ABSTRACT: Of the many body systems adversely affected by severe anorexia nervosa (AN), the pulmonary system is relatively spared. However, in the face of severe malnutrition of AN, the lung may undergo architectural changes that adversely affect its integrity and healing capacity. We report herein a case of a pneumothorax in a patient with severe AN, in which standard approaches to manage the…
ABSTRACT: Anemia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia are frequent complications of anorexia nervosa. The complete blood count provides useful information to diagnose and characterize these findings. Anemia tends to be normocytic and normochromic. Leukopenia manifests as a deficiency of lymphocytes or neutrophils. Thrombocytopenia, if severe, may confer a bleeding risk. A careful history and physical…
ABSTRACT: Two females with severe anorexia nervosa (BMI of 10) were seen with marked abnormalities in their liver function tests before the initiation of refeeding. These paradoxically resolved with progressive refeeding and weight restoration. Clinical observation during regimented medical stabilization and refeeding of two patients with severe anorexia nervosa with frequent monitoring of liver…
Mehler PS, Crowe S. Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa in Mitchell J. Gillo M. Eating Disorders Hand Book. 59-71, 2010.
Complement Activation in Severe Anorexia Nervosa: A Prospective Cohort Study. Flierl MA, Gaudiani JL, Sabel A, Long CS, Stahel PF, Mehler PS. 'Complement Activation in Severe Anorexia Nervosa: A Prospective Cohort Study.' Eating Disorders Research Society, 2010.
ABSTRACT: Successful treatment of persons with anorexia nervosa is possible when a multidisciplinary team consisting of a mental health professional, a dietician, and a medical professional with expertise in eating disorders direct treatment. One of the primary goals of treatment is the restoration of weight. Refeeding by oral, enteral, or parenteral routes is a cornerstone of treatment but must…
ABSTRACT: To describe the phenomenon of persistent vaginal bleeding intwo patients with severe anorexia nervosa. We report two cases of young women with severe anorexia nervosa reporting vaginal bleeding that persisted for months despite trials of topical and systemic conjugated estrogen therapy. A speculum exam by a gynecologist ultimately revealed the source of the bleeding to be tampon‐induced…
ABSTRACT: We report data from the medical stabilization and refeeding of patients with severe anorexia nervosa admitted over a 15‐month period. Through chart review and computerized data collection, we evaluated demographic and clinical data from 25 consecutive patients admitted to our medical stabilization unit from October 2008 to January 2010. In this adult‐patient population with a median…
ABSTRACT: To present a cogent and practical review of the medical complications and their treatment in patients with bulimia nervosa. Thorough review of the medical literature from 1990 to current in regards to the medical complications of bulimia nervosa and the therapeutic intervention that are effective to treat them. Extensive and detailed review of the medical complications of bulimia…
ABSTRACT: Hyponatremia is infrequently reported in the constellation of metabolic abnormalities in patients with eating disorders. We sought to identify the etiology and describe the management of a patient with anorexia nervosa and hyponatremia. We report the case of a 23-year-old woman with anorexia nervosa who suffered with severe hyponatremia. The etiology of hyponatremia in this case, as…
ABSTRACT: Osteoporosis is common in anorexia nervosa. It places these patients at increased lifetime risk for fractures. Bone loss may never recover completely even once weight is restored. The strongest predictors of osteoporosis include low body weight and amenorrhea. Loss of bone density can occur rapidly and very early in the course of anorexia nervosa. The etiology of bone loss in the…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa (AN) carries the highest mortality of any psychiatric disorder largely attributable to sudden cardiac death and suicide. Controversy exists regarding the underlying mechanism of cardiac risk, whether QT prolongation is a consistent feature of the disorder and whether repolarization varies by disease severity. Some of the uncertainty may relate to a lack of standardized…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa carries the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Even the most critically ill anorexic patients may present with normal 'standard' laboratory values, underscoring the need for a new sensitive biomarker. The complement cascade, a major component of innate immunity, represents a driving force in the pathophysiology of multiple inflammatory…
ABSTRACT: Hypophosphatemia of refeeding is one of the most dangerous complications seen during the treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa. Although easily detectable and treatable, hypophosphatemia is under‐recognized as a complication of refeeding. Specific risk factors for the development of hypophosphatemia are likely to exist among patients with severe anorexia nervosa. The purpose of…
