Ruth González Esparza lucha por contener las lágrimas cuando habla de lo agradecida que está por la atención que recibió en Denver Health. Llegó al hospital a lo que para muchas mujeres es la ocasión más feliz de su vida; dar a luz a su bebé. Pero apenas unas cuantas horas después del nacimiento de su bebé José Luis Sanchez González el 31 de marzo de 2020. Ruth, se encontró al borde de la muerte…
With Thanksgiving just two days away, a lot of us are thinking about what we are most thankful for. Marissa Valadez wrote a letter of thanks to Denver Health after having both of her babies here.
Ruth González Esparza fights back tears when she talks about how thankful she is for her care at Denver Health. She came to the hospital for the most joyous occasion in many people's lives – to give birth to her baby. But just hours after her little boy Jose Luis Sanchez González was born on March 31, 2020, she found herself near death and fighting a virus she didn't even know she had.
By: Indonesia Maye
I have lived in Denver since 2006. The city became my home after seeking asylum in the United States from the violence in my home country, Somalia. I am a mother of six beautiful children, ages 17, 11, 10, 8, 6 and 3. Five were born at Denver Health. Denver is a beautiful city and it is a city that I can raise my family in.
Trust, safety and genuine care. Those are three things Nikita Palmer said she experienced the first time she gave birth at Denver Health several years ago. Since then, she's come back for the births of three more children and each time she said the experience has been the same.
"I come to Denver Health because I just feel comfortable and safe and I just feel like I can trust my providers here."
Ray Sheffield, Jr. is the lead guitarist for Denver rock band The Incognitos. He came to Denver Health for help with arthritis in his left elbow that almost stopped him from playing altogether.
"Several years ago, I slipped on ice and cracked my ulna bone in my elbow," Sheffield explained. "A little over 20 years ago, it started locking up again and hurting. Then, several months ago, it became…
How Elite Athlete Dave Mackey Lost Part of His Leg and Got Back to Ultra Running
Anyone who is serious about running knows the name Dave Mackey. Mackey is an UltraRunner, defined as someone who is devoted to the sport of long distance running.
Make An Orthopedic Appointment:
Denver Health now allows patients to schedule appointments directly with orthopedic providers, skipping the need for a referral from a primary care doctor. However, certain insurance plans might still require a referral including Medicare and Medicaid.
Almost a year ago, Andrew "Bernie" Bernstein almost lost his life while doing what he loves.
On July 20, 2019, the marketing professional and amateur bike racer was riding his bicycle just outside of the city of Boulder. He was on his way home after a training session for an upcoming race.
Make An Orthopedic Appointment:
Denver Health now allows patients to schedule appointments directly with orthopedic providers, skipping the need for a referral from a primary care doctor. However, certain insurance plans might still require a referral including Medicare and Medicaid. This change simplifies access to orthopedic care, ensuring you can get the orthopedic help you need without…
Erin Sanders loves to go snowboarding. The freedom and joy she feels going down a mountain is unmatched, which is why she tries to hit the slopes as often as she can. But on one particular visit, that love of her favorite sport was tested.
Denver Health's Pediatric Trauma Center Provides Specialized Orthopedic Trauma Care for Children
Olivia Doehler looks like any other eight-year-old girl. A quick chat with her reveals a love of stuffed animals, playing on the monkey bars, music as a budding young pianist, playing softball and basketball, and excelling in school. Ask her what makes her special, though, and she will proudly show…
For nearly 40 years, Kemal Hebano lived with something that became normal to him, but looked to the world like a debilitating disability. A childhood injury and improper treatment of that injury had left him with a leg that was severely bent and a bad limp when he walked. By the time he was in his 40's and living in Denver, his leg had become bent at a nearly 90 degree angle and he lived…
On February 11, 2018, Michael Rothschild was skiing at Beaver Creek. It was his last run of the day, and he admitted he was a bit tired. The 66-year-old fell, as many skiers do on their last runs, which Rothschild initially described as “a normal fall.” But he soon learned that this fall was very out of the ordinary. To this day, he still has no idea why it led to a complex pelvic fracture.
