Aurora health update: VA facility upgrades, pediatric research funding, and EMS readiness findings
Aurora, CO – February 27, 2026 – VA Eastern Colorado begins safety-focused upgrades as CU Anschutz and Children’s Colorado spotlight EMS and pediatric research.
Aurora-area health headlines this week centered on hospital operations and research tied to the Anschutz Medical Campus, with updates that touch everything from facility security to how emergency teams prepare for children.
VA Eastern Colorado begins infrastructure upgrades
The VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System announced Feb. 27 that it has started infrastructure work intended to support safe, effective care for Veterans. The first-quarter projects are funded through the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance program, which the agency says is part of a broader national push to modernize and repair VA facilities.
Locally, VA officials listed a project to retrofit a police area for ballistic protection. The VA framed the work as an investment in safety for patients, visitors and staff while care continues at the Aurora-based system.
Children’s Colorado and CU Anschutz pediatrics top NIH funding in 2025
Children’s Hospital Colorado reported Feb. 25 that the University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Pediatrics ranked No. 1 nationwide in NIH pediatric research funding for 2025, with more than $63 million in awards, citing data compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
While research rankings do not change care overnight, leaders often point to this type of funding as a driver of clinical trials and new approaches to children’s health that can move from the lab to patient care over time.
National study flags gaps in EMS readiness for kids
A separate Feb. 25 update from CU Anschutz highlighted new findings on pediatric readiness in emergency medical services before a child reaches the hospital. Researchers surveyed nearly 7,000 EMS agencies across the U.S. and territories and reported a median Pediatric Readiness Score of 65.5 out of 100.
The study noted stronger readiness among agencies that have a pediatric emergency care coordinator, but reported that only 38% of agencies said they had someone in that role. The authors said improving training, quality improvement and coordination could help reduce safety risks for pediatric patients in the field.
Outbreak research: why infections can persist in ‘hotspots’
In another Aurora-datelined research release, investigators at the Colorado School of Public Health described a 13-year study of schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection targeted for elimination in parts of China. The study linked persistence to factors including farming practices and unsafe sanitation, and suggested that as overall rates fall, prevention may need to become more localized at the household level.
The work is global in focus, but it reflects how public health research conducted in Aurora can inform strategies used by disease-control programs worldwide.
Sources
https://www.va.gov/eastern-colorado-health-care/news-releases/va-eastern-colorado-health-care-system-upgrades-infrastructure/
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/about/news/2026/february-2026/
https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/national-study-finds-strengths-gaps-in-ems-pediatric-readiness-before-children-reach-the-hospital
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1117398
