Drive past the Anschutz Medical Campus and it's clear that University of Colorado Hospital is growing. Our biggest addition, a new inpatient tower, is scheduled to open in Spring 2013.
This page is to highlight those changes you don't see.
Our specialty practices, for example, are always evolving. This might mean availability of new therapies, like the Rocky Mountain Gamma Knife, or the addition of new specialists to our treatment teams.
February
UCH New Home to Rocky Mountain Gamma Knife
Rocky Mountain Gamma Knife Center, LLC, which had been on the St. Anthony Central’s west Denver campus since 1993, moved and re-opened on the University of Colorado Campus on January 9, 2012. For more information, please contact Center director Kip Kochevar at 303-366-0099.
Weight Loss Surgery Accreditation
The Surgical Weight Loss Center at the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) has been accredited as a Level 1 facility by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This designation means it has met the essential criteria established by the ACS BSCN Accreditation Program to ensure certain benchmarks are regularly met. Dr. Jonathan Schoen is the clinical director. For more information, or to refer a patient, please call 720-848-2070.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Coming to UCH
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery, or TAVR (pronounced TAY-ver), is coming to UCH as soon as March, and the hospital’s Valve Clinic will be the first hospital in the state to offer it. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the implantable stent valve and delivery system used for the procedure in November 2011 for patients who have aortic stenosis and who are not eligible for surgery. Dr. John Carroll leads the multidisciplinary roll-out of the hospital’s TAVR program. If you have a patient who has aortic stenosis but who can’t undergo traditional aortic valve surgery, contact the Cardiac & Vascular Center at (720) 848-5300 to refer them for evaluation.
UCH Adds Congenital Heart Disease Expert
Dr. Amber Khanna has joined Dr. Joseph Kay in the UCH Adult Congenital Heart Disease program. The UCH Congenital Heart Disease Program treats about 700 patients a year. Dr. Kay estimates that as many as 15,000 adult patients in Colorado require care for congenital heart problems, including valve and ventricular defects. To refer patients please call (720) 848-5300.
LenSx - New Laser Treatment for Cataracts
LenSx® image guided laser surgery is the first new technique for removing cataracts in roughly three decades. In late November, the physicians at UCH’s Eye Center became the first in the metro area to start using it. For more information on this procedure call 720-848-2020.
March/April
Looking for additional options for back pain evaluation? Consider the University of Colorado Hospital Spine Center
The Spine Center at University of Colorado Hospital specializes in treating people with back and neck pain using proven therapies and the latest technologies. Surgery is not our only option! We use a collaborative and multi-disciplinary approach among physiatrists, orthopedic surgeons, integrative medicine, physical/occupational therapists and psychologists. To make a referral, call (720) 848-1980.
First in State - Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)
The first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure in Colorado was done in late March at the University of Colorado Hospital. The procedure is for patients who have aortic stenosis and who are not eligible for surgery. Dr. John Carroll leads the multidisciplinary roll-out of the hospital’s TAVR program. If you have a patient who has aortic stenosis but who can’t undergo traditional aortic valve surgery contact the Cardiac & Vascular Center at (720) 848-5300 to refer them for evaluation.
New Laser Treatment for Cataracts
LenSX® image guided laser surgery is the first new technique for removing cataracts in roughly three decades. In late November, the physicians at UCH’s Eye Center became the first in the metro area to start using it. For more information on this procedure, call 720-848-2020.
Oncology Directory Now Available
A comprehensive guide to the oncologic physicians and services at the University of Colorado Hospital is now available. If you would like a copy, please call physician relations at 720-848-7699.
Diabetes Education
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recognized that diabetes education is offered by University of Colorado Hospital diabetes educators at six convenient locations in the Metro area. For more information, please call 720-848-2650.
April
Epilepsy Center receives highest designation
The University of Colorado Hospital Comprehensive Epilepsy Center has been recognized by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) as one of only two Level 4 epilepsy centers in the state. Level 4 epilepsy centers have the professional expertise and facilities to provide the highest level medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy. We are excited to receive this designation and to continue to care for your patients. To make a referral to the Epilepsy Center, call 720-848-2080.
New orthopedic surgeon – hip preservation and extreme sports specialist
The University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Orthopaedics and University of Colorado Hospital are pleased to announce the arrival of Assistant Professor Omer Mei‐Dan, MD to the CU Sports Medicine team.
Dr. Mei‐Dan, a certified orthopedic surgeon who trained in Israel, specializes in hip preservation surgery including hip arthroscopy, cartilage regeneration and acetabulum realignment techniques. He also performs non‐operative injection modalities for the conservative treatments of joint and articular cartilage lesions.
Dr. Mei‐Dan is also a world‐renowned “extreme sports” athlete. His personal interest and curiosity in these sports has led to further research and publications that focused on climbing and BASE jumping injuries. He has also observed and written about the mental characteristics and hormonal changes exhibited by extreme sports athletes. To refer patients to Dr. Mei-Dan, please call the Sports Medicine clinic at 303-441-2219.
Hybrid OR opens
On April 16 University of Colorado Hospital opened a new operating room that reflects the rapidly changing world of cardiac care. Called a hybrid OR, the heavily equipped, $4 million room is capable of handling cardiac and vascular surgical procedures, as well as minimally invasive interventions, in one place. The room is also specially equipped for anesthesiologists and the perfusionists who run the heart-lung machine during surgery. To learn more about the care provided by the University of Colorado Cardiac and Vascular Center, please call 720-848-5300.
