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St. Anthony Central Hospital to open new location early
Sister hospital in Summit County gets pastoral visit from Bishop Conley
By Julie Filby
St. Anthony Central Hospital will open its new location in Lakewood June 20, a month earlier than expected, according to an announcement by interim CEO Ray Mencini, M.D., Feb. 10.
The new 50-acre St. Anthony Medical Campus, adjacent to the Denver Federal Center, will include the 560,000-square-foot St. Anthony Hospital; OrthoColorado Hospital, an orthopedic specialty hospital; two medical office buildings, and an 848-space parking garage. A freestanding wellness center is also planned.
The $375 million hospital is expected to generate in excess of $336 million in economic activity in the area, and bring approximately 2,400 new jobs to Lakewood and the surrounding region.
Like the existing facility in Denver, the new hospital will be a Level I trauma center, the highest designation for trauma care. The communications center and administrative offices of Flight For Life Colorado at St. Anthony Central will relocate to the campus as well.
The hospital, opened in 1893 by the Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph of Perpetual Adoration, is nationally recognized for its programs in trauma, cardiovascular services, oncology, neurosciences and orthopedics.
In anticipation of the new facility opening, the St. Anthony Health Foundation will host “Hard Hats and High Heels” on April 15 at the Exdo Event Center in Denver. The gala, expected to move the capital campaign to completion, will feature dinner, live entertainment, dancing and a silent auction. For more information visit www.stanthonyhealthfoundation.org or call 303-629-4446.
The St. Anthony family also includes St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco, the first hospital built in Summit County. On March 1, Denver Auxiliary Bishop James D. Conley made a pastoral visit at the hospital’s invitation.
Bishop Conley serves as liaison to Catholic health-care systems in the archdiocese, as appointed by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M., Cap.
During his visit he met with CEO Paul Chodkowski; Sister Rita Cammack, O.S.F., vice president for mission and ministry; and Deacon Charles Lamar from St. Mary Parish in Breckenridge. Sister Cammack and Deacon Lamar serve on the hospital’s ethics board.
“It’s my duty and privilege to represent Archbishop Chaput and the archdiocese to the Catholic hospitals,” Bishop Conley said. “An important aspect of Catholic identity in health care is adherence to the ethical and religious directives.”
Bishop Conley reported that St. Anthony’s in Frisco is in full compliance with the directives and added that they “see it as an important part of their mission.”
“I was very impressed with the quality of the facilities and the morale of the staff at St. Anthony’s,” he said.
Since opening in 2005, the 10,000-square-foot facility has received the 2010 National Leapfrog Award for Top Hospital in the rural category, for patient safety; and the Jackson Award for patient satisfaction in the small hospital category, three times.
Bishop Conley—who watched a Flight For Life helicopter carrying a critically injured patient take off during his visit—pointed out the importance of their service to Summit County’s ski areas.
“They see a lot of ski injuries, a lot of critical injuries,” he said.
Both St. Anthony Central and St. Anthony Summit Medical Center are part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest hospital and health-care network.
Centura Health is sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives and Adventist Health System. Denver-based CHI is the third-largest Catholic health-care system in the country.
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