Intermountain Health

Switching from kids’ doctors to adult doctors can feel scary. Primary Children’s Hospital started the Teen to Adult Transition program to help teens get ready for these changes. This program teaches teens and their families what to expect, gives them important skills, and helps them find the right resources to make the switch easier.    The program helped 19-year-old Halle. Halle has seen children’s doctors most of her life and still needs care as an adult for her chronic pancreatitis. She said, “It was like someone paused the story and said, ‘We need a new part — one where Halle takes charge.’”    Now, Halle is learning lessons she’ll use for a long time, like what specialists she needs for her adult care and taking charge of some of her own scheduling and care management.    Making a care plan is a big part of this program. Teens and their parents work with doctors, nurses, social workers, and teachers to learn how to manage health problems. They learn important things like how to take medication, use health insurance, make appointments, and understand the healthcare system. These skills help teens feel confident and take charge of their own health.    “Before the program, I spent a lot of time thinking about being an adult, but I didn’t consider my health,” said Halle. “I had school on the brain, potential work opportunities, that kind of thing. I hadn’t really considered what growing up meant for my care.”    Halle isn’t alone. Most chronically ill teens don’t think about the transition.     “This program changes lives,” said Chelsea Ghena, DNP, RN, the Teen to Adult Transition program manager. “Most teens have other things on their minds, like friendships, school activities, and sports. They’re busy with the other things that define them. Empowering them to direct their own care and facilitating connections with adult providers fosters continuity of care, reduces anxiety, and helps prevent gaps in treatment.”     With the support of her care team, Halle has dealt with a difficult diagnosis. “Even though a hard diagnosis comes along, don’t let it define you,” she said. “You can still do anything you put your mind to.” Article written by: Kenneth Marrott #ChildrensHealth #TeenToAdultTransitionProgram #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

While most are just waking up, our Musculoskeletal (MSK) Clinical Program team is already collaborating to transform patient care. From knee reconstructions to sports medicine, over 350 experts meet to share insights, tackle tough cases, and elevate patient outcomes. The result? Shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries, and better long-term health. See how early mornings and teamwork are reshaping musculoskeletal care at Intermountain Health and how patients are feeling the difference. Article written by: Christa Bruning #WeAreLeadersInClinicalExcellence #WeAreBetterTogether #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

When it comes to a healthier life, it takes more than good medicine—it takes a circle of care and support. It’s about friends, family, neighbors, caregivers, and communities all showing up for each other. At Intermountain Health, we want to be part of your support circle, and we’re ready to take the next steps with you in your diabetes care. In Nevada, we brought together six people for a real conversation about diabetes care. Dive deeper into this discussion, and watch the full conversation to learn about the real changes that help you live your healthiest life possible. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gMKU4wGj #ThePowerOfWe #NationalDiabetesMonth #DiabetesCare #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

From the heartbreak of losing a childhood friend to the front lines of humanitarian missions, Dr. Robert Massa’s path to medicine is one of purpose, resilience, and service. A scholarship from the U.S. Army opened the door to medical school and launched a career that would span refugee crises, military bases, and eventually, a beloved role in community care. This Veterans Day, Dr. Massa urges us to honor the commitment and sacrifices made by veterans and their families and keep present day active-duty military and their families in our thoughts. “Hug a veteran,” he says. “Be grateful. Their sacrifices make our everyday civilian lives possible.” Article written by: Maggie Munoz #VeteransDay #WeServeWithEmpathy #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

Veterans often have strengths that help them succeed in civilian healthcare roles, even if they don’t realize it at first. Two Intermountain Health caregivers — a retired Sergeant and a current Lieutenant Colonel — share how their military experience prepared them for working at Intermountain. Article written by: Darci Powers #VeteransDay #WeServeWithEmpathy #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

🧠 Stroke can strike at any age, and every second counts. Intermountain Health is leading the nation in stroke response, slashing treatment times and saving lives. But the care doesn’t stop at the Emergency Department: a groundbreaking system developed by our Neurosciences Clinical Program now tracks recovery long after discharge, ensuring stroke survivors get the support they need. Learn how Utah became number 1 in the country for stroke care and what it means for patients everywhere in the article below. Article written by: Christa Bruning #WeAreLeadersInClinicalExcellence #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

