2024 Annual Report
- Clinical excellence Jump to clinical excellence
- Research and innovation Jump to research and innovation
- Education Jump to education
- Community and advocacy Jump to community and advocacy
- Patient experience Jump to patient experience
- Our people and culture Jump to our people and culture
"I want to express my deepest gratitude to our compassionate team members, generous donors, board members and community partners. Thank you for believing in our mission and ensuring that we have the resources to provide world-class care to children who walk through our doors. Because of your support, Children’s Colorado has grown into one of the largest and top-ranking pediatric healthcare systems in the world."Jena Hausmann, President and Chief Executive Officer
2024 at a glance
Each year, team members across Children’s Hospital Colorado are called to realize our mission to improve the health of children through the provision of high-quality, coordinated programs of patient care, education, research and advocacy. The past year had its challenges, but as always, we came together for children in our community and across the nation to deliver incredible care rooted in our values of humble expertise, generous service and boundless creativity.
2024 by the numbers
Excellence in our field
We’re proud to continue our sustained excellence and earn recognition among the best children’s hospitals in the nation. Together, we are building a healthier world through research, a collaborative spirit, creativity and a tireless, unrelenting dedication to children.
Expanding our system of care
We continue to grow our footprint throughout Colorado to bring our expert pediatric care closer to home. In 2024, we focused on expanding our ability to get kids and families the appointments they need and reducing our wait times. We opened a new Outpatient and Urgent Care location in Southeast Aurora to meet the growing needs in this region. We also opened two new units at our hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus: an expansion of behavioral health rooms and the new 10 East Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
Clinical excellence
Our mission relies on our ability to continuously improve our clinical expertise and offerings to provide the most advanced treatments to patients and families. In 2024, we greatly expanded our capabilities, built experience in existing ones, outperformed competitors in patient outcomes, and put quality and patient safety above all.
By the numbers
Our innovative care leads to improved outcomes
Using a type of MRI that allows doctors to see 3D, time-resolved images of the heart and measure blood flow through the cardiovascular system, our team has created a clear movie of the beating fetal heart.
In early 2024, the spinal surgery team completed its 500th robot-assisted spine surgery. The team, which uses the Mazor X robot among others, has increased use of robot-assisted surgery in pediatrics.
In September 2024, our in-house whole-genome sequencing lab opened. Its specialized tools and equipment allow us to analyze a patient’s genome in just a few hours.
Enhancing surgical care through robotics
Research and innovation
Here, we have never been complacent in our pursuit of research—it’s woven into the fabric of who we are. It’s at the core of our mission, brought to life by every team member. In 2024, we partnered with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to launch the Colorado Child Health Research Institute. The CCHRI serves as our home for child health research, where scientists collaborate across disciplines to make discoveries that broadly impact human health from childhood through adulthood.
By the numbers
Research from bench to bedside
A pair of Children’s Colorado researchers have spent decades learning more about one of the deadliest classes of pediatric brain tumors — diffuse midline gliomas. Their latest breakthroughs could save lives.
Last year, the FDA approved a new drug for most people with cystic fibrosis. A Children’s Colorado pulmonologist is at the forefront of this breakthrough that is transforming cystic fibrosis care nationwide.
For decades, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome was a death sentence. But a new drug, tested through clinical trials at Children’s Colorado, is rewriting that story.
Traditional treatments for sickle cell disease require a strong bone marrow match and carry a risk of rejection and disease. Now, Children's Colorado has become one of the first qualified treatment centers to provide patients with access to two new therapies that revolutionize care by allowing for autologous transplant.
Education
At Children’s Colorado, we believe growth and knowledge advance our ability to offer care that not only improves patient outcomes and experiences but also helps our team members realize their full potential. And as an academic center, we also focus on sharing what we learn, because we believe that when it comes to child health, we’re all in this together.
By the numbers
From our accredited continuing medical education offerings to grand rounds and more, we’re dedicated to strengthening providers’ knowledge, so kids everywhere can have access to quality care.
Tune in to our podcasts, Charting Pediatrics and Pediatras en Línea, to hear our experts share breakthroughs, insights and news about children's health.
Our series of medical education videos supports ongoing learning for pediatric providers. Learn from our experts about the advanced treatments and specialized clinical care provided at our hospital.
Community and advocacy
We know that every child's well-being is deeply connected to the health and wellness of their community. To provide complete care for our children, we must also understand and care for our local neighborhoods and nurture thriving communities. By advocating for kids and expanding our reach, we're getting closer to fulfilling our mission to improve child healthcare.
Our world-class care is fueled by giving
As a nonprofit pediatric hospital, Children’s Colorado is fueled by donors. None of our work would be possible without generous community members who believe that a child’s life can and should be filled with limitless possibilities.
Learn more about our current community health priorities and the wide variety of programs, partnerships and initiatives we have in place to improve the health of kids and families.
For more than a decade, we have partnered with another staple of the community, the Denver Broncos. Together, we team up to bring joy to children and families.
Public policy decisions can dramatically shape the health of children, for better or worse. From ensuring access to care to improving mental health support, learn about our current policy priorities and our accomplishments from 2024.
Bringing care closer to home
At Children's Colorado, we believe that access to quality pediatric care should not be limited by geography. Through our Care Alliance, we partner with health organizations throughout the region to ensure that more kids and families receive the care they need close to home.
In addition to our care alliance, Children’s Colorado has regional clinics where our pediatric specialists see kids for their specialty care. This allows us to serve families close to home and also collaborate with pediatric primary care providers in the communities surrounding regional clinics.
