AdventHealth Avista ER Receives COPPER Designation

We are proud to announce that AdventHealth Avista’s emergency room has received the Pediatric Advanced COPPER recognition! The Colorado Pediatric Preparedness for the Emergency Room (COPPER) is a voluntary pediatric readiness recognition program for Colorado emergency departments. Its goal is to ensure the delivery of safe, competent, and effective pediatric care by providing resources, support, guidance, and site verification.

Avista is the first AdventHealth facility in the state to achieve this recognition and one of only 17 in Colorado to tout this honor. COPPER was developed because 69.4% of children seeking emergency care in Colorado are treated in emergency departments that see fewer than 15 pediatric patients per day. Many communities across the state lack access to specialized children’s ERs, making it crucial for hospitals to be prepared to care for the state’s youngest residents.

“Pediatric patients in need of medical attention can expect better outcomes because we have a higher level of preparedness,” said ER Medical Director, Dr. Rebecca Kornas. “Our team is PALS certified, and we stay up to date on the best practices in pediatric health care.”

Each COPPER facility has Pediatric Care Coordinators, including one nurse and one physician. For the region, Dr. Kornas and Jen Jones lead the charge in working with each facility to achieve this designation. At AdventHealth Avista, Dr. Ryan Gibbons and Tyler Moore serve as the Pediatric Care Coordinators.

Achieving this certification took the team more than a year, with contributions from various departments including pharmacy, respiratory, radiology, disaster management, and many more. Additionally, we partnered with team members in Florida to learn from their best practices and policies.

We are deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication that made this recognition a reality. “Thank you for all your diligent work getting our emergency department and hospital ready for pediatric patients,” said Dr. Kornas. “It will make a difference in our community.”

In the future, EMS transporting pediatric patients will prioritize COPPER-designated facilities for their care. AdventHealth Avista also participates in the National Pediatric Readiness Quality Initiative (NPRQI), which is transforming pediatric emergency clinical care across the nation. This platform allows hospitals to access real-time ER data and provides insights on advancing clinical care and improving overall pediatric readiness.