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Intermountain Layton Hospital in Layton, UT hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking last week for a new ambulatory surgery center that will enhance efficient and affordable out-patient surgical care in Davis County. “Building this center is a major step in continuing our mission of value-based care, which aims for high-quality health outcomes at a more affordable cost,” said Glen Morrell, MD, chief medical officer at Intermountain Layton Hospital. “This addition will also help meet the healthcare needs of a growing community.” Studies have shown that ambulatory surgery centers can lower the cost of a surgery, depending on the procedure being performed. Doctors say costs are a major concern for many patients, even if they have insurance. “Utah’s population is expanding at a rapid pace especially here in Davis County, and this will help us meet the growing needs of the community, providing a way patients can get the care they need closer to home,” Scott Mortensen, administrator of Intermountain Layton Hospital, said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
A first-of-its-kind study, co-led by a physician at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, has found that children who have had multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a life-threatening complication of COVID-19, did not have serious adverse reactions to the COVID vaccine. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s JAMA Network, can help parents make more informed decisions regarding the COVID vaccine, said Dongngan Truong, MD, University of Utah Health and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, who is co-author of the study. “Until now, there has been limited data on vaccination safety in patients with prior MIS-C,” said Dr. Truong, who is a pediatric cardiologist and expert on MIS-C. “As a result, some parents have been hesitant to give their children the COVID vaccine for fear it may lead to their child getting MIS-C again.”
Intermountain Healthcare launched an apprenticeship program in partnership with OneTen, a nonprofit dedicated to hiring, promoting, and advancing one million Black individuals into family-sustaining careers. On December 14, Intermountain and OneTen, in partnership with Multiverse, hosted a virtual event to highlight the program. The program featured Aris Myrick, Intermountain apprentice; Dave Jacobs, assistant vice president of Technology at Intermountain; Terry Crews, actor, author, and former NFL player; Maurice Jones, chief operating officer for OneTen; and Sophie Ruddock, vice president of Multiverse. Aris, who works in Digital Technology Services, was one of 50 people Intermountain has hired in the apprenticeship program this year. “To be recommended to represent thousands of people and to be told ‘Hey, we believe in you,’ left me speechless,” says Aris. “I was supported wonderfully and that alone was lifechanging.” Watch the December 14 virtual event, 2030 Vision: The Power and Influence of Apprenticeships on Black Talent Today to learn more. https://vimeo.com/781831158/
Dr. King was an influential civil rights leader, activist and community leader, who believed that unconditional love, advocacy and action was the only answer to strengthening communities across America. As healthcare caregivers, we are called to serve those who are sometimes going through the most difficult health situations in life and are in a very vulnerable state. We show up, love them, care for them and provide the best treatments possible. We do this because that is who we are, and that is the call we have answered. Our responsibility does not stop within the walls of our facilities or within the duties of our roles. We also have an obligation to serve the most vulnerable in our own communities. We must uplift those most marginalized and most in need and transform the lived experiences of our neighbors who need advocacy and action.
Using technology to improve the caregiver experience Digital Technology Service (DTS) and its operational partners collaborate to introduce, modify, and enhance technology that helps our providers and clinical caregivers safely, effectively, and equitably care for patients. These strides in technology are to improve providers’ and clinicians’ experiences with the tools they use, while also ensuring that the technologies needed to do our work are ready, secure, and available.
Intermountain Healthcare's value-based care subsidiary, Castell, has partnered with virtual chronic care provider Omada Health to offer virtual diabetes care and prevention to patients. This program offers members support along with intervention from health coaches certified through the CDC-affiliated Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center. Patients enrolled in the program also receive preconnected cellular scales, continuous glucose monitors and blood glucose meters that allow primary care physicians to track patient data in real time. Omada will be in charge of tracking clinical metrics, such as the reduction of A1C levels, as part of the program.
Intermountain Healthcare performed a record 104 adult liver transplants in 2022 thanks to the life-saving generosity of deceased and living organ donors, their families, and a team of transplant caregivers at Intermountain dedicated to saving lives. The Intermountain Transplant Program performed a total of 271 liver, kidney, and pancreas adult transplants in 2022. The largest increase was in live transplantation, with 32 living kidney transplants and 13 living liver transplants. “Intermountain has created the environment and provided us the necessary tools and team to be successful,” said Jean Botha, MD, transplant surgeon and medical director of Intermountain Healthcare’s abdominal transplant program. “I couldn’t be prouder and more honored to be working side-by-side with these caregivers who are changing lives.”
Safe, respectful, and caring behaviors are a big part of our Intermountain culture and support our efforts to improve the patient experience. We recently released a new video that focuses on the concept of respect and how it helps us make more meaningful connections with our patients – especially when patients feel heard. “Good communication and connection with the patient allow you to see them as a person,” says Tricia Murphy, MD, a provider at Nellis Clinic in Las Vegas. “Once you make that connection it goes beyond the care you’re providing – they feel heard and listened to. That makes a difference for the patient, especially when they have so many needs and concerns. If they feel like they’re heard, they’re in a good place.”
Intermountain Healthcare and UCHealth are forming a new partnership to develop a clinically integrated network (CIN) with comprehensive patient resources. The venture will bring together 700 primary care physicians and hundreds of clinics and hospitals across Colorado, with support from specialists throughout the state. In addition, the partnership will help bring a new health insurance option to Coloradoans. The partnership will also support health insurance products and programs offered through SelectHealth, which will provide Medicare Advantage and Individual ACA (Affordable Care Act) plans (pending regulatory approval) beginning on January 1, 2024. SelectHealth is a nonprofit health plan serving more than one million members in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. SelectHealth is a subsidiary of Intermountain Healthcare.
Social worker performs a wedding in a hospital room; caregivers host the reception When a patient was admitted to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, UT with complications from stage 4 thymic carcinoma, his long-time fiancé was by his side. In a matter of hours, caregivers were planning a wedding for them.
