UCHealth, Children’s Hospital Colorado explore expansion plans for adult and pediatric services

UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) announce a master facilities plan that would include expansion of pediatric, adult services throughout Colorado Springs and southern Colorado.
Jan. 10, 2014

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 10, 2014) – After a transitional year that included a needs assessment and numerous strategic discussions, UCHealth and Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) are pleased to announce a master facilities plan that would include expansion of both pediatric and adult services throughout Colorado Springs and southern Colorado. Components include expanding pediatric urgent care in Colorado Springs and exploring building a new free-standing children’s hospital adjacent to Memorial Hospital North.

Editors and reporters: Mike Scialdone, President and CEO of Memorial Hospital, and Jim Shmerling, CEO of Children’s Hospital Colorado, will be available for interviews at 11 a.m. today at Memorial Hospital Central, 1400 E. Boulder St. Please meet our staff at the Boulder Street entrance. Complimentary valet is available.

While in the early stages of exploration, such a plan aims to meet the growing health care needs of southern Colorado. Additionally, a project of this scope is expected to drive economic development and new jobs. UCHealth and Children’s Colorado will be working with city officials and incorporating input from the community and key stakeholders along the way.

“In 2012 Colorado Springs voters placed their overwhelming support in UCHealth and Children’s Colorado, two nationally recognized organizations, to operate Memorial Hospital and to elevate health care for Colorado Springs,” said Mike Scialdone, President and CEO of Memorial Hospital. “This partnership helps us fulfill that promise and continue to deliver on the vision to make Memorial Hospital a regional and statewide leader in health care.”

“Children’s Colorado and UCHealth have worked diligently over the past year to honor the community’s trust by investing in new equipment, infrastructure, staff and physicians,” said Children’s Colorado CEO Jim Shmerling. “We’re excited to take this next step and deliver on our shared mission to improve lives and elevate patient care for children and teens in our community.”

As plans move forward, UCHealth and Children’s Colorado will work with the community, medical staff, and city leadership on the expansion of medical services throughout southern Colorado.

About UCHealth

UCHealth is a Front Range health system that delivers the highest quality patient care with the highest quality patient experience. UCHealth combines Memorial Hospital, Poudre Valley Hospital, Medical Center of the Rockies, Colorado Health Medical Group, and University of Colorado Hospital into an organization dedicated to health and providing unmatched patient care in the Rocky Mountain West. Separately, these institutions can continue providing superior care to patients and service to the communities they serve. Together, they push the boundaries of medicine, attracting more research funding, hosting more clinical trials and improving health through innovation.

About Children’s Hospital Colorado

Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) has defined and delivered pediatric health care excellence for more than 100 years. Founded in 1908, Children’s Colorado is a leading pediatric network entirely devoted to the health and well-being of children. Continually acknowledged as one of the nation’s top ten Best Children’s Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and Parents magazine, Children’s Colorado is known for both its nationally and internationally recognized medical, research, education and advocacy programs, as well as comprehensive everyday care for kids throughout Colorado and surrounding states. Children’s Colorado also is recognized for excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Centers and has been designated a Magnet® hospital since 2005. The hospital’s family-centered, collaborative approach combines the nation’s top pediatric doctors, nurses and researchers to pioneer new approaches to pediatric medicine. With urgent, emergency and specialty care locations throughout Metro Denver and Southern Colorado, including the Anschutz Medical Campus, Children’s Colorado provides a full spectrum of pediatric specialties. For more information, visit www.ChildrensColorado.org and connect with Children’s Colorado on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.