Kristy Veale, MSN, RN, was an ICU bedside nurse when she saw firsthand what a difference clinical best practices could make for patients. The experience instilled a passion that eventually led to her current role as executive director of the Neurosciences Clinical Program. In her 40-year career at Intermountain Health, she’s seen a lot of changes, but that passion hasn’t changed.
Shaun Brown still remembers when Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado was just a flat dirt field with a giant hole in the ground. That was back in 2001, when he was first hired as a third-party commercial electrician to help build what would eventually become the beautiful Good Samaritan care site we know today. Now over 20 years later, Brown has worked his way up to serve as the lead facilities manager at Good Samaritan, where he oversees a team of 14 caregivers who handle all aspects of facility operations. From maintaining the building’s water, electrical, and HVAC utility systems to managing operational safety and maintenance, Brown ensures Good Samaritan is positioned to provide a safe and welcoming care environment that meets joint commission compliance standards.
Before DAX came along, Justin Jones, MD, was seriously considering quitting medicine. Typing notes while talking to patients felt like it sacrificed something important in his care, but typing notes later, often late into evenings and weekends, was burning him out. Since Intermountain Health rolled out DAX, the AI-powered ambient notetaking scribe for all physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs), the tool has only become more accurate and user-friendly. Soon it will get even better, with functionality in Spanish and access for Android users set to roll out in 2025. Dr. Jones is one of the organization’s top users. Here’s why.
For years, Intermountain Health hospitals have relied on color-coded tape to designate which instruments belonged to which departments. However, caregivers at Layton Hospital in Layton, Utah and elsewhere have replaced that tape with microdots, hoping to see improvements in patient safety and inventory tracking.
Intermountain Health is at the forefront of digital health and telehealth innovations. We spread our influence by partnering with others to impact the best telehealth policies and practices. “The goal of telehealth is to bring excellent care to patients close to their homes at the lowest cost possible,” said John Williams, assistant vice president of Telehealth Services. “Sure, telehealth helps Intermountain improve revenue, but the question that really drives our work is, ‘How can we provide better service at a lower cost to the patient?’” Telehealth allows us to care for more people, not only those in our physical care sites. For instance, it lets us deliver specialty care to patients who live in rural areas.
Meet the Select Health Member Services team, the experts who provide on-the-spot assistance for Select Health members during their healthcare and health insurance experience. This team provides various tools to help make healthcare easier and more accessible for the communities that Select Health serves. Caregivers on the Member Services team are trained to provide support in helping members navigate the Select Health website, selecthealth.org, where they can find providers on their specific plan and locate their benefits, plan guidelines, cost accumulators, claim information, ID cards, and other resources. Caregivers are also trained to educate members on Connect Care to help them connect with healthcare providers from the comfort of their own homes, reducing cost and time spent in waiting rooms. When a member calls in, this team is always ready to provide top-notch care. “Keeping the member informed and involved through their care experience is what sets Select Health apart from other health insurance companies,” said Kim Cutshall, AVP of Member Services. “The Member Services team doesn’t just answer phone calls, they set the framework for what health insurance is supposed to look like: simple and easy to navigate, with a team that genuinely cares about providing timely solutions and access to the right care. This enables our members to spend more time doing what matters most to them.”
How is scoring a hot restaurant reservation like keeping the operating rooms running smoothly? Perhaps a lot more than you think. Learn how Intermountain Health operating rooms and chemotherapy clinics use technology to maximize resources, improve flow, and support their best work.
Simulation training is designed to provide our caregivers with hands-on training in realistic scenarios, and those trainings paid off recently at two Intermountain Health care sites. A small clinic at the base of the Canyons Village ski area in Park City, Utah was able to carry out a textbook response to a visitor having a heart attack, and the care team at Delta Community Hospital in Delta, Utah helped save an infant's life with well-coordinated care.
In the busy hallways of Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado, two volunteers stand out for their dedication and warm presence: Bryce Magiera and his mother, Tammy Magiera. Their nearly two decades of service highlight the power of community and small acts of kindness.
Janette O’Brien was checking in on her chemotherapy infusion patients at Lutheran Cancer Center in Wheat Ridge, Colorado when she encountered an older gentleman smiling from ear to ear. He was wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset for the first time. “I’ve never had an entire theatre to myself before!” he exclaimed to O’Brien, Lutheran’s Oncology accreditation and program coordinator. As part of Lutheran's Virtual Reality Experience Program, VR headsets are available for Oncology patients to use while receiving chemo treatments, some which can last up to seven hours. The headsets simulate fun, real-world experiences including horseback riding, hiking, river rafting, cross country skiing, and dog sledding. It allows patients to immerse themselves in the beauty of Colorado despite sitting in an infusion center chair. After all, when it comes to battling cancer, a little happiness goes a long way. “Most of them have really enjoyed it,” said O’Brien. “We had another patient who recognized a particular hiking trail in Colorado. He told us he missed hiking. He couldn’t get out there anymore because of his treatment, but this gave him the opportunity to still do what he loves.” Lutheran is the first cancer center across Colorado to incorporate VR for patient care in Oncology settings. The innovative use of this technology exemplifies how our Colorado and Montana care sites are turning to the power of digitalization to support patients and caregivers in unique ways.
