The Children's Hospital 2008 Annual Report

Download The Children's Hospital 2008 Annual Report (.pdf)

Our Roots Run Deep

Dear Friends,

A century dedicated to caring for and curing generations of children has strengthened The Children’s Hospital’s roots in the community, the healthcare and research fields, and, most importantly, in the hearts and minds of patients and families entering our doors since May 1908.

We are convinced that our history will reflect 2008 as a particularly phenomenal year—one that firmly positions Children’s on the horizon of a second century providing exceptional pediatric healthcare to the Colorado community and surrounding regions.

This year Children’s marked impressive milestones including the development of a multi-year plan to elevate our mission of caring for children. The extension of our pediatric services throughout the community—with the opening of The Children’s Hospital North Campus, Broomfield, and The Children's Hospital South Surgery Center, Lone Tree—signaled the first of many achievements outlined in our plan.  

Internally we built upon our organizational structures and leadership to better align quality and operational efforts, positioning Children’s as one of the safest pediatric hospital in the U.S. With Dan Hyman, MD, as Children’s first chief quality officer, and the Board of Directors’ continued commitment to support the implementation of quality initiatives, our team is leading the way in advancing quality and patient safety excellence. In fact, our efforts were validated in November when the Colorado Patient Safety Coalition recognized the hospital’s outstanding achievements in promoting patient safety.

After becoming the nation’s first, free-standing pediatric facility to implement a fully integrated electronic medical record in 2007, two prestigious community pediatric practices signed on to incorporate the patient health information exchange technology into their offices—changing the face of healthcare delivery and further engaging community providers as an integral part of the team.

Children’s is a founding partner and active participant in development of the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization to pilot a regional health information exchange currently deployed in the emergency departments at Children’s, Kaiser Permanente, Denver Health and University of Colorado Hospital. This project, supported by six states including Colorado , places Children’s on the national forefront driving this important initiative.

Our community’s philanthropic support is vital to Children’s future success, and remains strong.  In 2008, we received more than 100,000 gifts – a record number – totaling almost $30 million.

The community’s generosity and our donors’ partnership enables Children’s to procure resources including top-notch staff and leading-edge technology to provide the latest treatments and programs. And, our researchers are well-equipped to advance pediatric healthcare. As a result, Children’s and the University of Colorado Denver’s Department of Pediatrics acquired more than $42 million in peer-reviewed awards from the National Institutes of Health during 2008—topping 89 other U.S. medical schools.

Our dedicated corps of nearly 2,000 volunteers selflessly donated 142,000 hours worth of service—contributions amounting to more than $2.7 million! However, their efforts are priceless when you consider that their work is the offering of a compassionate hand, a warm smile or an open ear to patients and families, or the support of a program or care team.

Now, we are planning for a sustainable and exciting future after concluding a momentous first full year at the most healing children’s hospital in the world. It is undeniable that 2009 will be a challenging year due the nation’s economic climate. Therefore, it is satisfying to know that our efforts during 2008 and all the preceding years of our 100-year history have prepared us well for the journey ahead. 

In particular, we look forward to the important plans set in motion. Over the next few years, we will partner with the University of Colorado Hospital to become a leader in advancing care and research in the field of high-risk obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine and neonatology. Our future plans also include significant investments to pioneer our capabilities and to establish a national referral center for high-risk pregnancies located at Children’s. That reality is firmly within our reach: Over the past year and a half, Children’s has supported the delivery of, and care for, several high-risk babies.

2008 placed Children’s on the cusp of our next great chapter. Today, we embark on that journey as pioneers whose work, dedication and ingenuity will benefit generations of children to come.

Sincerely,

James E. Shmerling, DHA, FACHE

President and Chief Executive Officer

Craig Ponzio

Chair, Board of Directors

 

2008 Successes

Challenging opportunities and resulting successes during 2008 maintained Children’s position at the forefront of quality, service and care, and subsequently produced a multitude of accolades, including the following: 

• In August, Children’s was once again placed among the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
• Children’s was also awarded the title of top healthcare company in Colorado by Colorado Biz magazine.
• In October, more than 60 Children’s physicians were recognized in 5280 Magazine’s Top Doctors list.
• To cap off the year, Parents Magazine named Children’s one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation; bestowed high scores for nursing and ranked pulmonary, emergency and orthopedic care in the top 10. Parents’ acknowledgement speaks volumes about the quality and dedication of our care teams.