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Research & Innovation
It starts with a Q:
For the latest cutting-edge research, innovative collaborations and remarkable discoveries in child health, read stories from across all our areas of study in Q: Advances and Answers in Pediatric Health.
Heart Institute
As the region’s leader in congenital and pediatric heart care, we provide extraordinary care and exceptional outcomes.
At Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Heart Institute, we provide expert care for people with congenital and acquired heart disease — from birth through adulthood. As one of the highest-volume heart centers in the country and ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report, we consistently deliver exceptional outcomes. With dedicated cardiac units staffed 24/7, we offer around-the-clock, coordinated care. And because families deserve transparency, we openly share our surgical volumes and outcomes so you can feel confident you brought your child to the right place.
#6
In the nation by U.S. News & World Report
798
Cardiac surgeries in 2024
#1
In Colorado and the region by U.S. News & World Report
Why choose us for congenital and pediatric heart care
In addition to our high ranking in the region and the country, the Heart Institute is one of the highest-volume congenital heart programs in the country. We see about 20,000 visits every year and have hundreds of cardiac team members to provide expert care and services.
Our outcomes consistently exceed national benchmarks — even for the most complex cases. We’re also the only heart program in the region that openly shares our surgical volumes and results, because families deserve transparency and trust. Those outcomes also include the lifesaving heart transplants we perform. Our Heart Transplant Program has performed hundreds of heart transplants and our outcomes consistently beat the national average every year.
90+
Cardiologists and advanced practice providers
400+
Dedicated cardiac team members
93.4%
Survival rate for the most complex surgeries (8.9% better than the national average)
What sets us apart: Why families choose us for children’s heart care
Heart care from before birth to adulthood
From early diagnosis through our Fetal Cardiology Program to lifelong care through our nationally accredited Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, we treat patients at every age and every stage. Babies delivered at our Colorado Fetal Care Center have immediate access to our cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) and surgical team just steps away. This fully integrated model ensures seamless care from pregnancy through adulthood — so children born with heart disease grow up with the same expert team by their side for life.
Leaders in heart surgery, heart transplant and everything in between
No two children are the same, and neither are their hearts. Whether it's delicate heart repairs for newborns, open-heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure, our surgeons create an individualized plan just for your child. As a national referral center for the most complex cases, we provide expert care through ventricular assist devices and ECMO programs, providing children a bridge to recovery or a transplant. And because every family deserves to know they are receiving the best care, we publish our outcomes for heart surgery and heart transplants.
Pediatric heart programs and clinics
Our specialized programs and clinics cover a range of conditions and bring different specialists together to provide holistic care. If we know a certain heart condition also affects your child’s breathing and liver function, we’ll work with experts in those areas to provide them with complete care. The collaboration in our multidisciplinary programs helps provide a unique picture of your child’s condition so we can develop the best treatment plan. From genetics to neurodevelopment and more, our center brings together a range of resources to ensure kids continue to meet every milestone and thrive.
Pediatric heart research, advanced technology and innovative techniques
Research helps us understand how we can use the most modern and effective technology to provide the best treatment possible. Studying and using advanced imaging technology like 3D echocardiography, fetal cardiac MRI and augmented reality help us plan and perform procedures with greater precision — even before a baby is born. Through our research and clinical trials, our patients can receive the most advanced and effective treatment that isn’t yet available at other hospitals.
Keeping families close to home for heart care
In addition to multiple centers across Colorado, we also provide over 20 outreach clinics and telehealth options across surrounding states. To provide the best heart care to the most kids possible, without disrupting their lives, our heart specialists offer care via telehealth and dozens of outreach clinics to bring our expertise to you.
Who we treat at the Heart Institute
As one of the most complete children’s heart centers in the country, we care for virtually every child with a heart condition. We have some of the best outcomes in the country for babies diagnosed with a congenital heart condition before birth, kids and teens with various heart conditions, adults with congenital heart disease and everyone in between.
Contact the Heart Institute
If you have any questions about our heart care or to request an appointment, please call 720-777-6820. Find our various Heart Institute locations.
Get to know our pediatric experts.
Kathryn Chatfield, MD
Clinical Genetics and Genomics - General, Cardiology - Pediatric, Pediatrics
Jennifer Rafter, CPNP-AC/PC
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Patient ratings and reviews are not available Why?
Christopher Rausch, MD
Cardiology - Pediatric
Patient stories
Willow
When other hospitals didn’t align with this family’s expectations, they found one heart transplant program that would go the extra mile, in the mile-high city.
Looking for a second opinion?
From heart conditions present at birth to adult congenital heart disease to heart conditions requiring surgery, our pediatric heart experts can provide a second opinion so you feel confident in your care plan.
Shaping the future of heart care
We're equipped with state-of-the-art technology and renowned for our excellent outcomes. But we won’t stop there. Despite incredible progress, congenital heart disease remains the most common birth defect, and patients need lifetime care.
We continue to explore what's possible, all thanks to your donations.
Information
Precision medicine at Children’s Colorado
Precision medicine is about treating each child as an individual — and using technology and genetic information to make that treatment more effective. When appropriate, we personalize care based on your child’s genetics to help them feel better faster and with fewer side effects.
Children's Colorado in the news
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KTVQBillings family thriving after baby's battle with rare genetic heart syndromeOctober 11, 2023
While Katria was still pregnant, she learned her daughter had a heart condition called long QT syndrome. Dustin Nash, MD, electrophysiologist, was helpful in guiding this Montana family through their five-month treatment plan with the Colorado Fetal Care Center and Heart Institute, which included birth and surgery. Read more about Olive, who is now 8 months old and thriving, here.