ABSTRACT: Grinspoon and colleagues (1) reported on predictive factors for osteopenia in anorexia nervosa. The accompanying editorial discussed potential pathophysiologic explanations that link body weight and bone mass (2). Previously, I and others reported that adipose tissue mass, even at low levels, regulates leptin levels in women with the restricting subtype of anorexia (3). However, in the…
ABSTRACT: PseudoBartter's syndrome, a complex pattern of seemingly unrelated metabolic abnormalities, is frequently seen in patients with eating disorders, particularly those who indulge in purging behaviors. We present two cases that, despite divergent background histories and clinical presentations, possess the unifying pathophysiology that ultimately leads to this syndrome. Case report…
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this case report is to increase awareness among clinicians that oropharyngeal dysphagia occurs in patients with severe anorexia nervosa, placing them at risk for aspiration and impeding nutritional rehabilitation. We describe a patient with severe anorexia nervosa who manifested symptoms of dysphagia, with resultant aspiration pneumonia, at the time of her admission for…
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this case report is to increase awareness among clinicians that oropharyngeal dysphagia occurs in patients with severe anorexia nervosa, placing them at risk for aspiration and impeding nutritional rehabilitation. We describe a patient with severe anorexia nervosa who manifested symptoms of dysphagia, with resultant aspiration pneumonia, at the time of her admission for…
Herein we review the major medical issues involved in the "detoxing" of patients who engage in purging behaviors and the pathophysiology of why they occur. Given a limited evidence base of randomized controlled trials, we conducted a thorough qualitative review to identify salient literature with regard to the medical issues involved in "detoxing" patients from their purging…
ABSTRACT: Bulimia nervosa has many medical complications associated with the different modes of purging utilized by these patients. There also are inherent medical complications associated with chronic purging when these behaviors are abruptly discontinued. These complications experienced by a patient with bulimia nervosa when they decide to cease purging, can be a strong deterrent to…
Anorexia nervosa is characterized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) by (1) a refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight (eg, a body weight of <85% of expected body weight or a body mass index [BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared] of <17.5), (2) an intense fear of gaining weight, (3) a…
ABSTRACT: In this article, we will examine the most common emergency department presentations of eating disorder patients, review the pathophysiologic changes that lead to such presentations, and discuss the appropriate management of each patient. Literature review of current practices. This article serves as a guide for ED physicians caring for patients with eating disorders. It can also…
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to clarify the finding of liver function test abnormalities in anorexia nervosa (AN). Literature review and description of two representative cases of severe liver function test abnormalities from our medical stabilization unit. Abnormal elevation of liver function tests can occur during the process of refeeding patients with severe AN. The cause of this…
ABSTRACT: Among psychiatric conditions, anorexia nervosa carries the highest mortality, in part due to the propensity for rhythm disturbances among patients with advanced disease. Patients with anorexia nervosa are prone to both bradycardia and tachyarrhythmias, though mortality has not been associated with the former. To date, only one case of junctional rhythm in the setting of anorexia…
ABSTRACT: Bulimia nervosa, often characterized by self-induced vomiting, is complicated by medical manifestations that affect nearly every organ system in the body. Effects range from superficial skin and dental findings to esophageal pathology, electrolyte abnormalities, cardiac arrhythmias, and in extreme cases, death. Ultimately, cessation of vomiting is necessary to cure most associated…
ABSTRACT: Eating disorders are one of the "great masqueraders" of the twenty-first century. Seemingly healthy young men and women with underlying eating disorders present to emergency departments with a myriad of complaints that are not unique to patients with eating disorders. The challenge for the Emergency Medicine physician is in recognizing that these complaints result from an…
Abstract OBJECTIVE: Osteoporosis has traditionally been considered a female problem. This study's purpose is to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) in males with eating disorders. METHOD: Charts of 70 consecutive males admitted to an eating disorder program were reviewed. Females admitted during the same time period were used for comparison. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray…
'Hypokalemia: A marker of covert bulimia nervosa.' Philip S Muhler, MD. American Journal of Medicine.' 128(9):e37, 2015. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.02.024
ABSTRACT: The clinical presentation and medical complications of severe anorexia nervosa among males were examined to further the understanding of this increasingly prevalent condition. Fourteen males were admitted to a medical stabilization unit over the study period. Males with severe anorexia nervosa were found to have a multitude of significant medical and laboratory abnormalities, which are…