Mike Maloney sometimes jokes that he has put "at least two fingers" into his company, KOTA Longboards. He literally has. And it was because of Denver Health that he kept both those fingers and was able to get back to work.
By Poncho Gigoon, father to Nick
My son Nick called me on a Monday morning in February and told me he was in the hospital after having been hit by a car. Not knowing right away the full details of exactly what happened, I was shocked, unsure at that time how bad he was. I just knew he was in the hospital in Denver, so I immediately left work in Michigan to get to my son as fast as I could.
Spending a month in the hospital is probably the last thing any active teenager wants to do, especially when it means multiple surgeries for serious injuries. But for 15-year-old Jake Schaefer, there was one thing that made his stay at Denver Health a little bit more tolerable.
"Child Life gave me the backbone and support that I needed to get better faster," Jake said.
Evelyn Thomsen was born on June 1, 2015 at 3:50 a.m., weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces. When she was about two weeks old, she became ill for the first time with an upper respiratory condition.
"Never in a million years did we think that this precious little girl was going to turn our world upside down," Evelyn's mother Kimberly Thomsen reflected.
By Reginald V. Calvert
Today I’m 59-years-young and feeling better than ever.
The reason I feel this way is because not so long ago, I wasn't doing well. I had no insurance, was homeless and had no idea what would come next in life.
"Cancer is nothing to play with!"
Those six words are spoken strongly and regularly by a woman who survived cancer twice, and has committed her life to spreading the word to others about the importance of getting regular mammograms to stop cancer.
By Denver Health
Birgit Mueller is a physical therapist at Denver Health who never thought that she would become a patient. During her 20 years of employment at Denver Health, she has treated numerous patients coming back from devastating injuries, but it was her own accident that nearly claimed her life.
"The pain felt like my ribs were closing," said Juan, 11, recalling the first time he started playing league soccer. A pain overcame him in his chest area. Juan's school nurse called his mom and told him he needed to go to the doctor right away.
This page is dedicated to patient success stories at the Denver Health Bariatric Surgery Center. Patients are invited to write a short article about their weight loss journeys and share before and after photos. The photos are first shared with other bariatric surgery patients in a special monthly newsletter as a way of showing inspiration and support.
Some couples do everything together.
Sabrina (Hallberg) Leach and her mother Apryl Hallberg both had always struggled with their weight.
"I got to the point where I couldn't handle my weight gain anymore," said Leach. "Nothing was helping, nothing was working and I was absolutely miserable." She was heartbroken with how uncomfortable she was in her own skin.
Nurse Meghan Malecki had a lifelong dream of becoming a flight nurse. There was just one problem: Her weight.
Claudia Garcia is a completely new person. Not only does she look dramatically different than she did over a year ago, she feels much better too.
Garcia had a thyroid condition which caused her to struggle with her weight and overeat for 3-4 years.
"I used to be kind of a stress eater," she reflected. "I was always conscious about being overweight."
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, a time to spotlight the growing issue of childhood obesity, the health concerns it causes and how it can be prevented. In January of 2024, Denver Health's Bariatric Surgery Center performed the first bariatric surgery on an adolescent-age patient.
Diana Corona walks down West Sixth Avenue in Denver talking on her phone, and to those who pass her, she may look like an average young woman chatting with friends. But Corona is on her way to her next follow-up appointment at Denver Health, and the people she is talking to are an audience of thousands from around the world.
By: Ryan Kelly
By Ursula Kazmaier
I arrived at Denver Health by ambulance, with no clear idea of what had happened to me. I would later recall that I was thrown from my Subaru after being t-boned by a truck when running a red light with no seatbelt — distracted while trying to put my cellphone back into my purse.
Denver Judge David Blackett has a nickname around Denver Health. Doctors, nurses and medical workers call him their "miracle man" because he very nearly died one night back in 2019. Judge Blackett was working in his garage that night when he was the victim of a random stabbing. The attacker stabbed him the heart, to the point that he had no heartbeat, no pulse and wasn't breathing.
