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• Discovery Canyon student dies after playing 'the choking game' Play Video

  April 29, 2013 9:41 PM

  A dangerous trend is hitting home. Discovery Canyon ninth grader Sean Hill died this weekend after playing the 'choking game'. The Centers for Disease Control says the 'choking game' is played mostly by older children and early adolescents as a way to get a brief high. They either choke... more »

• Shorter ER wait times at Colorado's busiest hospital Play Video

  March 14, 2013 8:55 PM

  It's the busiest ER in Colorado and one of the busiest in the country. At Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, the empty seats in the waiting room are a welcomed sight. The hospital treats nearly 110,000 patients every year. In 2012, almost 4-percent of patients would walk out without... more »

• Drugs going missing in local hospitals

  March 6, 2013 7:21 PM

  August 2009 was a terrifying time for the 5,000 patients who went through surgery at Rose Medical Center in Denver and the 12,000 patients who went through the Audubon Surgery Center in Colorado Springs. Former surgery technician Kristin Parker stole the painkiller fentanyl from patients, injected herself with the drug,... more »

• Police: Woman accidentally shoots both of her legs

  February 9, 2013 12:17 PM

  A woman accidentally shot herself in the legs early Saturday morning in downtown Colorado Springs, according to police. CSPD was called when a woman showed up at Memorial Hospital around 2 a.m. with gun shot wounds. Initially police were told that the woman was shot by an unknown... more »

• Man pistol-whipped as his car is stolen

  February 9, 2013 11:33 AM

  A man was hit in the head with handguns while his car was stolen in Colorado Springs Friday. It was just after midnight; Colorado Springs police were called to Market St. and Wheeler Ave. A man told them an acquaintance had asked him for a ride, when they got... more »

• Energy drinks creating an emergency

  January 23, 2013 8:57 PM

  The number of emergency visits to hospitals because of energy drinks is climbing fast; doubling over five years to more than 20,783 visits in 2011. That's according to the Drug Abuse Warning Network and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. These days there's no shortage of options... more »

• Energy drinks creating an emergency

  January 23, 2013 8:38 PM

  In 2011 there were 20,783 emergency hospital visits related to energy drinks across the country. That number has doubled from 2007's amount of 10,068 when they first started tracking the numbers, according to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Friday night in News... more »

• New additions for Memorial Hospital Play Video

  December 5, 2012 7:51 PM

  There's plenty of activity at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs now that it's been taken over by University of Colorado Health; dozens of new positions have been added, about 90 in all. The hospital hasn't done much hiring lately while the city worked through the decision to lease it;... more »

• Concerns of co-sleeping

  November 26, 2012 7:11 PM

  In Weld County Colorado the coroner says they've had three infants die so far in 2012 while sleeping in beds with adults. At least one child in El Paso County has died that way this year as well according to the Sheriff's office. At Memorial Hospital, nurses say... more »

• Local mom warns against shaking babies after husband kills 8-week-old Play Video

  November 12, 2012 12:52 AM

  It's something we've all heard before: never shake a baby. Despite all the awareness though, medical experts at Memorial Hospital say it happens in the southern Colorado community every day. One local mom is sharing her story of loss to prevent other families from experiencing the same thing. It... more »

• Two dozen report sickness from tainted water at medical building

  October 30, 2012 8:32 PM

  At least two dozen people have reported feeling sick after it's believed they drank contaminated water at a local medical building. Memorial Hospital closed all of its outpatient facilities at the offices it leases inside the Printers Park Medical Plaza for the rest of the week. Additionally, a recorded... more »

• Midnight marks Memorial Hospital transition Play Video

  October 1, 2012 12:28 AM

  In less than two hours Memorial Hospital will become part of the University of Colorado Health System. It's a process that's taken years and the input of 76,000 voters to come to fruition. An uncertain future for 4,000 employees hung in the balance while the city wrestled with plans... more »

• Memorial Hospital lease leaves PERA problem pending Play Video

  August 29, 2012 8:44 PM

  A community vote Tuesday night determined Memorial Hospital's fate: an overwhelming 'yes' majority signed on to more forward the hospital's lease to the University of Colorado Health System. Though the change is immediate, it leaves one $185 million dollar question unanswered. More than 76,000 voters weighed in on Memorial... more »

