Intermountain Health

WEEK 18: Respect your Boundaries Make it a goal this week to not answer work calls or emails outside of your working hours. @thedefensiveline

“With what we now know about concussions and other serious injuries, our work has become vital to sports programs.” The need for certified athletic trainers at local high schools has become a necessity and not just a luxury, as athletics have become faster and more competitive. Intermountain Health has over 160 athletic trainers in Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Montana and Colorado at 65 high schools, as well as partnerships in all divisions of college sports. In recent years, as there’s been a bigger focus on youth mental health, trainers have been able to help young athletes who are experiencing a mental health crisis. There have been several cases where trainers have been able to get athletes the help they need. “We work with these kids every day and build a lot of trust, so they feel safe telling us if there’s an issue,” said John Stutznegger, certified athletic trainer at Intermountain Health. “We also receive training to spot someone who might be experiencing mental health crisis because it’s not always obvious.” Injury prevention is a major part of an athletic trainer’s work, and they often guide coaches on habits and drills that can support those goals. Advising coaches on proper warm up and cool down can go a long way in helping athletes stay healthy. Many states including Utah require a medical professional to evaluate any athlete suspected of having a concussion and implement a concussion protocol before they can return to play. Educating coaches, athletes, and parents is another crucial responsibility of athletic trainers’ duties, which includes having the medical knowledge to identify an issue and to direct athletes to proper resources. An ATC also educates athletes on proper nutrition and hydration which can directly impact their performance.

Going to the zoo is a family adventure that kids and caregivers alike have enjoyed in Denver for over 125 years. It can sometimes be a challenge making your way through the 80 acres of fun-filled gardens and exhibits, especially for parents. Luckily, the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA) has stepped up to help make the zoo a fun and friendly space for all. The organization recently installed two Mamava Pods, sponsored by Intermountain Health and the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation, to make breastfeeding more convenient and comfortable than ever. Mamava Pods can be unlocked for free using the Mamava app. Inside, you can find a comfy bench to feed your baby, plenty of counter space for diaper bags or purses, an outlet to plug in whatever you might need to charge or use, and a small changing table. The pods are temperature controlled, heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer. They also have an entrance ramp for easy stroller or wheelchair access. “We wanted to make sure that families feel supported and welcomed when they come to the zoo and that they have everything they need to be able to learn about animals and learn about conservation and have a great day and have everything that they need to do that. Part of that is helping prioritize nursing parents and families,” said Erika Haase of Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance You can find the Mamava pods at the Gates Building garden level restrooms and in the Giraffe Barn. If you can’t access the app, any DZCA staff member can unlock it for you. https://lnkd.in/g6yks6Uu @denverzoo

When two cardiovascular nurses at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver noticed a string of open-heart surgery patients being readmitted for sternal and pressure wounds, they identified a common thread. Find out how a new bra, along with improved patient education and pre-op processes, has led to zero readmissions. Article written by: Patricia Demchak Billinger #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

Technological advancements in hysterectomies are improving women's health outcomes. Intermountain Health physicians like Dr. Lamarr Tyler at MountainView Women's Health Clinic and Dr. Marc Vennart at Centennial Hills Women's Health Clinic are leading out on surgeries like this, treating patients from southern Nevada and across the country. In a recent 8 News NOW - KLAS CH. 8 segment, we hear from one Intermountain patient, Randi Tivin, who traveled from Illinois to Nevada to receive women's health care. She shares her positive experience with Dr. Tyler. Drs. Tyler and Vennart also explain the most commons reasons for hysterectomies and the ways these surgeries have become less invasive, increased patient recovery time, and require less postoperative medications. #WeAreLeadersInClinicalExcellence #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

At Intermountain Health, we are better together. But for thousands of Intermountain flexworkers, together looks a little different.  Flexwork is Intermountain’s remote work strategy — a hybrid model that allows caregivers to work in the office, at home, or a combination of the two as their roles and duties allow. See how remote and hybrid caregivers around Intermountain stay connected to their teams. #WeAreBetterTogether #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