By Denver Health
Mother of 12 Fights Back from A Nearly Life-Ending Car Crash
It was Friday, the 13th of October, 2017. Zuton Lucero Mills was driving her SUV with her husband and four of their children inside – two of the children were on the way to their homecoming dance. As she drove up a large incline on a bridge on North Peoria Street in Aurora, another car came barreling down the bridge going 60 miles an…
By: Denver Health
Just after turning 17, Jourdan Block was involved in a severe car crash on New Year’s Eve, 2001, when the vehicle she was riding in crashed into a tree in Denver. Block went to school with Dr. Ernest E. “Gene” Moore’s sons, who heard about the crash involving her and other classmates and immediately called their dad to come down from the mountains to treat her.
Less than a year ago, Candace Thompson wasn't sure if she was going to live.
On Sept. 16, 2018, she went to a nightclub in Downtown Denver. As she was leaving and walking to her car near 15th & Market Streets, there was a shooting, and she was caught in the crossfire.
By: Rachael Popejoy
The last thing I remember from July 6, 2006, was driving on I-70 and waiting for an 18-wheeler truck to pass me.
It was around lunchtime, a beautiful Friday afternoon, and I was working as a nanny. Myself and the two boys I was watching were heading back from a fun trip to the Denver Zoo. Soon after I merged onto the highway, that’s when everything went black.
By: Brooke Sebold
Hello. My name is Brooke Sebold and I’m a former patient of Dr. Ernest E. 'Gene' Moore.
When paramedics rushed Meghan Bigelow to Denver Health in June of 2018, her injuries were so severe that doctors didn't know if she would survive. Bigelow was shot once in the torso and once in the head in a road rage incident.
By: Ron Samson
January 6, 2016, started as a night just like any other for Robert Currie. That all changed in a matter of minutes.
By: Ima Holcomb
I was on my way to work around 8 a.m. on May 5, 1982 when I was a passenger involved in a car accident.
Bill Cudmore is one of the most recognizable faces at Denver Health. When you hear the 69-year-old hospital volunteer's story, you'll understand why he said it's so important for him to give back.
With overdose deaths on the rise in Denver and nationwide and only getting worse, we need more people like Jean Jones in this world.
For Tony Fierro, it started out in early March with a diagnosis of pneumonia, a prescription of antibiotics and the advice to self-quarantine for a few days. But his symptoms quickly got worse, and on March 21, he ended up in the emergency department at Denver Health, where he soon learned he had COVID-19. The normally healthy, non-immuno-compromised 44-year-old would end up spending five days on…
In this video, learn more about the Denver Health Paramedics education programs, including the Paramedic School and EMT education.
Bleeding Control BasicsDenver Health Paramedics is a proud partner of the Department of Homeland Security's "Stop the Bleed" campaign. Denver Health Paramedics - EMS Education provides the BCON (Bleeding Control) course that is approved through the American College of Surgeons.
Senior Command StaffGary Bryskiewicz, Chief
Please fill out our contact form by clicking the button below for any questions about the Denver Health Paramedic Division. If you experience any issues, please call us at 303-602-2566.Contact Us Frequently Asked Questions
Denver Health is the area's leading academic Regional Level I Trauma Center for Adults and Level II Trauma Center for Children. The Denver Health Paramedic Division is the sole 911 provider for the City and County of Denver and responds to over 120,000 calls per year. Our students have the opportunity to learn in a high-volume, fast-paced urban setting. That's why we have been chosen as the…
Thank you for your interest in our EMT Training Program! Please scroll for more information. About our courseWhy Choose Denver Health Paramedics EMS Education - EMT Training Program?
Options are available for EMT and Paramedic SchoolThere are a number of options available for financial assistance. We encourage you to explore these options and apply for anything that fits your needs.