UCH Neuro ICU recognized
The University of Colorado Hospital Neuro-Intensive Care Unit recently became one of just two neurology/neurosurgery units in the country to earn a three-year Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) at the “gold” designation level – the highest the organization confers. The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. The staff of the UCH Neuro ICU stands ready to care for your patients.
May
University of Colorado Hospital receives JCAHO Heart Failure Certification
“You are one of the best in the country at taking care of heart failure patients": the words of Joint Commission reviewer Reggie Madden as he indicated that the hospital had passed the JCAHO review for heart failure certification - with flying colors.
The two-year heart failure certification will be the hospital’s first. It indicates that the program meets clinical performance measures and provides the broad range of patient care necessary to improve outcomes for patients whose hearts lose their ability to pump blood in sufficient quantities to the rest of the body. To refer a patient to the Heart Failure clinic at UCH, please call (720) 670-6097.
New treatment for vertigo
Dr. Carol Foster at the University of Colorado School of Medicine recently published research on a breakthrough in the treatment of vertigo. This treatment could be life-changing for people who are disabled at times by extreme dizzy spells. Foster is director of the Balance Laboratory at the CU School of Medicine. To refer patients for evaluation of vertigo, please call the ENT Clinic at (720) 848-2820.
Mohs surgery for melanoma
UCH has added a second surgeon credentialed in MOHS surgery. Mohs surgery offers maximum removal of cancer with minimum damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Boasting a 99% cure rate, our surgeons are ready to assist you in caring for your patients with pathology that confirms melanoma. Referrals can be made directly to the MOHS clinic, bypassing a general dermatology appointment, by calling (720) 848-0590.
Mammograms go 3D
A new three-dimensional tomosynthesis diagnostic breast mammogram machine has debuted at University of Colorado Hospital. It promises clearer images of the breast. The results, clinicians believe, will be more cancers found and fewer "false positives" that lead to additional, unneeded tests. For more information or to refer a patient to UCH Mammography, please call (720) 848-1030.
June/July
Clinical trials website
At University of Colorado Hospital, we conduct hundreds of clinical trials in our ongoing effort to discover and deliver more effective treatment. As a collaborative medical campus, our goal is to translate discoveries made in the laboratory to the patients who will benefit from them, as quickly as possible. For a comprehensive list of clinical trials being conducted at University of Colorado Hospital see our clinical trials website.
Enhanced Communication with our community physician partners – Fax and Portal
Admission alerts, discharge summaries and emergency department visit alerts are now automatically faxed to the PCP and referring physician of record. These communications come directly out of our Epic EMR. If you have any questions or suggestions about this process, please call physician relations at 720-848-7699.
In addition to the “push” communication we provide to our community physician partners, we offer a web-based electronic medical record portal called UCH Provider Connection. The portal allows you to “pull” information out of our EMR. If you are interested in signing up to use the portal, please contact physician relations at 720-848-7699.
University of Colorado Cancer Center expansion complete
Steadily climbing patient volume at the state's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center required an expansion of our physical facility as well as the addition of new faculty. The construction, completed in June, expanded the facility’s previous physical footprint by about 40 percent. The project also renovated about 14,000 additional square feet of existing space.
This means the Cancer Center can handle about 12,000 patient visits a year, 60 percent more than before the expansion. The expansion greatly increased the number of infusion bays, clinical exam rooms, administrative space, and team rooms and added a radiation vault. To refer a patient to the Cancer Center, please call 720-848-0300.
University of Colorado Eye Centers
A new network of eye care centers are providing the highest quality eye care in five convenient locations – Anschutz Campus, Boulder, Lodo, Cherry Creek and Park Meadows (see map).
Visit University of Colorado Eye Centers.
August
Crohns and Colitis Center
The University of Colorado Hospital Crohn’s and Colitis Center is open and accepting patient referrals. The Center is dedicated to the care of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Our physicians specialize in treating these conditions through comprehensive approaches tailored to the needs and lifestyle of the patient. The Center staff develops treatment plans that may include medical therapy as well as recommendations regarding diet and exercise, surgery, advanced imaging, and endoscopic procedures.
Dr. Mark Gerich heads our Crohn’s and Colitis Center. He leads a team of experts that offers broad-based knowledge in all areas of IBD management. As members of the faculty of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, our IBD team provide not only expert patient care but also perform research studies to better understand the causes of IBD and guide the development of innovative medical therapies and procedures. To refer a patient, please call 720-848-2777.
Bariatric Support Group
The University of Colorado Hospital Bariatric Patient Support Group is open to patients who have had or are considering bariatric surgery at any facility. Meetings include educational speakers, patient stories and mentoring. For more information, contact Lisa Kassel at 720-848-6369.
Clinical Trial for Uncontrolled Hypertension
A new clinical trial for treatment of uncontrolled hypertension using renal denervation is enrolling patients. To request more information on the Symplicity HTN-3 Renal Denvervation trial, contact principal investigator Dr. Kevin Rogers at 720-848-6588.
Cancer Center – Center of Excellence
University of Colorado Cancer Center has been named an Optum® Center of Excellence for rare and complex cancer care. Inclusion in the Optum Center of Excellence network signals to health care professionals and consumers that the Cancer Center meets or exceeds nationally recognized standards of care based on procedural volumes and clinical outcomes. To refer a patient to the Cancer Center, please call 720-848-0300.