February 8, 2016

Central Region

SABINAS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY

18 years after Sabina Suggs got a bone marrow

transplant, she came back to LDS Hospitals BMT unit
as an RN: When a patient is wondering if a transplant
works, I can say, Yes, it does because here I am!

f youre looking for a high-impact example of patient

engagement, look at this: Sabina Suggs was a patient in LDS
Hospitals Bone Marrow Transplant Unit 18 years ago in
January 1998 and our team was so good to her she came
back to the unit this past September to work as an RN. The
people here saved my life, she says. I feel a sense of awe
being on this floor. Most of us in healthcare feel driven to be here,
and I feel drawn to BMT. This is where I need to be.

LISA GRAYDON talks

about the power of
choosing to be engaged

PAGE 12

ROSEMARY BARON:
Loneliness hurts...and
its a lot more common

PAGE 8

Connect Care
is now available
for employees

PAGE 6

PAGE 5

Continued on next page

Spotlight on the
Edwards Internal
Medicine Clinic

THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF SABINA SUGGS continued

Sabina has a degree in business, and she worked for almost three years
as a Psych Tech at LDS Hospital and one year as a Patient Care Tech
at Riverton Hospital on the Mom/Baby Unit. But once she earned her
nursing degree in the last cohort of the Central Region/SLCC nursing
program, she knew where she wanted to work.
I didnt know at first if I could do it emotionally, she says. I

thought being back on the same unit, caring for patients who are now
where Id once been, might be too much for me. And that aside, as a
higher acuity floor, it can be a pretty intense unit to
work on, especially for a new RN. But I felt
an obligation to give back. When a patient is
newly diagnosed and given their treatment
options, and theyre wondering if a bone
marrow transplant works, I can say, Yes, it
does because here I am! You never know
what their outcome will be, but at that moment
it gives them a little more hope to hang on to.

A MODEL OF BMTS
IMPACT: Sabina Suggs
received a bone marrow
transplant at LDS
Hospital in January
1998 and 18 years
later she came back
to the unit as an RN.
Some of my colleagues
here have said: You
know, we treat these
patients and they go
home and we only hear
about the downsides
they either come back
because their leukemia or
lymphoma comes back or we hear
about them not making it, she
says. When they do well, we
really dont hear anything. So
people told me it was a boost for
them to see me here and doing so
well after having a bone marrow
transplant 18 years ago. They
could say: See? We really do
make a difference.

How does Sabinas experience as a patient enhance

her work as an RN? There have been multiple times
when a patient opens up to me once they know Ive
been where they are, she says. I was diagnosed with
leukemia just three months after I got married. One
of the hardest things for me wasnt the fact that I was
getting a bone marrow transplant, but seeing how
hard it was on my family and seeing how helpless
they felt. When I talk about that with a patient
now, I can see their family members nodding in
agreement yes, we feel helpless. One thing I learned
was: Let your family members help when they can; you dont have to
be independent. I think that helps family members feel like part of the
healing process.
A specific experience Sabina had with a patient: She got paged

to come out to BMTs front desk a couple of months ago to meet a

patient whod just been diagnosed with leukemia. He and his family
were touring the unit, and they were wondering: Does a bone marrow
transplant really work? I gave them my big grin and said, Why, yes, it
does, because here I am, Sabina says. A couple of weeks later he came
in as an inpatient, and he and his wife were overwhelmed and scared,
like a lot of our patients. I was assigned to be their nurse, and when
I walked into their room, they said, Oh, yeah we met you. Youve
been through this. I could see some of their stress drain out of their
faces. It was like, We know you know what were dealing with.
Continued on next page

SABINAS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY continued

I want to be clear, Im not the only one who

can connect with our patients everyone here
is great with them, medically and emotionally
but if I can make a difference because of what
Ive been through, I feel awesome.
Her experience as a patient helped her when
she was working in Behavioral Health, too. All
of us are subject to stress and depression and
anxiety, Sabina says. Those are normal feelings
that can be treated, and theyre certainly part
of the experience of having a bone marrow
transplant. I think its good for everyone to
remember: No ones immune from emotional
trauma and for all of us, theres light at the
end of the tunnel.
One other unforgettable experience: Not
long after Sabina was hired in BMT last fall,

she was able to meet up with Finn Petersen,

MD the long-time Medical Director of the
bone marrow unit and Clyde Ford, MD, both
of whom were her doctors 18 years ago. It was
like running into your heroes, literally, she says.
I had butterflies. She works the night shift

now and doesnt see them much, but its nice to

talk with a patient and say, Oh, Dr. Petersen is
your doctor? He was my doctor, too youre
in good hands.
Barb Adams, RN, who manages BMT, says:
Sabina connects really well with our patients
and her clinical skills are excellent. Shes helping
to move the unit forward and making it a better
place. Shes absolutely incredible.
One other benefit of Sabinas work on BMT:
Some of my colleagues here have said: You
know, we treat these patients and they go home
and we only hear about the downsides they
either come back because their leukemia or
lymphoma comes back or we hear about them
not making it. When they do well, we really
dont hear anything, she says. So people
told me it was a boost for them to see me here
and doing so well after having a bone marrow
transplant 18 years ago. They could say: See?
We really do make a difference.
My working here is not about me. But if I
can inspire and help others, that sure is a great
feeling.

