CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital Achieves Prestigious COPPER Pediatric Advanced Designation

DURANGO, CO (November 17, 2025) − CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital proudly announces it has earned the Pediatric Advanced designation from the Colorado Pediatric Preparedness for the Emergency Room (COPPER) program. This prestigious recognition underscores Mercy Hospital's dedication to providing top-tier emergency care for children in our community.

Mercy Hospital, the only hospital in Southwest Colorado to achieve this advanced designation, now joins St. Mary-Corwin Hospital and St. Elizabeth Hospital – both part of CommonSpirit Health's Mountain Region – as the only facilities within the Mountain Region to achieve this elevated status.

The Pediatric Advanced designation is the highest level of recognition offered by the COPPER program, reflecting a comprehensive and rigorous commitment to pediatric readiness. Key initiatives and achievements that contributed to Mercy Hospital earning this honor include:

• Dedicated Leadership: Establishment of both a nurse and physician Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) team.
• Integrated Care: Strong partnerships with pediatricians, the pediatric in-patient floor, NICU, and Oncology/Hematology departments to ensure seamless patient transitions and specialized treatment.
• Local Access to Advanced Care: The capability to administer chemotherapy, allowing pediatric patients to receive vital treatment without leaving their community.
• Specialized Training: Required regular and ongoing pediatric education for all relevant staff.
• Strategic Planning: The formation of a dedicated pediatric committee to guide continuous improvement.
• Holistic Support: Development of the "Echoes for Ozzie Program" tailored for special needs pediatric patients.
• Standardized Readiness: Harmonization of pediatric code carts across the facility.
• Quality Assurance: A steadfast focus on ensuring that "our rural location will not compromise quality of care."
• Compassionate Practices: Continued work on pediatric triage and unification using the innovative Pulsera system and the support of facility chaplains.

"Our teams pour their heart and soul into being the best they can be for our community, and it is through training and certifications like this that we show it. Earning the Pediatric Advanced designation is an incredible testament to our team's relentless dedication and proactive efforts to elevate the standard of pediatric emergency care," said Josh Neff, President of Mercy Hospital. "It reinforces our promise to the families of Southwest Colorado that their children will receive the highest quality of specialized care, right here at home."

COPPER is a voluntary pediatric readiness recognition program developed by EMS for Children Colorado in collaboration with statewide partners. It aims to help emergency departments statewide achieve higher standards in pediatric emergency care, particularly crucial given that nearly 70% of children seeking emergency care are treated in EDs that see fewer than 15 pediatric patients per day.

The program offers two levels of recognition: Pediatric Prepared and Pediatric Advanced, with the latter representing the pinnacle of pediatric emergency readiness. To achieve this Advanced level, Mercy Hospital not only established its PECCs but also significantly invested in adding specialized equipment and intensifying training around pediatric care, further solidifying its role as a leader in healthcare for children in the region.