In the aftermath of trauma, one caregiver felt the world closing in. A chaplain stayed by their side for three hours, listening, praying, and simply being present. Spiritual Care isn’t just for patients: it’s for caregivers, families, and anyone in need of comfort, connection, or meaning. At Intermountain Health, chaplains offer support that meets people where they are, religious or not. Whether it’s a sacred pause after loss or a quiet moment before surgery, their presence brings healing beyond medicine. Discover how Spiritual Care is aiding healing every day at Intermountain. Article written by: Teresa Hirst #WholePersonCare #WeServeWithEmpathy #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

Montana Market leaders at Intermountain Health recently met in Billings for a day of leadership development with a goal to inspire, align and equip leaders for the next phase of organizational growth and excellence. One of the highlights from the day included our commitment to caring for the poor and vulnerable through a service project in partnership with the Billings Police Department and its Domestic Violence Division – the activity involved assembling over 200 ‘build-a-bear’ kits for children in crisis. “Donating these stuffed animals goes far beyond the act of giving – it’s an expression of love and resilience for children who need it most. At St. Vincent Regional Hospital, our mission is rooted in serving those who are poor and vulnerable,” said Lee Boyles, President of St. Vincent Regional Hospital and Intermountain’s Montana | Wyoming Market. “Through this service project, our leadership team was able to truly embody that mission, personally crafting each DIY ‘build-a-bear' kit with care and compassion.” Each kit included a stuffed animal with a birth certificate, and a handwritten card with words like: “You are strong. You are brave. You are loved.” “We are deeply grateful for this generous donation of care kits created by the leadership team at St. Vincent. What makes this gift even more special is the personal touch — the encouraging note offers children in crisis not just comfort, but a reminder that they matter and are loved,” shared Billings Police Captain Brandon Wooley. Through this initiative, St. Vincent and the Billings Police Department are working together to bring reassurance and hope to the youngest and most vulnerable victims, while also shining a light on the critical issue of domestic violence. “Hospitals play a vital role in raising awareness about domestic violence because we often see firsthand the physical and emotional impact on victims,” explained Boyles. “By educating the community, supporting prevention efforts, and connecting individuals to resources, our care teams can help break cycles of abuse and promote safety and healing." Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/geF5vkw2 Article written by: Michael Paquette #WeServeWithEmpathy #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

When Kim, RN, first felt left jaw pain after a hard swim, she chalked it up to anxiety.    Kim, the trauma program manager at Layton Hospital in Layton, Utah, had just exerted to beat her time in the 1.5-mile at Layton Surf & Swim by two minutes. Soon after leaving the pool, the jaw pain turned into “massive, crushing chest pain,” and she threw up in the parking lot.    She knew her options were to call 9-1-1, drive to the emergency department, or drive home. She chose option 3 because it was so early and she was not sure if husband, John, would be awake.    “I know it’s dangerous, but I opted to drive myself home,” Kim said. “By the time I got home I was really a hurting puppy.”    John drove her to the ER at Layton Hospital. The team there confirmed that she was experiencing a massive STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction). They put her on a monitor and started an IV and labs.    Dr. Ellen Wiitala ordered nitroglycerin and anticlot medications. The Imaging team took an EKG and quickly determined that Kim required a transfer.     The Layton Fire Department raced her — “feeling like there were three elephants on my chest” — to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden. The intervention staff met her at the door and took her to the catheterization lab.    Dr. Eric Lindley, MD, quickly put in the needed stent, and Kim felt immediate relief. “Taking a deep breath was so euphoric,” she said.    Kim had gone through a complete left side occlusion; the type of heart attack often called a “widow-maker.”     “I really should have died,” she said. “You never know why you’re the one who didn’t die, and I’m trying to make sure I appreciate that every day.”    Thanks to the coordinated care she received, Kim walked away with no scar tissue. She credited the staff in the Layton ER, Imaging, the nursing supervisor, the EMS workers, the McKay-Dee cath lab, the team on the cardiac floor, and cardiac rehab staff for her survival.    “It was like a well-oiled machine,” she said of the transfer and the communication between the two hospitals.    One year after her heart attack, Kim completed her first Olympic-distance triathlon. Her next goal is to compete in an Ironman Triathlon in Kona. Article written by: Lance Frazier #TraumaCare #WeAreBetterTogether #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

At Intermountain Health, we’re proud to be part of a groundbreaking step forward in emergency care. In partnership with the West Valley City Fire Department, we’ve launched a first-of-its-kind program in Utah that equips EMS providers to deliver whole blood transfusions directly at the scene of trauma. This means faster care, better outcomes, and more lives saved, right where it matters most. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gcyeN5BW #WeAreLeadersInClinicalExcellence #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives