UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation

One of the many concerning effects of the pandemic has been the public's hesitation in seeking care for stroke symptoms and treatment. When a stroke happens, "time lost is brain lost," notes the American Stroke Association. Amanda Werner, stroke program coordinator for UCHealth Northern Region, explains how a WISH award empowered staff to pursue a massive community education initiative.

On April 28, UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation presented State of the Hospitals — Northern Colorado, a virtual event featuring Kevin Unger, president/CEO, UCHealth Northern Region. Watch Unger’s wide-ranging discussion of innovations and accomplishments at our northern Colorado hospitals over the past year, our COVID-19 response, and what the future holds for our region’s health care.

UCHealth is preparing to embark on a significant renovation project at Poudre Valley Hospital to enhance the patient experience and care ahead of the hospital’s 100th anniversary in 2025. The transformation includes a new main entrance and lobby, a new heart and vascular care clinic, and a refresh of the birth center, women’s care unit and pediatric areas.

Jill Chambers, an occupational therapist for Children’s Therapy Services at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, is passionate about helping kids who have special needs. When she learned of a large and growing body of evidence that supports the use of smartwatches to encourage healthy habits—including self-regulation, nutrition, physical activity and sleep—Chambers knew she had to find a way to add smartwatches to the clinic's toolbox.

The hard-won triumphs of the past year would be impossible without your generosity. Our stories herein help demonstrate the power of the gifts you give. Across time, when we work together, we bring great things to fruition for our families, our friends, ourselves and our future.

On Feb. 25, UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation presented a virtual event featuring Dr. Oldemeyer, the physician director of UCHealth’s cardiovascular services in northern Colorado as well as the director of the structural heart program at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies. View the recording of the virtual presentation.

The desire to help others is strong in northern Colorado. Even as we all experienced one of the more trying years in memory, helping cancer patients in need was foremost in many people’s hearts.

Addressing food insecurity in our community requires help from countless hands and hearts. In 2020, the FMC food pantry served, on average, 391 unique households each month. By the end of the year, the pounds of food distributed per week had increased to 4,000, up from 3,000 in earlier months.

WISH, a program of UCHealth Northern Colorado Foundation, is a giving circle whose members pool funds to support the health needs of our community through UCHealth programs, partnerships and services. Awards for its 2021 cycle were made to an array of programs, ranging from healthy hearts education for kids to equipment for rehabilitation therapies to car seat education and distribution, and more.

With Great Western Petroleum's support of our suicide prevention fund, UCHealth will be able to analyze and address some of the risks and prevention tactics through programs, outreach and medical studies.