ABSTRACT: Prealbumin levels have been proven to correlate with hospital length of stay, wound healing, infection rates, and mortality in adults hospitalized for medical or surgical purposes, or those who have chronic illnesses. Little is known about the utility of prealbumin evaluation in adults with severe anorexia nervosa (AN). We retrospectively evaluated prealbumin levels, along with…
ABSTRACT: Bulimia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder with many different medical sequelae. This article reviews the principal medical complications associated with bulimia nervosa, and emphasizes the importance of a timely approach to diagnosis and management. To read the full abstract on the medical complications of bulimia and nervosa visit: https://doi.org/10.12968/hmed.2017.78.12.672
Abstract Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are serious psychiatric illnesses related to disordered eating and distorted body images. They both have significant medical complications associated with the weight loss and malnutrition of anorexia nervosa, as well as from the purging behaviors that characterize bulimia nervosa. No body system is spared from the adverse sequelae of these…
ABSTRACT: In contrast to other mental health disorders, eating disorders have a high prevalence of concomitant medical complications. Specifically, patients suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN) have a litany of medical complications which are commonly present as part of their eating disorders. Almost every body system can be adversely, affected by this state of progressive malnutrition.…
Nutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration are key underpinnings of the treatment protocol for patients with anorexia nervosa. While their inherent state of malnutrition and weight loss is certainly not a healthy one, ironically, the very essence of the refeeding process, if done injudiciously, can also be unsafe for patients with anorexia nervosa. In this article we will provide a review…
ABSTRACT: This study assessed the personality of severely ill patients with anorexia nervosa, restricting (AN-R) and binge-purge subtypes (AN-BP), during hospitalization for medical stabilization. Participants (N = 37) completed the Temperament and Character Inventory, Revised. Personality domains were similar between AN-R and AN-BP with the exception of cooperativeness. AN-R patients scored…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality of any psychiatric illness. Yet, these patients are often young and have many productive years yet to live. Weight restoration and nutritional rehabilitation, along with psychotherapy, are at the core of a successful treatment plan along with avoiding medical complications during the early periods of refeeding. This article is generated from an…
As with anorexia nervosa, there are many medical complications associated with bulimia nervosa. In bulimia nervosa, these complications are a direct result of both the mode and the frequency of purging behaviors. For the purposes of this article, we will review in detail the many complications of the two major modes of purging, namely, self-induced vomiting and laxative abuse; these two account…
ABSTRACT: As with anorexia nervosa, there are many medical complications associated with bulimia nervosa. In bulimia nervosa, these complications are a direct result of both the mode and the frequency of purging behaviors. For the purposes of this article, we will review in detail the many complications of the two major modes of purging, namely, self-induced vomiting and laxative abuse;…
ABSTRACT: Inherent to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are a plethora of medical complications which correlate with the severity of weight loss or the frequency and mode of purging. Yet, the encouraging fact is that most of these medical complications are treatable and reversible with definitive care and cessation of the eating-disordered behaviors. Herein, these treatments are described for…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are serious psychiatric illnesses related to disordered eating and distorted body images. They both have significant medical complications associated with the weight loss and malnutrition of anorexia nervosa, as well as from the purging behaviors that characterize bulimia nervosa. No body system is spared from the adverse sequelae of these illnesses…
ABSTRACT: The purpose of this article is to thoroughly review the medical complications associated with bulimia nervosa and their evidenced-based or typical treatments. A thorough review of medical literature to cull pertinent and best articles which guide the diagnosis and treatment of the medical complications of bulimia nervosa was performed. There are many different medical complications…
ABSTRACT: Forty‐seven year old female, with a history of anorexia nervosa, was admitted to a medical stabilization unit (ACUTE) complaining of abdominal pain exacerbated by oral intake, associated with nausea, and relieved by emesis. Admission body mass index was 10.6. Labs were notable for hepatitis and hypoglycemia. On her progressive oral refeeding plan, she suddenly developed severe…