• 5 year old hit by race car on Pike's Peak treated, released Play Video

  August 10, 2012 9:08 PM

  The five year old girl hit by a race car at the summit of Pikes Peak during practice races for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been released from Memorial hospital, treated for non-life threatening injuries. It happened around 9:30 Friday morning; a race car driver was finishing... more »

• UCCS building to house health clinics & possible med school Play Video

  June 21, 2012 6:52 PM

  Seventy gold shovels may seem like overkill for a groundbreaking ceremony, but if you ask UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak it's symbolic of the cooperation it took to get construction going on the new Lane Center for Academic Health Sciences. "This really is the beginning of the future, but it's... more »

• Springs man arrested for two-month-old's injuries

  March 18, 2012 2:21 PM

  Colorado Springs police have arrested a 22-year-old man for causing serious injuries to his two-month-old child. 22-year-old Daniel Kim was booked into the El Paso Count Criminal Justice Center Sunday for the felony charge of Child Abuse Causing Serious Bodily Injury. Police were called to Memorial Hospital Central... more »

• Council approves University of Colorado Hospital bid to manage Memorial

  January 10, 2012 5:27 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Council has voted unanimously to approve the bid submitted by University of Colorado Hospitals to manage health care at Memorial Hospital. With approval, City Council will negotiate a lease, and then the issue will be put to the voters. Council woman Jan Martin had said... more »

• Security measures stopped wouldbe gunman

  January 2, 2012 8:01 PM

  A man with a shot gun stuffed in a duffle bag was taken into custody Sunday at Memorial Hospital after he tried to bring the bag through the hospital emergency room. Pat McElderry, Security Director for Memorial Health System, says after seeing the metal detectors in the ER admitting area,... more »

• Life changing heart surgery first of its kind in Colorado Play Video

  December 30, 2011 8:49 PM

  It's a debilitating problem affecting millions of people with abnormal heart rhythms. Atrial Fibrillation, also known as irregular heart rhythm, affects more than three million Americans each year. It is one of the most prevailing problems among baby boomers. "A great number of people have symptoms ranging from fatigue,... more »

• Memorial e-town hall happening tonight

  November 17, 2011 2:49 PM

  The Memorial Health System Task Force is hosting an e-town Hall Meeting tonight. It's happening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Colorado Springs City Hall. You can attend in person, via phone or send in email. The meeting is a chance for people to ask questions about... more »

• Halloween Party for kids at Memorial Hospital for Children

  October 18, 2011 2:15 PM

  COLORADO SPRINGS- Memorial Hospital for Children held its annual Halloween Party for patients and their families today. Children from all over the hospital were able to participate in the event from picking out costumes to arts and crafts. Several parents we talked to say they are very thankful for... more »

• Take back the garage: recycle your old car seats

  September 20, 2011 12:07 PM

  Parent with children who've outgrown their old car seats can safely recycle them this Saturday at the Citadel Mall. Memorial Hospital, Kohl's and Bestway Disposal are working together to collect the old unwanted seats during the Healthy Baby Fair taking place from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on September 24,... more »

• Man almost dies at the hand of a power tool

  September 8, 2011 12:07 AM

  "He would have bled to death had they even been one minute further away or hesitated in any way, shape or form," says Memorial Hospital trauma surgeon Tiffany Willard, M.D. 24-year-old Blake Garrett lives to see another day thanks to heroic efforts of three people who did not hesitate to... more »

• Memorial task force trying to move forward with process

  September 2, 2011 7:12 PM

  Non-profit, for-profit, right now the future of Memorial Hospital is uncertain. But, planning is moving forward and now Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach is involved. City Council decided last week that their Memorial Task Force will now collaborate with the mayor and members of the Regional Leadership Forum, to... more »

• Mayor Bach in attendance for Memorial Health System proposal process

  September 2, 2011 11:30 AM

  Along with The City Council Task Force and the Regional Leadership Forum, Mayor Steve Bach is participating this morning in the request for proposal process for determining the future of Memorial Health. City Council decided at the end of August to work with the Mayor's office and the Regional... more »

