Memorial Hospital just hired 90 staff members.
/ FOX21: Rachel Welte
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Two months after joining the University of Colorado Health, Memorial Hospital has hired more than 90 new medical professionals.
They include 14 cardiologists, a breast surgeon, two neurosurgeons and dozens of support staff.
In late August voters overwhelmingly approved a deal to lease Memorial Hospital to UC Health.
The transition was then made official on October 1.
The hires are a long time coming for Memorial, as the hospital struggled for years to recruit and retain doctors during the prolonged discussion over its future.
Fourteen of the 17 new doctors, coming over from Pikes Peak Cardiology.
"Their practice was acquired by Colorado Health Medical Group, so they are now employees of the medical group and the greater University of Colorado Health," Brian Newsome with Memorial Hospital said.
In total, since the hospital joined UC Health, Newsome said Memorial's physician network has grown by 40 percent.
"I think overall the main takeaway from this for patients is you will see more coordination within the health system, and more opportunities long term," he said.
In addition to the hires, over the past few weeks Memorial Hospital also earned a new "stroke care" certification, and acquired an "O-Arm," an advanced surgical imaging device.
"One of the things we are doing is installing an electronic medical record called 'EPIC,' and that is a major project," Newsome said.
Newsome said "EPIC" will allow Memorial Hospital to better communicate with the other hospitals under University of Colorado Health.
He said all are necessary steps to improve patient care.
"One of the things we are hopeful for is to be able to collaborate more with the academic hospital in Aurora, and our new partners up in Poudre Valley," Newsome said.
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