Thanksgiving is a time for families and friends to gather, express gratitude and enjoy a meal together. Unfortunately, this time of year is also associated with an increased risk of food poisoning. This Thanksgiving, the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) and the Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety (RMPDS) encourage everyone to take a few simple food safety precautions to…
Denver Health has been named a 2014 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the United States. The Joint Commission's 2015 annual report "America's Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety," recognized Denver Health for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance data…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, which is associated with many different medical complications as a result of the weight loss and malnutrition that characterize this illness. It has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. A large portion of deaths are attributable to the cardiac abnormalities that ensue as a result of the malnutrition associated with anorexia…
The American Cancer Society recognized Elizabeth Bibiloni with the Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award, a prestigious national honor for cancer care and commitment. The Lane W. Adams Quality of Life Award recognizes individuals who consistently exhibit excellence and compassion in providing care to cancer patients, going above and beyond their duties to make a difference in the lives of…
Dr. Madeleine Kane, Chief of Hematology and Oncology, Elected Chair of the Colorado Cancer Coalition
Denver Health's Madeleine Kane, MD, PhD, was elected Chair of the Colorado Cancer Coalition (CCC) by her colleagues in January. As Chair, Dr. Kane will help the CCC in its dedication to achieving increased cancer prevention, early detection, research, improved treatment, and a better quality of life for all Coloradans. She was elected by members of the Coalition for her strong…
ABSTRACT: Evaluation of liver dysfunction in patients with severe anorexia nervosa (AN) has typically been limited to small case series. We report an investigation into the admission characteristics and clinical outcomes associated with liver dysfunction in a large cohort of adults hospitalized for medical stabilization of severe AN. We retrospectively evaluated electronic medical records to…
ABSTRACT: Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OPD) refers to difficulty swallowing food or a liquid bolus from the oral and pharyngeal cavities into the esophagus and increases the risk of possibly life‐threatening pneumonia. Little has been reported on OPD in adults with anorexia nervosa (AN). This study includes a description of OPD in severe AN and discusses potentially effective clinical management. Two…
Colorado's Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recognized Christopher Colwell, MD, with the Meritorious Service Award for his long history of service to the ACEP. The Meritorious Service Award is meant to recognize achievements that have enhanced Colorado's healthcare system and the profession of emergency medicine. Created in 2009, the award recognizes the…
Tracy Johnson, PhD, Director of Health Reform Initiatives at Denver Health, was recently awarded a Health Policy Fellowship from the Commonwealth Fund. The Fellowship, one of only two awarded this year, offers outstanding U.S. health policy researchers and practitioners a unique opportunity to spend up to 10 months in Australia conducting original research and working with leading Australian…
The Society of University Surgeons Honors Dr. Ernest E. "Gene" Moore with Lifetime Achievement Award
The Society of University Surgeons (SUS) honored Denver Health's Ernest E. "Gene" Moore, MD, with the 2015 SUS Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Gene Moore began his career at Denver Health in 1976, where he helped to pioneer one of nation's first academic Level I trauma centers. Under his leadership as the Chief of Trauma Surgery, the Denver Health Rocky Mountain Regional…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa portends the highest mortality among psychiatric diseases, despite primarily being a disease of adolescents and younger adults. Although some of this mortality risk is attributable to suicide, many deaths are likely cardiovascular in etiology. Recent studies suggest that adverse myocardial structural changes occur in this condition, which could underlie the increased…
ABSTRACT: Eating disorders that are associated with purging behaviors are complicated by frequent blood electrolyte and acid‐base abnormalities. Herein, we review the major electrolyte and acid‐base abnormalities and their treatment methods. The body of rigorous, eating disorder‐specific literature on this topical area is not robust enough to perform a systematic review as defined by PRISMA…
ABSTRACT: Medical problems that arise due to severe restricting and/or purging may be misdiagnosed or sub-optimally treated, from outpatient clinics to top medical hospitals. A symptom may be presumed to be a psychological manifestation of the eating disorder and inappropriately dismissed for further medical evaluation. Alternatively, a detailed medical workup may be performed, overlooking a…
The Denver School-Based Health Center (SBHC) Program—sponsored by Denver Health—was recently awarded $1.26 million to support comprehensive and integrated health services for the 2016-2017 school year from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Denver Health has served as the lead agency and medical sponsor for Denver's school-based health…
