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MacKenzie Bean, a dietitian in clinical nutrition, recently met with an individual in an outpatient setting at Riverton Hospital in Riverton, Utah who shared their challenge with a severe eating disorder. Although MacKenzie doesn’t specialize in eating disorders, see how she built trust with the patient and provided a referral to a dietitian who could help.
Katie Swenson always knew she wanted to go into medicine. As executive director of our surgical specialties and digestive health clinical program, she certainly draws on her years of experience as a physician assistant in pediatric transplant and pediatric general surgery-trauma. But she finds, too, that she draws just as much on the leadership and teambuilding skills she acquired as a U.S. Air Force aircraft maintenance officer. We caught up with her recently to talk about military leadership skills, innovation through collaboration, and empowering patients to take control of their health.
Eight-year-old Allison Weldon from Butte has become the first child in Montana to receive an innovative treatment designed to delay the onset of Type I Diabetes. Under the expert care of our team at St. James Hospital, including Dr. Anita Azam and Dr. Collette Chorney, Allison's treatment marks a promising milestone in managing this chronic condition. We remain dedicated to providing advanced healthcare solutions and are honored to support families in the communities we serve. 🌟
What do bubbles and color-coded prescriptions have in common? No, it’s not the start of a bad joke, but some of the ways we at Intermountain Health reimagine how we care for our patients. People often come to our care sites in difficult circumstances. They may be experiencing life-altering symptoms or illness, or someone they care about is. Our mission of helping people live their healthiest lives possible includes healing the whole patient — their mind, body, spirituality, and caring for their support system.
Summer 2019 seemed like a good time to open a clinic. That was before a global pandemic upended every aspect of daily life. “It was like, oh, my gosh, we’re not ramped up yet,” says Jody Ruybal, practice manager of Intermountain Health Superior Clinic in Superior, Colorado, which opened at perhaps the least ideal time in history for a clinic to open. But Jody is a pro, and she had some ideas. Jody has been with the organization for 25 years and in the manager business even longer. Before she managed medical clinics, she managed a McDonald’s for 10 years. And when she decided, along with her mom, to pursue a medical assistant degree, it didn’t take her long to go from MA back to management again. She came to legacy SCL Health, which was then called Exempla, as a practice manager and stayed in that role at Green Mountain for 20 years. When she got the chance to help open Superior and be part of building something new, she jumped at the opportunity for growth and change. Learn more about how Jody and her team put patients first, even when navigating the challenges that came with a global pandemic and a natural disaster.
Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, Montana is now using a state-of-the-art surgical robot to assist with certain procedures and improve recovery times for patients. The Da Vinci XI robotic-assisted surgical system helps doctors with certain procedures by using only small incisions while still being able to make precise movements in the body. “From a patient perspective it results in less pain from surgery and allows for more precise work,” said Imudia Ehanire, MD, surgeon at Intermountain Health Holy Rosary Hospital. “From the surgeon perspective it improves ergonomics of performing surgery, improves visualization and allows us do more precise work. Robotic surgery has been around for over a decade, and for these and many other reasons it is becoming more commonplace in hospitals across America.”
At Intermountain Health, we’re taking a proactive approach to health care — partnering with individuals to keep them healthy. Sometimes it’s breaking down language barriers to turn a misunderstanding into a new lease on life; sometimes it’s renewing hope with the delivery of a nutritional supplement. But it’s always about listening and connecting. When patients need care, care managers are an important part of the team.
The new Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital will open on Saturday, August 3. Construction on the six-story replacement hospital started in 2021 and will provide a state-of-the-art care site in the West Denver suburbs. All patients will be moved in one day from the existing Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, to the new campus, three and a half miles away along I-70. Caregivers have contributed at each step of this process — providing input on the design, testing their workflows, and participating in mock moves. More than 175 volunteers will help create a smooth transition on opening day. "We offer excellent patient care services and quality of care found at Lutheran today and are excited to move into this new, beautiful space, which reflects our commitment to the well-being of our patients," said Andrea Burch, Lutheran president. Learn more about how the innovative design of this new hospital will benefit patients, caregivers, and the community in the article below.
Last week, Natalie Ashby, president of St. George Regional Hospital in St. George, Utah, and president of the Southwest Utah Market of Intermountain Health's Desert Region, addressed the future healthcare professionals at the Rocky Vista University White Coat Ceremony. Her speech highlighted the power of teamwork in medicine and the importance of each role in patient care. "You are not alone. In medicine, you are never alone. You are part of a team—a team where each member plays an integral role in the care of patients," said Natalie. Thank you Rocky Vista University for letting us be a part of your day. Congratulations to those who received their white coats! 🎓
When the new Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado opens next month, it will feature a sculpture created by Kevin Robb, whose life was saved by Lutheran 20 years earlier. Kevin is hopeful his sculpture will help spark joy for others at the hospital.
