When moving to Colorado Springs, people often focus on finding a home, school, and grocery store, but hospitals tend to be put off until later.

However, knowing about hospitals in advance is crucial. Searching for a good hospital online after getting sick can be really overwhelming.

The first healthcare system to be aware of in the Springs is UCHealth, which includes UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central and Memorial Hospital North.

In particular, Memorial Hospital Central is a Level I Trauma Center. It has the facilities and specialized staff to treat critically injured patients, such as those involved in serious car accidents. On the other hand, Memorial North is a general hospital that is easily accessible for residents in the northern area. It's important to note that while both hospitals are not Level I, Central is designated as Level I.

While searching for hospitals in Colorado Springs, you may also come across the name Centura Health. Some older online articles or local residents still refer to it as "Centura Hospital."

However, Centura Health no longer exists. Centura was a healthcare management company operated jointly by CommonSpirit Health and AdventHealth since 1996. This partnership lasted for an impressive 27 years, but in 2023, the two companies decided to part ways, and as of August 1, 2023, they began operating their own hospitals independently.

As a result, the name Centura has gradually disappeared. In Colorado Springs, Penrose Hospital and St. Francis Hospital, which were previously known as part of the Centura network, are now directly operated by CommonSpirit Health.

So, it's easier to think of them as CommonSpirit Penrose Hospital and CommonSpirit St. Francis Hospital now.

Penrose Hospital is an older general hospital located at 2222 N. Nevada Avenue. It offers various specialized services, including a 24-hour emergency room, cardiology, oncology, surgery, and neurology. It continues to operate as a major medical facility with 300 beds.

To the northeast is CommonSpirit St. Francis Hospital. Located on Woodmen Road, it is easily accessible for those living in the north or northeast and also operates a 24-hour emergency room. It provides various services, including maternity and newborn care, surgery, orthopedics, spine care, cardiology, and rehabilitation.

Additionally, there is CommonSpirit St. Francis Hospital - Interquest near InterQuest. This facility, which was built relatively recently, has a modern feel and is also accessible for those living in the northern Monument area.

If you have children, Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs is worth remembering. It serves a different role than general hospitals when specialized pediatric emergency care and pediatricians are needed.

Military families can also utilize Evans Army Community Hospital located on Fort Carson. This military hospital is available for active-duty service members and eligible family members and is connected to TRICARE. Given that Colorado Springs has a significant military population, such medical facilities play an important role.

For those without insurance or who find hospital bills burdensome, community health centers like Peak Vista Community Health Centers are worth considering. They offer programs that can reduce costs based on income and eligibility, so it's better to inquire about these options rather than postponing treatment.

In summary, the healthcare system in Colorado Springs can be simply understood as being centered around UCHealth and CommonSpirit Health. The name Centura Health, which was once widely recognized, is now a thing of the past.

Also, in the U.S., knowing which hospital is better is just as important as knowing which one your insurance will cover. When you move, make sure to identify nearby hospitals, urgent care facilities, and primary care physicians, and check if they are in-network.

People tend to get sick on Friday nights or Sunday mornings. It only takes 5 minutes to save the location of a hospital when you're feeling fine, but when you're really sick, that 5 minutes can feel incredibly long.