Active lifestyle sparks economic opportunities
By: Development Research Partners, Inc.
Colorado offers a robust culture of health and wellness. The state has the nation’s lowest rate of adult obesity and is home to one of the fittest populations in the nation, due to active lifestyles and access to the outdoors. With nearly 329,900 health and wellness workers across the state and a $17.4 billion annual payroll, the industry has a compelling impact within the state.
Every area of the state has local innovators and regional leaders in health and wellness. Grand Junction is a national model for efficient healthcare and innovation. Pueblo is focusing on creating regional centers of excellence for health to support southern Colorado and surrounding states. University of Colorado Health (UCH) provides evidence-based health and wellness services in Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming. Regional economies in the Upper Arkansas Valley, Western Slope and Eastern Plains are bolstered by health and wellness innovations.
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There is expansive growth at the Fitzsimons Life Science District and the adjacent Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The 578-acre site is the largest medical-related redevelopment in the nation and the world’s only completely new research, education, and patient care complex. The campus serves more than 500,000 patients annually, is home to the schools and colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, and Public Health, and offers two world-class research hospitals – UCH and Children’s Hospital Colorado (CHC).
Several key trends continue to drive job growth in the health and wellness industry. Colorado’s health insurance landscape is undergoing rapid change and an estimated 500,000 Coloradans are expected to gain insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Aging and population growth continue to drive demand for health services. By 2040, Colorado’s population ages 65 and older is projected to double to 1.5 million. This demographic shift toward an older population with the aging of the baby boomer generation will generate economic activity based on increased demand for health services. Further, the digital healthcare infrastructure has greatly improved the way patient care is delivered and compensated.
Colorado is home to internationally renowned hospitals, clinical systems, and research facilities, which rank among the best healthcare facilities in the nation:
- National Jewish Health in Denver has ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 hospital in pulmonology for the last 17 years. National Jewish is a worldwide leader for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune, and related disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research.
- UCH ranked as the top hospital in Colorado and was cited for excellence in nine medical specialties.
- CHC has been recognized as one of the nation’s top 10 children’s hospitals for more than a decade. Six specialty areas ranked in the top 10 in their respective categories.
- Craig Hospital in Englewood ranked seventh among hospitals that specialize in rehabilitation. Craig is exclusively dedicated to the specialty rehabilitation and research for patients with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.
- Penrose-St. Francis Health Services was named as one of “America’s 50 Best Hospital’s” for seven consecutive years, the only recipient in Colorado.
Colorado’s cutting-edge research and development, connection with a strong bioscience industry, unmatched talent and state-of-the-art amenities will further advance the state’s healthy and thriving population.
