Walking just four hours in someone else’s shoes is making a big difference. St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Grand Junction, CO hosted a Poverty Immersion Experience in conjunction with United Way of Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction's Housing Department in November. In one afternoon, St. Mary’s leaders, family medicine residents, faculty, and clinic staff experienced a month’s worth of challenges that come with living in poverty. Participants went away with perspective, empathy, and clearer understanding of the roadblocks those living in poverty must overcome to get a step ahead. “Regardless of where we have come from in our lives, most — if not all — physicians are far removed from living a life where you’re one bad day away from a serious financial problem leading to joblessness or houselessness,” said Sabrina Mitchell, DO, program director of Family Medicine Residency and program participant. “Even if you’re passionate about providing great care to underserved communities, you can become less aware of what some of our families and patients go through on a monthly basis.”
We are committed to supporting, developing, and investing in our caregivers and helping to develop leaders. Part of this is done through leadership classes. Recently, eight leaders in our Peaks Region completed Leading Through Others (LTO). The program helps administrative and medical leaders in a director level or equivalent role prepare to take their leadership to the next level. LTO enhances leadership and operational skills and prepares participants for advanced leadership opportunities. The six-month program includes a rigorous curriculum, leadership assessments, peer-to-peer coaching, networking opportunities, an application-based project, and sessions led by Enterprise Leadership Team members and subject matter experts from across the organization. Here are a few experiences from Intermountain leaders who recently completed the program. ⬇️
Certified Nurses Day, celebrated annually on March 19th, honors nurses who earn the highest credentials in their specialty. Not only do patients and their families benefit from receiving the care given by a certified nurse, but research shows that care provided by certified nurses is associated with lower complication rates, including patient falls and healthcare-associated infections. In addition, studies have shown that patient satisfaction scores increase as the number of certified nurses increases. We are truly better together, and today, we honor our certified nurses for their professionalism and dedication!
In a groundbreaking moment, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) declares Intermountain Health as the world's First Quadruple Stage 7 Healthcare Organization! This validation represents the results of a continuous journey of innovation leading with data, digital, and technology. Congratulations to our Digital Technology Services team for delivering excellence each and every day in access, affordability, outcomes, and experience!
Happy National Patient Safety Awareness Week!
In a unique collaboration with local veterinarians, specialized animal hospitals, and public safety agencies, Intermountain Life Flight, one of the nation’s premier medical transport programs, is launching a specialized operational K9 transport service. 🚁 This new service will provide transport for operational K9's needing emergent medical care or who are injured in the line of duty in Utah. “Operational K9’s are essential to our public service community,” said Tammy Bleak, director of clinical operations for Intermountain Life Flight. “These animals are involved in EMS, search and rescue, law enforcement, fire rescue, FEMA, narcotics detection, and TSA. Training for one of these K9’s can range from $40,000 to $70,000 and take four to five years to train. When one of these operational K9’s is injured, it is a potential loss to the community and that agency. Until now, there has been no formal process to help these animals when they need medical care.” The Intermountain Life Flight Operations K9 Transport Program is the first air medical program of its kind in Utah – and only the third air medical program in the nation that is designated to care for and transport public agency service animals for medical care.
When Steve, a technician in Environmental Services, started his position at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, he couldn’t believe every employee at Intermountain Health was called a caregiver — even those who may never interact with patients directly and don’t have medical training. “While I was doing my hands-on training and got to see the rooms and the patients staying in them, something clicked,” said Steve. “I wasn't just a housekeeper; I was a caregiver. Unlike my previous job at a hotel, my hard work could make a difference in someone's life. It could mean the difference between a patient getting well faster or acquiring a hospital-associated infection.” As a discharger, Steve’s primary role is to make sure a room is sanitary and ready for a new patient. He typically goes into a room that is no longer occupied and disinfects it from top to bottom. Caregivers like Steve, who work in care sites across Intermountain, are an important part of providing clinical excellence for all patients and caregivers. "We have tools and techniques to make the rooms safe for patients,” said Steve. “We also make the rooms safe for nurses and caregivers who will interact directly with the patients.” While EVS caregivers don’t interact with patients directly, Steve recognizes the importance of his role. Working alongside his Intermountain colleagues, he helps people get better faster and live the healthiest lives possible.
Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden is bringing cancer care close to home for residents of Northern Utah with a new state-of-the-art, comprehensive, and personalized cancer center. It has increased its infusion bays for patient comfort from 8 to 12 and chemotherapy infusion bays from 16 to 24 and brings several teams together for more collaborative patient care. Additionally, a new linear accelerator has been added and a compounding pharmacy is now adjacent to the infusion bays for easier access and faster treatment. “The cancer center is designed to empower its patients and bring a feeling of home and hope no matter their treatment setting,” said Judy Williamson, president of Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital. “We hope it will be a home where friends can strengthen and support one another during their cancer journey and bring people together in a fight to overcome cancer.”
The Day Treatment and Education program at Mount Saint Vincent Pediatric Behavioral Healthcare in Denver, CO, now part of Intermountain Health, supports children ages 5 to 13 years who are struggling in a traditional school setting. A therapeutic milieu—structured, but flexible group environment that improves mental health—is the cornerstone. The goal is to move children toward emotional health so they can successfully reintegrate into their school settings. The Day Treatment and Education program recently held a Kids in Construction series with Intermountain's Peaks Region Design and Construction Department with Construction project manager, Dianne Dewitt. The event's purpose was to engage children by teaching them who and what is needed to build a house while also creating exposure for children to gain insight into the trades. During the event, Dianne reviewed the types of workers needed to build a house, from the architects to the framers, plumbers and electricians. Dianne and Denise Valdez-Waldo, Design & Construction executive assistant, also showed them tools each worker would use at their respective project stages. “The kids were very interested, and some had questions and comments that were way beyond their years,” said Dianne. “I believe the physical cardboard house gave them a great visual for learning and play. Some could see a dream they may have someday, and if they chose an occupation where physical work was more suited to their interests or skills, an ave
After experiencing the death of her own father in a hospital in Washington State, Dana Nordquist, BSN, RN, was inspired to enhance the experience for the families who lose a loved one and for the caregivers who are witness to the passing of a patient they served at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, CO. Dana connected with a colleague at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, CO, who launched the Sacred Pause Initiative to respect the dignity of patients who die at the hospital. The two partnered to make this a standard practice at the time of death, with a few additions to the Good Samaritan ritual. With support from senior leadership, Dana created a multidisciplinary committee including Alana Worth and Saundra Casey from Spiritual Care, Meagan Clark, RN from ICU, and Rocky Garthwaite, RN from Med Surg, to bring her vision to fruition and implement a new end-of-life process at Good Samaritan. At Good Samaritan’s first exit service, the patient’s daughter, who had kept vigil at her mother’s bedside for many days, said: “My mom would always want me to walk with her as far as they would let me go whenever she was taken to surgery. This is perfect.” The exit service provided the nurse, CNA, and chaplains an opportunity to provide closure, goodbyes, and final blessings, as this family member was accompanied to the hospital exit. She did not have to walk alone.