'Don't forget the "medical" in eating disorder patients'. International Journal of Eating Disorders. ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder, which is associated with many different medical complications as a result of the weight loss and malnutrition that characterise this illness. It has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. A large portion…
Denver Health Medical Center and the University of Colorado School of Medicine announced today that Mitchell Jay Cohen, MD, will join the hospital as the Director of Surgery and the School of Medicine as a professor in the Department of Surgery. Cohen is currently professor of surgery in residence at University of California San Francisco and San Francisco General Hospital, where he is also…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness with a high mortality rate. The body image distortion inherent to this disorder and the impaired judgment and cognition due to malnutrition frequently result in patients refusing treatment. Treatment is most effective if patients are treated early in the course of their illness and undergo a full course of treatment. Involuntary treatment may…
After an extensive national search, Denver Health is pleased to announce that Dr. Edward P. Havranek has been selected as our new Director of Medicine, effective immediately. Dr. Havranek has been with Denver Health since 1991, first as the director of the cardiac catheterization lab and then as Acting Chief of Cardiology from 1994-1998. In his tenure at Denver Health, he has chaired various…
Dr. Kathy Wells, a pediatrician at Denver Health and the medical director for the Family Crisis Center, was named to Governor Hickenlooper's Task Force on the Collection and Security of Digital Images of Child Abuse or Neglect earlier this month. The Task Force studies practices, current laws and rules followed in Colorado and examines best practices in other states regarding the…
Denver Health and Kaiser Permanente have launched Colorado Patient Partners in Research (CoPPiR) - a unique program that connects patients with ongoing research studies. This first of its kind program allows patients to become contributing members of research teams on a variety of health topics. "CoPPiR believes that patients should have a voice in the way research is conducted to ensure…
Denver Health's school based health clinics (SBHC) offer a helping hand to Denver Public School (DPS) students and their families with no cost, convenient health care. Denver Health operates 17 school based health centers located on DPS campuses throughout the city where students can receive health care at no cost to them or their families. Health care services provided by the SBHC are…
Dr. Debbie Rinehart, an associate research scientist at Denver Health's Center for Health Systems research, has been awarded a PCORI Pipeline Award to create a patient advisory committee to ensure patient perspectives and needs are built into future research projects. PCORI (Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that focuses on…
Abstract Patients with anorexia nervosa often voice a multitude of symptoms in regards to their gastrointestinal tract. These complaints can complicate the treatment of their eating disorder as they distract attention from the important goal of weight restoration. Moreover, the restricting of certain food groups also makes the task of weight restoration substantially more difficult, or may…
This study examines adult patients with severe, life-threatening anorexia nervosa who were admitted to an inpatient, medical stabilization unit between October 1, 2008 and December 31, 2014. Specifically, the study compares anorexia nervosa, binge purge subtype (AN-BP) and anorexia nervosa, restricting subtype (AN-R) on admission measures, hospital course, and outcomes. Of the 232 patients,…
Twenty years ago, what was then known as Denver General had a milestone in its history. In 1997 the City of Denver established the Denver Health and Hospital Authority as an independent entity from its longstanding city governorship. The decision, supported by the State of Colorado, gave Denver Health ownership over its own future, and the financial decision-making that would help hospital…
There has been a recent policy change to MyChart at Denver Health. The minimum patient age for an active account is now 12. Parents or guardians who wish to still view their minor's record through proxy access (the adult does not have to be a patient at Denver Health) should fill out the required form titled "
DENVER, CO (January 27, 2017) – Denver Health and Hospital Authority (DHHA) is pleased to announce Robin Wittenstein, Ed.D., FACHE, as the finalist for the Chief Executive Officer position following a vote last night by the DHHA Board of Directors. Wittenstein is currently an Executive Leader at Penn State Health, a network of more than a dozen clinical and academic affiliate…
Denver Health has named Romana Hasnain-Wynia, PhD, to the newly created role of Chief Research Officer. In this role, Dr. Hasnain-Wynia will oversee all of Denver Health's research and sponsored programs through the new Office of Research and will serve as a member of the Executive Staff, to assure research is well-represented in leadership discussions. The strategic vision of the research…