Please reach us at paramedic_school@dhha.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Abstract
To draw attention to the occurrence of hypophosphataemia in anorexia nervosa and to suggest that it may be a factor contributing to cardiac arrhythmia, a potentially fatal complication. A retrospective study of patients under the consultant care of one of us.
A subpopulation of patients with eating disorders have also experienced sexual abuse. Medical symptoms in that subpopulation can, at times, represent an embellishment of true organic pathology or a physical way of remembering past trauma (“body memories”). Organic disease must be ruled out by the use of specific and appropriate tests.
Objective: To see whether a cholinomimetic medication would help resolve the parotid gland enlargement associated with self-induced vomiting in bulimic patients.
Anorexia nervosa can have a devastating outcome. There is a high rate of treatment failures and recidivism among anorectic patients. Further, it is generally accepted that unless one can effectuate a significant weight gain in these patients, treatment is even more likely to fail. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) offers an alternative mode of treatment to be used in the armamentarium to…
Of the entire gamut of psychological disorders treated by clinicians, eating disorders are the ones most frequently punctuated by concomitant medical complications. Many of these are not serious, but a distinct number of these complications have serious ramifications. Herein, we discuss some of the most frequently encountered medical issues during the treatment of bulimics and anorectics.
Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety (RMPDS) has developed data collection programs, the Sentinel Poison Center Program and the National Survey Investigating Hallucinogenic Trends (NSIHT), to assess the effects of psychedelic use throughout the U.S. Data show that U.S. health services are already seeing increased utilization of psychedelic substances.
Denver Health has been named a Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
This honor recognizes Denver Health Breast Imaging for earning accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast MRI and breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy).
A fatal overdose occurs in Colorado nearly every five hours.
Denver Health is committed to and deeply concerned for the health and safety of our gender diverse patients under the age of 19 in light of the executive order regarding youth gender-affirming care. We recognize this order will impact gender-diverse youth, including increased risk of depression, anxiety and suicidality.
The labor and delivery team at Denver Health welcomed Sammer Andre Arellano Cambero into the world at 1:49 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025, making him the first baby to be born at Denver Health in 2025. Adding to the warm welcome, Sammer’s family took home a special gift of 2,025 diapers.
Measles is on the rise across the country. Currently there are outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico.
Constipation is a common complaint among all eating disorder patients. It is variably defined by patients and staff, often leading to false expectations. A limited search for organic causes is indicated, as is a thorough review of the patient's medication history. Forewarning and education are cornerstones of the treatment process. Other medical therapies are also reviewed.
Anorexia nervosa is a chronic disorder characterized by the patient's refusal to maintain body weight and a myriad of medical complications. Two frequently cited and poorly understood complications are hypercholesterolemia and hypercarotenemia. We therefore measured fasting cholesterol and beta-carotene levels in a cohort of moderately severe anorectics. Method: All subjects were female and met…
Osteoporosis, the loss of bone mineral density, is an important complication of anorexia nervosa. Often, the progressive diminution in skeletal integrity results in an irreversible weakening of bones despite recovery from anorexia nervosa. This can ultimately result in painful fractures in the spine and hip. Preventive therapy as well as medicinal interventions are available to stop the…
Patients with anorexia nervosa of the restricting (AN-R) and purging (AN-P) subtypes were studied to determine if there was a differential effect on leptin levels. It was hypothesized that the AN-P subgroup would have elevated leptin compared to the AN-R subgroup. Fasting plasma and anthropormorphic measurements were collected from 8 women with AN-R and 5 with AN-P. Eleven women served as…
Mehler Philip S. 'Medical Complications of Eating Disorders.' New England Journal of Medicine 341(8):614-615, 1999. (Ltr)
Adolescence is a period of psychosocial change that is often perplexing for both teens and their parents. The rapid physical changes that occur at this time lead adolescents to become preoccupied with their body image.