• Car stolen outside of hospital valet area

  August 14, 2011 8:46 PM

  A car was stolen outside the emergency room doors in the valet area of Memorial Hospital this morning by a patient. Officers say they arrested Matthew Nyquest this afternoon after he crashed a stolen car and fled from the scene around 7:30 a.m. this morning at the intersection of Union... more »

• Wife stabs husband

  July 23, 2011 6:14 AM

  A Colorado Springs man was hospitalized after being stabbed in the torso by his wife during a heated argument. The stabbing happened at an address in the 300 block of N. Murray Boulevard at around 11:03 p.m. Friday evening. The victim's wounds are described as serious but not life... more »

• UPDATE: 8-month old released from hospital

  July 12, 2011 6:58 PM

  Colorado Springs police arrested Daniel Sheffield, on suspicion of abusing his 8-month-old son. Police say the little boy had been injured inside an apartment in the 4100-block of Westmeadow Drive. The baby was taken to Evans Army Hospital with a skull fracture and a subdural hematoma, and he was... more »

• Training and working as a team to save lives at Memorial Hospital

  June 1, 2011 8:01 PM

  The Emergency Department at Memorial Hospital is the busiest in the state with approximately 100,000 visits per year; 2,000 of those are people with a traumatic injury. Being that busy, the Trauma Team at the hospital has to be at their best, all the time, so they practice with... more »

• Memorial Hospital, Trauma Team drill

  June 1, 2011 4:33 PM

  Went into the busiest emergency department in the state this morning, at Memorial Hospital, to see how their Trauma Team operates. Memorial's central location gets around 100,000 visits per year, around 2,000 of those are admitted with a traumatic injury. The Trauma Team works with around 40% of those patients.... more »

• Catching Memorial Hospital's Trauma Team in action

  May 31, 2011 7:51 PM

  This morning were getting an inside look at the emergency department at Memorial Hospital. They're conducting a real-time emergency drill with a very realistic computerized mannequin. The hospital says the mannequin breathes, has a blood pressure and can demonstrate other bodily functions. It will be treated by a team of... more »

• Suspect leaves hospital, later caught by deputies

  May 15, 2011 11:28 PM

  A man who led sheriff's deputies on a dangerous chase last week is finally behind bars after walking out of a local hospital over the weekend. It all started last Wednesday in Security when El Paso County deputies tried to arrest 29 year old Garrett Riddle following a domestic... more »

• Cancer survivor blogs his way to help others

  May 15, 2011 10:45 PM

  Hospitals weren't a part of Mike Hamel's life until 2008. His stomach was bothering him, so he went to the doctor. "In fact, I almost turned around, being a man. On the way to the doctor my stomach wasn't hurting and I thought, ‘He's not going to find anything,'"... more »

• Local mom shares heartbreak to reach others in need

  April 27, 2011 7:15 PM

  Halfway through Xochi Quetzal Cantu's pregnancy, doctors told her something was very wrong. There wasn't enough amniotic fluid in her womb. Her baby had Potters Syndrome meaning his kidneys weren't developing. Still, she could feel the baby kick and her doctors visits continued with their usual regularity. The gravity... more »

• Shots fired; victim shows up at Memorial Hospital

  April 19, 2011 3:11 PM

  Police in Colorado Springs are investigating a shooting. There were reports of gun shots at Monterey and Shasta just before 1 p.m. Then someone showed up at Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound to the back. No word on how bad the victim is. We'll bring you more here... more »

• Memorial Hospital warns of scam

  April 8, 2011 11:45 AM

  A fake letter with the Memorial Health System's logo is under investigation by police as a possible scam. The letter claims personal information provided to Memorial may have been stolen, and it urges people to call a Miami-based phone number. Memorial reports there has been no theft or loss... more »

• Memorial Hospital: Child wasn't checked out

  March 9, 2011 1:25 PM

  A scare over a possible missing child from Memorial Hospital apparently started when the child wasn't properly checked out of the hospital. The 19-month-old girl was the subject of a search that started just before 8 a.m. When it became apparent their young patient was missing from her... more »