In 2024, our Regional Clinics:
Completed 1,175 clinic sessions across 14 specialties
Served families in 18 cities and 2 states
Children’s Colorado also expanded access to care with 131,896 telehealth visits to patients in their homes or in a clinic setting close to home.
Patient experience
This is an extraordinary place. When a child walks through our doors, they feel it in an instant. This is a place just for them. We have been on healing journeys with children and families for more than 100 years, so we understand that experience better than any other hospital.
Here, it’s different
This isn’t just a hospital — it’s a place of hope, healing and even joy. Here are a few of the moments that helped us bring a little extra light into our patients’ lives last year.
A child interacts with a performer from Guiding Mountain Dragon and Lion Dance Association during a Lunar New Year performance at our hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus.
Paralympians from Team USA visit patients at our hospital in Colorado Springs — home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center — before traveling to Paris for the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.
A group of teens enjoy a night of primping, dancing and promenading at our annual Patient Prom — an event created just for them.
Double-digit birthdays are a big deal — even when that birthday is for our very own Seacrest Studios, which hosted a huge celebration to mark 10 years of bringing joy to our patients and families.
Pueblo native and country artist Cody Cozz poses with a patient during a visit to our hospital in Colorado Springs.
We love a dog "paw-ty" here at Children's Colorado! A child pets one of our Medical "dog-tors" at a birthday celebration for three of our pack members in Seacrest Studios.
A child jumps for joy as she watches a performance by Grupo Huitzilopochtli during a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in the atrium of our Aurora hospital.
Our pack is growing!
In 2024, we added another “dog-tor” to the team to help ease the stress and anxiety kids experience during medical tests and procedures.
Stories that inspire
Here, everything we do is for kids and their families. Their journeys fuel us in the work we do every day, and we are grateful to be a part of their stories.
Charlotte: Surpassing Expectations After Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy
When she was born, doctors feared Charlotte would never walk. Now, she’s thriving in gymnastics, the classroom and everywhere else. Read her story.
Leo: A Unique Bone Marrow Transplant
After being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, Leo’s mother changed the course of his cancer journey through a bone marrow transplant.
Annabelle: Shark Attack Survivor Reclaims Her Life After Limb Loss
After surviving a shark attack, Annabelle faced infection, surgery and recovery. Her story is one of resilience, healing and hope for others facing trauma.
Ellena: Life with CLOVES
With a rare diagnosis of CLOVES syndrome, Ellena has had many treatments to manage her condition. But she doesn’t let anything dull her sparkle. Read more about her vascular anomaly journey.
Myles: Beating Leukemia to Stay on the Field
After chemotherapy and battling scary side effects, Myles is back on the football field and giving back to Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Ryan: From First Breath to Cancer Survivor
At 4 years old, Ryan was diagnosed with leukemia. Alongside his care team and family, he found ways to make treatment more comfortable and become a cancer survivor.
Meghan: Overcoming Scoliosis and Phenylketonuria to Break Boundaries in Flag Football
After an infancy diagnosis of phenylketonuria and childhood scoliosis, Meghan never let anything stop her from being a force on the flag football field.
Jeremiah: Overcoming Osteosarcoma and Long Odds as a Baseball Star
After receiving a bone cancer diagnosis in his right throwing arm, Jeremiah wasn’t sure how he would continue to play baseball. Learn about the cancer journey that got Jeremiah back on the field.
Oliver: Conquering Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Oliver was diagnosed with HLHS before birth. Thanks to expert care at Children’s Colorado, he’s now a thriving, energetic kid living life to the fullest.
Aleea: Myelomeningocele Warrior
Diagnosed with a severe form of spina bifida before birth, Aleea had fetal surgery and is now a thriving kid defeating expectations.
Aidan: From Hip Pain to Healing
After leg pain sidelined Aidan, he came to Children’s Hospital Colorado for expert care for his hip impingement diagnosis. With surgery and rehab, he’s back mentally and physically stronger than ever.
Amber Rose: Defying the Odds with Down Syndrome
Amber Rose, a teen with Down syndrome, has overcome major medical challenges and now thrives in school, sports and life. Learn more about her story.
Our people and culture
Our team members and volunteers are here every day to heal, help, dream and do. Through compassion and expertise, we make days and change lives. That approach to care is woven into the fabric of every team, from nurses and doctors to volunteers, administrators and beyond.
By the numbers
Our ‘DifferenceMakers’
Each member of our team contributes to building a culture where creativity, compassion, balance and excellence thrive.
“I once had parents ask me: If this was your child, what would you do? I really enjoy working with patients and families, and I know I can help ease their worries.”
—Yesenia, Research Services Program Manager, Pediatric Medicine
“Seeing the lasting impact of a highly effective team on our patients and how that positively impacts every individual person on my team is really the reason I come to work every day.”
—Merritt, Business Manager, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
“We build relationships with kids, families, coaches. Oftentimes there might be a day with no injury, but you’re focused on building relationships with the kids."
—Dennis, Program Manager, Sports Medicine Center
“My job is to help project owners fulfill their visions. It’s a little like being an orchestra conductor. All these groups play a vital role.”
—Sue, Program Manager, Enterprise Program Management Office
“I wanted to use my skills to help out my community. I fell in love with the patients, our families and the providers and staff. Intellectually, it fed me. I was working with top-of-field specialists. I could give my voice to families who would otherwise not have it, and through me, these families were empowered to advocate for their children.”
—Nancy, Operation Supervisor, Medical Interpreter Department
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