Hybrid Operating Room Initiative Raises the Standard for Emergency Care
March 21, 2024
Modernization is crucial, with philanthropy playing a key role
As crowds filled downtown Denver celebrating the Denver Nuggets’ historic first NBA Championship last year, shots rang out at 20th and Market Streets. Within one minute of receiving the emergency call, Denver Health paramedics mobilized, directing six ambulances to transport 10 victims to Denver Health. All the victims survived.
Denver Health, known for its pioneering trauma care, houses the esteemed Ernest E. Moore Shock Trauma Center, a Level One facility with a 98% survival rate. Now, Denver Health is poised to introduce the Hybrid Operating Room (OR) concept in a new, renovated space, promising to redefine emergency medical care. With its advanced surgical capabilities, this cutting-edge evolution will ensure even swifter and more comprehensive treatment for those caught in critical situations like the one that unfolded that June night.
As Colorado’s safety net hospital, Denver Health is often the first harbor for those in crisis. Denver Health treats more than 20,000 trauma patients annually, admitting more than 3,000 of those patients, and receiving transfers from more than 82 regional hospitals. The need for modernization is undeniable. Outdated operating rooms strain resources and hinder efficiency, impeding the delivery of timely, life-saving care.
Hybrid ORs combine regular surgery tools with high-tech imaging technology. This means doctors can perform very complex, advanced surgeries on patients with complicated conditions. With the ability to see inside the body using CT scans and X-rays during surgery, the Hybrid OR will make a significant difference in how Denver Health treat patients.
“Introducing the Hybrid OR concept means big improvements in how we care for patients,” explained Dr. Fredric Pieracci, Chair of Surgery at Denver Health. “Instead of moving patients around the hospital from one pavilion to another, which can be risky, they can stay in one place for their surgery. This will greatly improve patient outcomes.”
In addition to tending to urgent trauma cases from across Colorado and the region, Denver Health’s operating room teams often handle cases of vascular disease. However, scheduling and priority for operating rooms can be limited. Vascular disease is a big problem, especially in underserved communities where more people smoke, struggle with obesity, and have trouble accessing healthy food and safe places to exercise.
“Sadly, the communities hit hardest by vascular disease often have the least access to good vascular surgery,” said Pieracci. “With this renovation, we aim to change that and provide better care for everyone in Denver. So, the ramifications of the Hybrid OR extends far beyond trauma patients to chronic vascular disease.”
The vascular surgery team at Denver Health, led by Dr. Lisa Bennett, has a strong history of success, with more than 100 minimally invasive, complex aortic reconstructions completed in 2022 alone. They’ve also organized a training course for surgeons in the region to learn advanced aortic surgery techniques and are at the forefront of three upcoming clinical trials for aortic grafts. With surgeons on staff who are experts in advanced aortic reconstruction and have plenty of experience in hybrid operating rooms, Denver Health is ready to provide top-notch care when the Hybrid OR becomes a reality.
The operating rooms set for renovation have been in service since 1968 and have been instrumental in delivering life-saving interventions for countless patients. The Hybrid OR initiative seeks to build upon this legacy, aiming to enhance outcomes for trauma and vascular patients through earlier interventions and reduced complications.
“With better images and more space, doctors can do even more complex surgeries. This will help cut down on the wait for surgeries and allow us to do more surgeries,” said Pieracci. “We can even try out new procedures that weren’t possible before. Plus, with fewer blood transfusions, infections, and time spent in the hospital, patients can recover faster.”
Philanthropy will play a critical role in ensuring that the Hybrid OR becomes available to the community in 2024. The Zimmel Family Foundation has already made a generous contribution to the project, showcasing Sheryl and Joe Zimmel’s deep belief in Denver Health’s mission and vision.
“As philanthropists dedicated to advancing health care initiatives that truly make a difference, we wholeheartedly support Denver Health and Denver Health Foundation because of Dr. Frederic Pieracci’s visionary leadership,” said Sheryl Zimmel. “His forward-thinking approach, particularly in spearheading the Hybrid OR project, embodies the innovative spirit we believe is essential for transforming health care.”
Construction has just begun, and renovations are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. When Denver Health’s Hybrid OR is fully operational, it will serve as a testament to the health system’s innovative care philosophy and unwavering dedication to saving lives throughout the community. It underscores the importance of ensuring equitable access to advanced surgical treatments for all patients, regardless of their economic status. Pieracci also emphasizes that facility and equipment modernization will enhance Denver Health’s ability attract even more first-rate medical professionals to work there.
“Together, we can continue redefine what it means to be a safety-net health system,” said Crystal Potter Rivera, Denver Health Foundation Executive Director. “Through innovation, compassion, and philanthropy, Denver Health paves the way for a brighter, healthier tomorrow. Every contribution makes a difference in the lives of those we serve.”
Invest in Denver’s health and the Hybrid Operating Room (OR) today. To make a gift, contact Director of Philanthropy Megan Fisher at Megan.Fisher@dhha.org or visit our donation page—in the drop-down designation menu, select “Other” and type “Hybrid OR.”