• Toddler missing from Memorial Hospital

  March 9, 2011 11:27 AM

  Colorado Springs Police are looking for a child who is missing from Memorial Hospital since about 8:30 this morning. The child is a 19-month-old girl, who may have been taken from the hospital by her father. Police do not believe the father has permission to have the baby. ... more »

• Healing under pressure

  February 27, 2011 10:01 PM

  "Mommy." Most children can say that word well before their first birthday. Aidan Hughes, who is eight, just recently started saying, "Mommy." He was diagnosed with moderate autism just before his second birthday. Since his diagnosis, he has had a team of therapists, teachers, and doctors working with him.... more »

• Memorial Hospital's future is on hold

  January 24, 2011 7:40 PM

  The future of Memorial Health System in Colorado Springs is on hold after a Mayoral Task Force recommended the delay to city councilmembers Monday afternoon. Memorial Health System Board of Trustees Vice-President John Moore says two reasons go into asking for the delay. 1. Moore says recent survey... more »

• Memorial issue to be taken off April ballot

  January 24, 2011 2:01 PM

  It seems a controversial ballot measure that would have made Memorial Health Systems a non-profit will not show up on this April's ballot. This morning a Mayor's Task Force agreed to ask city council to suspend plans to put the ballot measure to an April vote. One of the biggest... more »

• Proposed Memorial ballot language released

  January 12, 2011 11:36 PM

  The proposed ballot language on whether or not Memorial Health Systems should become a non-profit has been made public. The language, as it's written, says the hospital will become a non-profit entity which would be independent and not under city control, which it currently is. Voters would have final say... more »

• Miracle baby celebrates first birthday

  December 19, 2010 10:24 PM

  Coltyn Hermanstorfer of Security may not be ready to blow out his first birthday candle, but he's learning how to walk, he's blowing kisses, and he's babbling as only one year old's can. Plus, the fact he's celebrating his first birthday is very special for his family. "I still... more »

• Miracle baby turns one year old

  December 19, 2010 5:22 PM

  It was almost a year ago when this picture was taken at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. Tracy Hermanstorfer and her then-newborn son, Coltyn, were on their way home after a rough start to life. It started with a brush with death on Christmas Eve. During labor, Tracy stopped... more »

• Shooting at downtown apartment

  December 18, 2010 3:51 PM

  A man is in the hospital and another in custody following a shooting and fight at a downtown apartment building in Colorado Springs. It happened at around 12:20 p.m. at the Mayfair Apartment on East Platte just to the North of Acacia Park. Early indications are that the... more »

• Evacuation canceled at Memorial Hospital

  October 5, 2010 2:34 PM

  Enormous relief at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, where a momentary call for the evacuation of the central tower has been canceled without any patients being displaced. A report of a fire in the basement computer room turned out to be a freon leak. There is no fire;... more »

• Rare Natural Identical Triplets Are Now Home & Healthy

  September 6, 2010 5:49 PM

  An extremely rare set of natural identical triplets are now healthy and residing with their parents. The triplets were born July 27 at Memorial Hospital. Odds of naturally-occuring identical triplets without the aid of fertility treatments are estimated at around 1 in 200 million. Quinn, Liam, and Hunter Bartz... more »

• Doctor, former councilman commits suicide

  August 17, 2010 11:48 AM

  A highly respected and well-connected member of the Colorado Springs community has ended his own life. Dr. Ted Eastburn's body was discovered at 7:45 Tuesday morning in his office at Memorial Hospital. Eastburn was a former city councilman, cardiologist, faculty member at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and... more »

• Springs patients alarmed by hospital record breach

  August 7, 2010 6:36 PM

  Up to 40 hospital patients in Colorado Springs are in a troubling situation. A former employee at Memorial Hospital accessed their medical records apparently for personal use. News First 5 talked with two patients who say they're angry because they say memorial hospital waited several months before telling them about... more »

• Security breach at Memorial Hospital

  August 6, 2010 7:41 PM

  There was a security breach at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs. According to an official with the hospital, the records of 30 to 40 patients were accessed by a former employee. It happened earlier this year. Letters are being sent to everyone affected. They don't know why she was looking... more »

