The public will get a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Longs Peak Hospital and Longs Peak Surgery Center, from the emergency room and one of the operating rooms to the intensive care unit and the birth center.
Longs Peak Hospital Teddy Bear Hospital

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.