Colorado Hospitals Activate State Transfer Center to Help Manage Pediatric Hospitalizations

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLO. – Nov. 9, 2022 – This week, Colorado hospitals and health systems activated Tier 1, the lowest level of activation, of the Combined Hospital Transfer Center (CHTC). The CHTC was created during the COVID-19 pandemic to help Colorado hospitals with capacity management, and it proved to be an effective response tool for patient transfers.

This week’s activation is due to the notable increases of flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases, which are challenging hospital capacity, especially for the pediatric population. Colorado’s hospitals with larger pediatric capacity are reporting record-breaking inpatient volumes and single-day emergency department visits due to respiratory illnesses.

Tier 1 of the CHTC utilizes existing relationships between Colorado hospitals and health systems to create a “transfer partnership” that helps enable appropriate patient transfers and clinical resources to assist with effective patient care management.

“Colorado hospitals want all patients across Colorado – including our youngest Coloradans – to get the care they need,” said Jeff Tieman, Colorado Hospital Association president and CEO. “We learned a lot from COVID, and one tool that strengthened our capacity management when we faced a surge was the CHTC. The collaboration between our hospitals and health systems will be one of the keys to addressing this triple-demic we face.

“We are again at a point where we need Coloradans to do their part to help our health care system. Please – wash your hands, stay home when you’re sick, get care when you need it at the right time and right place, and get vaccinated for flu and boosted for COVID.”

About Colorado Hospital Association

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) is the leading voice of Colorado’s hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 member hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible, and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers, and the public. Through CHA, Colorado’s hospitals and health systems work together in their shared commitment to improve health and health care in Colorado. Learn more at cha.com.

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