• Colorado Springs Mom Delivers Quadruplets

  July 30, 2010 8:15 PM

  Colorado Springs couple Justin and Jennifer Last, both age 27, have a busy rest of their life ahead of them. They're proud parents of healthy newborn quadruplets. The quads were born at Memorial Hospital on July 23, two months before their due date of September 22. The two girls... more »

• Commission studies Memorial Hospital's future

  June 29, 2010 9:59 PM

  The future of Memorial Health System is in the hands of the people it serves. In February, the Colorado Springs City Council commissioned a committee to look at options for the city-owned health system's future. The options range from keeping things the way they are to selling the health system... more »

• Teddy Bear Days at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

  June 16, 2010 3:31 PM

  The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's popular Teddy Bear Days, usually held in July, have been moved to June this year. Children under 12 who are accompanied by a teddy bear or other stuffed animal receive Zoo admission for just $3 June 26-27. Special activities are planned both days from 10... more »

• Patient tasing under investigation

  May 19, 2010 9:28 PM

  The State Health Department is investigating a tasing case from Memorial Health Systems emergency department. It happened earlier this year. According to a statement from the hospital, a homicidal patient became physically violent and threatened staff in the ER. The patient was tased and subdued. No one was hurt. ... more »

• Benefit ballet performance in Colorado Springs Sunday

  May 13, 2010 3:13 PM

  The Colorado Springs City Ballet will present Talk of the Town , a ballet and contemporary dance performance Sunday. The show is free, but donations for Ronald McDonald House are requested. The performance will be at the Doherty High School Auditorium, 4515 Barnes Road, Colorado Springs beginning at 4:30.... more »

• Smoking causes $140,000 Colorado Springs fire

  April 21, 2010 5:17 PM

  A house fire that sent a woman to the hospital by ambulance Wednesday morning was caused by careless smoking, according to Colorado Springs Fire Department investigators. Her injuries are not life threatening. The fire broke out around 7:40, in the 2200 block of Constellation Dr. Colorado Springs Dispatch reported... more »

• Suspected drunk driver hits transformer near Memorial Hospital

  April 7, 2010 2:14 PM

  A drunk driver hit a utility box, triggering Memorial Hospital 's back-up power and knocking out power to about 8000 homes. It happened on Boulder St. near Logan Ave. Springs police say the driver jumped the curb, ran into the transformer and was arrested for driving under the influence.... more »

• Back home after helping out

  January 31, 2010 12:49 AM

  A car dealer and doctors from Memorial Hospital have been on a week long relief effort. Saturday night, they returned to Colorado Springs. Ten people, including eight doctors, returned to family and friends after a week long trip to Haiti. They found several ways to help, especially by... more »

• Multi-car crashes shut down I-25

  January 29, 2010 10:02 PM

  Updated .... I-25 is now back open, after a series of accidents shut down both northbound and southbound lanes for several hours. The crashes happened just south of the South Academy exit. The State Patrol says there were actually three separate crashes, all in the same vicinity. Someone stopped... more »

• Haiti from eyes of local relief workers

  January 29, 2010 12:27 AM

  Each day gets a little better, but the scope of the devastation in Haiti remains too massive to describe. That's the word from a local doctor and a missionary who have joined the ongoing relief efforts there. Dr. Tiffany Willard and a team of surgeons from Memorial Hospital are... more »

• Report from Haiti: Local doctors volunteering

  January 27, 2010 2:11 PM

  News reports of the devastation in Haiti and the suffering of the people inspired a group of Colorado Springs doctors to drop everything and fly to Haiti to help. The doctors from Memorial Hospital are on the ground in the Caribbean Island-nation. Some got there at their own expense; others... more »

• Discussion begins on future of Memorial Health System

  January 6, 2010 8:29 PM

  The process of deciding how to restructure Memorial Health System is underway in Colorado Springs. Leaders of the city-owned hospital system met with city council Wednesday afternoon in a special meeting to discuss whether to take the hospital private, let the city keep it, or find something in the... more »