Dominique started using drugs at 13 years old. In her 20s, she escalated to selling drugs to maintain her habit. When she was incarcerated, she had 10 warrants out for her arrest. But in the Sanpete County Jail in rural central Utah, Dominique’s life turned around thanks to the work of Cheryl Swapp and our Intermountain Health Community Health team.
Rob Hitchcock, president and CEO of Select Health, was named an honoree for CEO of the Year by Utah Business magazine, recognizing his leadership in the healthcare industry. Hitchcock was appointed interim CEO at Select Health in November 2022, subsequently filling the position permanently in February 2023. He has more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience spanning both publicly traded and nonprofit health plans and providers. His career has taken him across the nation, but with local ties to Utah he was thrilled to return and finish his career at Select Health. Since joining Select Health, Hitchcock was instrumental in guiding the organization through the Medicaid unwinding and re-enrollment period following the conclusion of the COVID-19 public health emergency. His leadership was pivotal in coordinating efforts with Select Health’s leaders to tackle a statewide effort, resulting in the successful enrollment of over 33,000 Utah residents—no longer eligible for Medicaid—onto Individual health plans. “I am honored to receive this award alongside such exceptional leaders,” said Rob Hitchcock, president and CEO at Select Health. “This award highlights the significance of teamwork and dedication within our organization. At Select Health, success is a collective effort, and this recognition reinforces our commitment to teamwork and excellence."
As Intermountain Health caregivers help patients live their healthiest lives possible, that also means providing patients with comfortable and compassionate end-of-life care and helping their families navigate grief and the accompanying emotions. One way hospice care sites across Intermountain serve with empathy and help loved ones grieve is by hosting memorial services to honor and remember those who’ve passed. “These memorials help families join others in reflecting on their grief, memories, and moments of joy with their loved ones,” said Rachelle Hughes, volunteer coordinator at St. George and Cedar City Hospice. “They also get to reconnect with the caregivers they built a relationship with during the patient's time in hospice. It’s a moment of catharsis, connection, camaraderie, and remembrance.” The memorials are a beautiful way for patients to reflect and remember, including Mary Staub, who attended a dove release service. “I knew that it would be a peaceful event and something I needed since my mother's passing in August 2023,” Mary said. “But I had no idea the impact that event would have on my heart. The music and the speakers’ words touched me deeply. I wasn't prepared for the love given to me by members of the hospice team who cared for my mother. They were there to comfort and hug me and tell me how much they loved my mother and loved caring for her. That meant the world to me. I was grateful to receive comfort and peace during a very difficult time.”
While Bree was pulling into the employee parking lot of Intermountain Health's Fillmore Clinic in central Utah, she noticed a distressed individual on the phone next to a potential patient in the front seat of a car screaming in pain and instantly know to help. She learned they were new in town and didn't know how to receive care. She safely escorted the individuals inside the facility and called to see if Wayne Brown, MD, would come from the emergency department to see if the individuals could avoid needing an ER visit. They thanked her and realized everything was going to be okay. “The patient was very upset and scared,” Dr. Brown said. “They had just experienced a medical event and needed treatment. Bree stayed with the patient and joked with them and distracted them and held their hand so that treatment could be administered appropriately. This helped comfort the patient.” “I think Bree showed a perfect example of our values by going right to this family to find out what they needed and then getting them into the right place to get appropriate care in the right setting,” Dr. Brown said. “She then stayed with them. The other MAs took over some of her other work while she was in with this patient. The patient and patient's family member were smiling and joking as they left. They clearly had a good experience here, and hopefully, I think it may even overshadow the trauma from the earlier experience.”
This week, we celebrate Patient Access Week and honor the hardworking individuals who are the first point of contact for our patients. Thank you for your dedication to providing excellent service and ensuring a smooth and efficient healthcare experience! #PatientAccessWeek
Congratulations to Craig Richardville, senior vice president and chief information and digital officer at Intermountain Health, for being recognized as one of Becker's Healthcare's 46 chief digital officers to know for 2024! 🎉 In his role, Craig's responsibilities include management and leadership of Intermountain's information technology. This includes strategy, applications, operations, information security, informatics, data and analytics, and leading the system’s digital transformation and information automation. Craig has over 20 years of experience using data as a driving force for better care solutions. Due to his success in his roles, he earned the National CIO of the Year ORBIE Award in 2021.
Carol Atchison and David Thompson have dedicated a combined 80 years of their lives in service to our patients at Intermountain Health. They are among the many long-term caregivers who have shown remarkable loyalty and commitment to their profession, our organization and our mission. They have seen many changes over the years but have always maintained their passion for providing high-quality care to our patients. Carol said she loves the teamwork, the people she works with, the morale and atmosphere, the type of patients she cares for, and the culture of Montana. She grew up in Montana and chose to stay because of the wholesomeness of the people. “I was born at St. Mary’s and chose to stay in Grand Junction because I love it here and was excited to raise our family here, along with my wife Megan,” said David. “I love the ability to help people heal. I don’t have a lot of direct patient contact, because it’s a lot of behind the curtain work like regulatory compliance, inspections and optimizing imaging, but am still involved in the process of using radioactive materials to treat cancers such as thyroid cancers. These treatments are especially rewarding because they are typically very effective. This isn’t a bleak place like people might think since we’re dealing with patients suffering from cancer, but instead, it is a place of hope.” Carol and David are an inspiration to their colleagues and a testament to the values and mission of Intermountain!
Join us in celebrating Anesthesia Tech Week! 🎉 A big thank you to all our anesthesia technicians for their tireless efforts in ensuring the safety and comfort of our patients during surgical procedures. #AnesthesiaTechWeek #AnesthesiaTechs
This month, we celebrate the progress made and acknowledge the work still needed to achieve health equity for all. Join us in promoting awareness and fostering a healthier future for every community. #NationalMinorityHealthMonth #HealthEquity #Inclusion
Finding great care close to home can be challenging in many rural communities. But in Butte, Montana and its surrounding communities, Intermountain Health St. James Hospital provides world-class care, including groundbreaking cardiovascular procedures usually only available in major urban areas. In February, the medical team at St. James performed its first Impella procedure. The Impella is a mechanical left heart pump used to help maintain blood flow when someone experiences cardiogenic shock. This occurs when the tissues and organs of the body don't get enough oxygen to survive when the heart fails to pump enough blood to the body. Placing an Impella through a patient's artery and into the left ventricle of the heart temporarily helps the heart pump better. With this innovative technology now available in Butte, patients no longer face the burden of traveling long distances for critical interventions. Instead, they receive expert treatment close to home, ensuring timely and accessible healthcare when every moment counts.