Denver Health is proud to celebrate inclusiveness and diversity among our staff. No matter what your native tongue is, we speak your language. Denver Health pr
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex mental health disorder that may result in life threatening medical complications if not properly treated. Refeeding and weight restoration are the primary goals of treatment in AN. A multidisciplinary team is essential during this process in order to properly monitor and address complications that can arise during refeeding. There are benefits and…
Denver Health's longstanding commitment to process improvement helped it earn recognition for the second time in five years from Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence with another Peak Award, coming at the end of 2016. Evaluators looked at seven categories, but were particularly impressed with Denver Health's leadership and strategic planning efforts. Denver Health's Lean…
When avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder becomes life-threatening: A case report of an adult male patient. Colorado Journal of Psychiatry & Psychology 2017; 2(2): 23-28. To read the full abstract of this article, visit the link below. Bennett SL, Dunn TM, Lashen GT, Grant JV, Gaudiani JL, Mehler PS. 'When avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder becomes life-threatening: A…
Denver Health was named a 2017 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence by Healthgrades -- placing it among the top five percent of hospitals in the U.S. In the report, Denver Health scored five out of five stars in several key areas, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, heart failure, gastroenterological care and multiple measures in critical care,…
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation has recognized Denver Health for the fourth year in a row as a "Leader in LGBTQ Health Care Equality." The HRC is the educational arm of the country's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. The HRC awards this honor to health care facilities meeting LGBT-inclusive standards that are part of the HRC…
One year ago today, Denver Health's
Songs for Sound (SfS), a Nashville-based nonprofit, will be parked outside Denver Health's Bernard F. Gipson Eastside Family Health Center, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, to offer free hearing tests. The community is encouraged to come out to 501 28th St. to partake in the event, where Songs for Sound staff will educate and promote care for those who struggle with hearing loss…
Have you ever seen the news about a health outbreak and wondered what would happen in Colorado? This June, Denver Public Health, Denver Environmental Health and other local response partners, are participating in a full-scale, statewide Public Health Emergency Dispensing Exercise (PHED Ex 2017) to practice quickly giving away emergency medications to people during a health crisis. People of…
Join your Denver Health colleagues at this year's Denver PrideFest, the largest regional celebration of LGBT pride in Colorado, June 17 and 18 at Civic Center Park. While you're there, don't forget to visit the Denver Public Health booth! Denver Health has been named a lesbian, transgender patients. Our public health department will be handing out giveaways and educational…
Hospitals Use Technology to Partner with Patients on Health \For the 12th year in a row, Denver Health has been recognized as a "Most Wired" health care system by the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Health Forum. With last year's launch of MyChart and other numerous communication improvements between staff and patients, Denver Health is one of only eight other…
ABSTRACT: This study evaluates potential associations of baseline physical function measures with anthropometrics and clinical outcomes in persons hospitalized with anorexia nervosa. We conducted a retrospective study in a single hospital on 176 seriously ill persons with anorexia nervosa who required definitive medical stabilization. Licensed physical therapists assessed functional transfers…
Join the Denver Health and Denver Public Health team Saturday, Aug.19, at Cheesman Park, for the 30th annual AIDS Walk Colorado. The walk celebrates huge leaps in HIV treatment, to honor those we have lost, and demonstrate our commitment to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. There are multiple ways to participate whether you'd like to walk, run or become a virtual walker by donating to…
August 12 and 13, the Denver Health Paramedic Division deployed fireline paramedic Will Berry to the Pole Creek Fire in Kemmerer, Wyo., and radio operator Adam Ellis to the Gibralter Fire in Eureka, Mont. In doing so, the Division's unique Wildland Fire Team, which sends specially-trained paramedics to active wildfires across the United States, extended new high's reached in 2017 for…
Denver Health was founded as City Hospital in 1860 to serve the health care needs of the rapidly developing city of Denver. Since then, we have grown alongside the community to become a complete health care system, proudly providing care for all residents. Today, when offering health care to the entire community has never been more critical, we are excited to introduce the new, revitalized…