Deven Johnson didn’t think much about it when he saw two dogs running around in the parking lot at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah on a recent morning. But when the dogs found their way into the hospital, he knew he had to do something.   Deven, a security officer who has been at McKay-Dee for a little over a year, was coming in for a 5 a.m. shift when he saw the dogs outside. A dog owner himself, he figured that the owner was probably close, but kept a loose eye on them anyway. It wasn’t long before the dogs slipped inside the building.   “I grabbed them and put them in kennels in the security office,” said Deven, noting that the hospital has a couple of portable kennels available in case an emergency patient comes in with pets and has no way to care for them. “It was too early to call animal control, so I called Weber County dispatch, and they agreed to send animal control at 8 a.m.”   Preferring to avoid passing the dogs to animal control, Deven decided to try finding their owner on social media. He posted photos of the doodle mix and the husky in a local Facebook group for lost pets, added a note that animal control would be picking them up soon, and waited. About a half hour later Deven received notification that two people were at the front desk to claim the dogs, which they did after verifying ownership.   “They said the dogs ran out of the house during a bathroom break,” he said. “They only live a few blocks away, and the dogs ended up here.”   Although securing pets “is not something we normally do,” Deven was quick to step in and reunite these dogs with their owners. The entire episode was wrapped up within a couple of hours, and the owners were “absolutely appreciate” of Deven’s efforts.   “What I appreciate most about Deven is the compassion that he shows and has not only for our furry friends but the people that we deal with daily,” said Tim Contos, the security supervisor at McKay-Dee, noting that Deven’s background as a teacher gives him the ability to relate to visitors with compassion. “I remember a time when a mom brought in a child that had a previous brain injury and had a hard time controlling her emotions. Deven noticed the child had become quite upset and pushed her mom down. Deven rushed in to help the mom who had hit her head on the hard floor, but at the same time he was doing that, he was gently talking to the child to calm her down and ease her fears.” #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

WEEK 17: Mindfully Looking Take the time to notice the eye color of those you talk to today. Use your sense of sight to bring you into the present moment. @thedefensiveline

Did you know, many students in Utah can see an Intermountain Health provider without missing a full school day? The School-Based Telehealth program is a community-based service from Intermountain Health that provides acute medical care for students during school hours—think sore throats, sinus pain, minor burns and rashes, allergies, etc. Telehealth services have been shown to reduce hospitalization, emergency care and school absenteeism, diminish the financial burden on families, and reduce health care costs in general. Parents are also able to join the visit virtually if they can’t leave work. To participate in the School-Based Telehealth program, parents sign a consent to treat their child and provide their health insurance information. If they don’t have health insurance, financial assistance for this service is available. A Connect Care visit costs $69. Currently, this partnership is available in the Wasatch County School District and expanding to other school districts in Utah. Canyons and Weber School Districts are piloting the program in some of their highest-need schools.

Navigating cancer treatments can be a difficult process under normal circumstances. Trying to get to treatments without a reliable vehicle puts even more strain on the patient. That’s where Tammy White Uecker comes in. Tammy is an oncology nurse navigator at Lutheran in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and part of her role is to identify barriers patients may face in getting the care they need during their treatments. Transportation is a huge barrier because if a patient does not have a vehicle, or if the vehicle is unreliable, they may not be able to get to and from treatment. This was the case for Jared Phillips, who was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer in October 2023.  “My partner, Jen, and I had been living in my car through the Safe Parking Initiative in the Golden program for about six months when I found out I had cancer,” said Jared. “The windshield was cracked, it leaked gasoline, and had a host of other problems.” Tammy called several mechanics to see if they would fix the car pro bono but had no luck, so she reached out to her own mechanic, Seyfer Automotive. They agreed to inspect the car and do the repairs if it was worth salvaging. Unfortunately, they deemed the car a fire hazard and said they couldn’t fix it. Shortly after, Jared went to start the vehicle and the whole thing burned to the ground.  “Seyfer said they were going to try to find him another vehicle and I worked with Aliyyah, licensed clinical social worker, on our oncology support services team to see how we could help,” said Tammy. “We set him up with the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program that provides free rides to cancer-related medical appointments.” The team also helped Jared apply for grants for patients with cancer. During this time, Seyfer found a car, did the necessary maintenance work, and put four new tires on it. Jared was awarded grant money that he used to buy the car from Seyfer.  Understanding the challenges faced by individuals like Jared is what Tammy says makes her job so rewarding.  “I've been a nurse for more than 40 years and all my skills are utilized in this role,” she said. "It requires good assessment skills and being able to establish a relationship with my patients to figure out what they need and what barriers they might run into so we can remove those barriers. I love that I get to know patients and their families at a pivotal time in their lives. My team has the privilege of advocating for our patients and helping to ease their burdens.” #WeServeWithEmpathy #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives