COLORADO SPRINGS — The Children's Hospital in Colorado Springs has treated around 10,000 patients in their emergency room since it opened in May of 2019. Now, the hospital is embarking on four new expansion projects to help them better serve their growing population of patients.
The President of Children's Hospital in Colorado Springs, Margaret Sabin, said their patient numbers started off strong and have grown since they first opened. They see patients from all over Southern Colorado, and even outside of the state. "We are running about 80% occupancy, some days we even peak up over that... There were days where we had to juggle beds to our absolute max, but we have not had to turn patients away," said Sabin.
It's one of the reasons they are adding 16 beds to their main hospital, which already has 99 beds. She said they hope to have that project completed by the summer of 2020. "Now these beds were part of our original vision... we are just finishing them out a little sooner than we had planned," said Sabin.
Children's Hospital will also be adding 27 beds to their Briargate Outpatient and Specialty Care location, which will expand that facility by 25%. Those renovations should be finished by mid-2020 as well.
Close to their main facility, Children's Hospital will also be adding a location at 2375 Telstar Drive that will provide a space for outpatient therapy services. That construction should start in late 2020. "We are equally excited about that because it includes a number of our outpatient specialties, including behavioral health and sports medicine. It will really round out our continuum of services in Colorado Springs," said Sabin.
Finally, the hospital plans to extend their reach to Downtown Colorado Springs. They will open an outpatient and urgent care location at 421 South Tejon Street, which they hope to have up and running by late 2020. "Right now, there are no pediatric services for patients in that area, and that allows us that step-down from the emergency department and also access to care at a really convenient location," said Sabin.
Children's Hospital said they are also branching out into the community, with a brand new program that will launch on January 11. Sabin called it a proof of concept research program, which will try and help children learn how to be resilient. She said it will involve coaches at both Eagleview Middle School and Monroe Elementary School. "Might then pay dividends in health later on in a child's life," said Sabin.
Sabin also said Children's Hospital overall investment in the Colorado Springs community, including their hospital and expansions, is pushing $200 million. The four expansion projects are expected to use $20 million of that $200 million.