Eating Disorders (e.g., anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) are on the rise in our society and cause the highest mortality and medical morbidity of any psychiatric disorder. Medical complications of these two disorders are ubiquitous and can affect every system of the body. While the plight of an emaciated, malnourished patient (i.e., anorexic) is apparent by observation alone, diagnosis of…
Mehler PS. “Medical Complications of Eating Disorders During Pregnancy.” In: Care of the Pregnant Patient ACP Press, Barbour L (ed.), Philadelphia; 2000.
Lasater L, Mehler Philip S. 'Bulimic Patients in Primary Care: Evaluation and Management.' - Primary Care Case Reviews 4(3):35-41, 2001.
Mehler Philip S. 'Anorexia Nervosa in Internal Medicine.' Journal of General Internal Medicine 16:146-147, 2001.
Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a prevalent illness. There are multiple different medical complications that impact the overall treatment plan and prognosis of these patients. Practitioners should be alert for medical complications that are a direct result of the mode of purging behavior utilized by the bulimic patient.
Lasater L, Gray MC, Batal H, Mehler Philip S. 'Anorexia Nervosa in the Female Athlete'. American Journal of Medicine and Sports 4(4):41-50, 2002.
One of the most serious and potentially permanently disabling medical complications of anorexia nervosa is osteoporosis, which greatly increases the long-term risk of bone fractures. The decreased bone density in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is due to the many effects on bone metabolism of amenorrhea, reduced levels of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1), high cortisol levels and weight loss.
Mehler Philip S, Linas S. Use of a Proton-Pump Inhibitor for Metabolic Disturbances Associated with Anorexia Nervosa. New England Journal of Medicine 347(5):373-374, 2002. (Ltr)
The prevalence of obesity is rising at a very alarming rate in the United States. Estimates are that 27% of American adults are now considered obese, and another 52% are overweight. These individuals are at increased risk of premature mortality and the development of many comorbid illnesses. Numerous factors contribute to this epidemic. The medical treatment of obesity is difficult, but can be…
A 20-year-old woman presents with fatigue; laboratory tests reveal a serum potassium level of 2.3 mmol per liter and a serum bicarbonate level of 36 mmol per liter. She is 163 cm (64 in.) tall and weighs 54 kg (119 lb). The findings on physical examination are normal. On questioning, she admits to binge eating and vomiting as frequently as five times per day. How should she be treated?
'Case in Point: Cardiac Complications of Anorexia Nervosa.' | Krantz MJ, Mehler Philip S. - Consultant 43(9):1095-1098, 2003.Consultant 43(9):1095-1098, 2003.
Mehler PS. “Nutritional Rehabilitation: Practical Guidelines for Refeeding the Anorectic Patient - Methods, Benefits, and Risks.” In: Medical Complications of Eating Disorders. John Hopkins University Press. Mehler PS and Andersen AE (ed.), Baltimore; 2000.
Bulimia nervosa is a common eating disorder that predominantly affects young women. There are three main models of purging in bulimia. Resulting medical complications are related to the particular mode and frequency of purging.
Heart rate variability was measured at rest and during ambulation in 6 women with anorexia nervosa. Compared with 10 nonanorexic women controls, resting and ambulatory measures of heart rate variability tended to be lower in patients, despite no differences in resting heart rate.
Read the full article in the American Journal of Cardiology.
Among psychiatric disorders, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate. During an exacerbation of this illness, patients frequently present with nonspecific symptoms. Upon hospitalization, anorexia nervosa patients are often markedly bradycardic, which may be an adaptive response to progressive weight loss and negative energy balance. When anorexia nervosa patients manifest tachycardia,…
ABSTRACT: Refeeding syndrome (RS) is a rare but potentially fatal condition that can occur during refeeding of severely malnourished individuals (such as anorexia nervosa patients). After prolonged starvation, the body begins to use fat and
ABSTRACT: During the starvation phase of anorexia nervosa (AN), cardiac and skeletal muscle mass decreases, whereas electrocardiographic QT dispersion, a marker of arrhythmia risk, increases. QT dispersion during the chronic phase of AN and its relationship to resting metabolic rate (RMR) have not been described previously and is the subject of the current investigation.