Twenty years ago, what was then known as Denver General had a milestone in its history. In 1997 the City of Denver established the Denver Health and Hospital Authority as an independent entity from its longstanding city governorship. The decision, supported by the State of Colorado, gave Denver Health ownership over its own future, and the financial decision-making that would help hospital…
ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa (AN) has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric illnesses due to the widespread organ dysfunction caused by the underlying severe malnutrition. Starvation causes hepatocyte injury and death leading to a rise in aminotransferases. Malnutrition-induced hepatitis is common among individuals with AN especially as body mass index decreases. Acute liver failure…
ABSTRACT: Young adults with eating disorders can develop osteoporosis, or fragile bones, which can cause lifelong debilitating consequences. Despite its high prevalence, general guidelines for diagnosis and treatment are lacking and further collaboration is needed. Some current osteoporosis medications may have severe side effects or cause birth defects in pregnant women and thus require special…
Read the most recent 'Admissions' blog article from the Hospital Medicine team, "
Most patients don't know who Dr. Bernard F. Gipson Sr. is, but his legacy lives on at Denver Health for his work bringing care to all during the early days of the Eastside Family Health Center. The Center is named for Dr. Gipson, who was Denver's first black surgeon and treated Dr. Martin Luther King for altitude sickness during a trip here in the height of the civil rights era. Learn…
Denver Health provides care for patients, no matter what language they speak. We have interpretation services in more than 200 languages, including new technology that allows our Vietnamese patients at the Federico F. Peña Southwest Family Health Center to show a doctor what is wrong with them. Watch patient navigator Fr. Joseph Dang demonstrate how it works in English and in Vietnamese.
Denver Health hospitalist and researcher Dr. Lilia Cervantes is leading the way in research on undocumented immigrants who do not have access to kidney dialysis. Watch Denver media personality Gloria Neal interview Dr. Cervantes and find out more about Dr. Cervantes' research at http://bit.ly/DHUID.
Denver's first community health center and the second oldest community health center in the country is Denver Health's Bernard F. Gipson Eastside Community Health Center. Dan Euell worked with patients at the center in 1969, after it first opened. In this short video, he tells us why the center means so much to the Denver community as a whole.
ABSTRACT: Eating disorders are unique in that they inherently have much medical comorbidity both as a part of restricting-type eating disorders and those characterized by purging behaviors. Over the last three decades, remarkable progress has been made in the understanding and treatment of the medical complications of eating disorders. Yet, unfortunately, there is much research that is sorely…
Help keep prescription drug waste out of the water supply and out of lakes and streams. If your medicine cabinet is full of expired or unused medication, it needs to be disposed of properly. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day happens twice every year, but you can safely drop off your old or expired drugs anytime during normal business hours at seven of Denver Health's clinic pharmacies…
The Sam Sandos Westside Family Health Center in Denver's Sun Valley neighborhood is celebrating 50 years of keeping patients healthy in 2018. Rick Delgado is the Family Health Center's second and longest-serving administrator, starting his career in 1968 in Westside's original building at 10th Ave. and Federal Blvd. Delgado played a major role in the move to its current location, a…
Today, you'll see a new look on Denver Health's website. To create a better experience for our patients and staff we've revamped our features. Use the "Tour & Feedback" button to find out where items you previously used now live. While we expect the new website to improve our existing one, there may be some bugs and updates along the way. Please bear with us as…
If you are looking for the best place to have a baby, look no further than Denver Health. With the single largest OBGYN practice in Colorado, a dedicated, caring staff delivers a third of all babies born in Denver, with options for natural birth and midwives available around the clock. All of our providers work together in a single, integrated practice. Denver Health OBGYN providers come for the…
Denver Health Paramedics Answer the Call at DIA A big thanks to Denver Health Paramedics at Denver International Airport for answering the call on Tuesday, May 8 when Delta Airlines flight 1854 from Detroit landed and smoke filled the cabin. Flight attendants quickly evacuated the passengers and Denver Health Paramedics were ready to respond to any medical problems. One patient was transported…
Denver Health paramedics respond to more than 117,000 calls every year. Most of the time, they do not get to follow up with the patients they have treated. As part of EMS Week 2018, three Denver Health paramedics had the rare opportunity to see how they changed the lives of one Denver family. On September 1, 2017, Talia and Jade, and their father Alfonso Orozco were seriously hurt when a car…