Grand opening of Riverton Hospitals new

Outpatient Services Center is February 24

ark your calendar and plan to attend: The grand opening

of Riverton Hospitals Outpatient Services Center is
Wednesday, February 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. A short program
and ribbon-cutting will start at 4 p.m. with tours to follow. All
employees and the public are invited.
The purpose of the new Outpatient Services
Center: To help Riverton Hospital better meet

the needs of the growing community in the

southwest corner of the Salt Lake Valley. The
new, four-story, 120,000-square foot center will
house several additional services at Riverton
Hospital, including rheumatology, pulmonology,
senior services, ophthalmology, and podiatry. It will also allow current
services such as the lab, endoscopy, and physical therapy to expand.
3

Construction starts Monday on T6 at Intermountain

Medical Center; be expecting some noise (and please
help patients and visitors know whats happening)
Intermountain Medical Center is building a new 32-bed medical
telemetry unit on the sixth floor of Intermountain Medical Centers
patient tower starting Monday, February 8. Construction will be loud
during parts of the project, and everyones encouraged to help patients
and visitors know whats happening and why and help them cope.
How the construction process will work (and how to support
patients and visitors who may be affected):

If you work on T5, T7, T8, and

T9, please be ready to explain
whats happening to patients
and visitors. Handouts are
available on those floors to
give to patients and visitors
and signs have been posted to
explain what were doing and
why. Plus well offer ear plugs
to people who request them.

Our construction team will drill into the sixth floors cement floor starting
this week to place shower pans, then well chip out the cement which will
be noisy and disruptive to patients who are nearby.
Well close the 12 beds on the north half of Shock Trauma on T5 starting
Monday. Patients in those beds will be moved to rooms in CICU on the fifth
floor of the Heart and Lung Center.
When the shower pans are done on the north part of T6, well repeat the
process, and move patients from the south half of Shock Trauma to CICU.
The noise on T6 is likely to affect patients on T5, T7, T8, and possibly T9.
If you work on those floors, please be ready to explain whats happening
to patients. Handouts are available on those floors to give to patients and
visitors and signs have been posted to explain what were doing and why
were doing it, plus well offer ear plugs to people who request them.
Vibrations or other impacts arent likely to affect the ORs on T2.
Once the shower pans are done, two other parts of the construction may be
noisy: Framing the walls and putting up drywall.
Construction crews will work weekdays from roughly 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. They
wont play radios and theyll avoid any unnecessary noise and disruption.
Construction will take roughly six months; well share the specific timeline as
construction progresses.

If you have questions about the construction process, contact Randy

Evans at 801-507-9526 or randy.evans@imail.org or Steve Brown
at 801-314-2260 or steve.brown@imail.org. If you have questions
about the new T6 unit, contact Suzanne at 801-507-7924 or suzanne.
anderson@imail.org.

Think of parking like its part of patient care

save the closest spots for patients and guests

The best place to start delivering extraordinary care is in our parking

lots. When all of our employees park in
employee parking, its easier for patients and
PARKING REMINDER visitors to park closer to our buildings which
means they have a better experience here even
before they get inside. Pass the word and help remind your colleagues!
4

Intermountain Connect Care which allows you to

receive care online or on your phone 24/7 is now
available for employeesand your first visit is free
Connect Care, Intermountains new online and mobile service
that allows patients to receive care from Intermountain caregivers
24/7/365, is now available for Intermountain employees and your
family whenever you need care for lowlevel urgent needs. And from now through
March 15, employees and your immediate
family can have your first visit free using
the coupon code INTERMOUNTAIN.

CONNECT CARE,
Intermountains new online and
mobile service, allows patients to
receive care from Intermountain
caregivers 24/7/365. Its now
available for employees and your
family members whenever you
need care for low-level urgent
needs. And from now through
March 15, your first visit is
FREE. Click here to start a visit.

Normally a visit will cost

$49, but our employees
are essential to the success
of Connect Care and we
want you to try it and
share your feedback. You can help improve
the experience by responding to the followup survey youll receive via email after your
visit or by emailing your feedback directly to ConnectCare@imail.org.
Sharing your feedback will automatically qualify you to win
a Kinsa thermometer a smartphone-enabled thermometer that

plugs into any phone with a headphone jack and helps you track
real-time temperature information through Kinsas app. Well draw
10 Kinsa winners on March 31. Feedback isnt necessary to qualify
for the drawing. If youd like to participate in the drawing without
providing feedback, simply send an email to ConnectCare@imail.org
with Connect Care Employee Giveaway Entry in the subject line.
After the employee trial period, Connect Care will be a covered
benefit for employees with SelectHealth coverage through
Intermountain and will apply toward deductibles.
Starting a visit is easy. Simply go to IntermountainConnectCare.org, or
download the Connect Care app from both the Google Play Store and
iTunes. Even if youre not sick now, create an account so youre ready
when you do need a visit. For more information on what Connect
Care is, how it works, or what kinds of conditions we can treat, please
visit intermountain.net/TeleHealth/Services/ConnectCare.

A literary moment with Jim Gaffigan

Ever read a book that changed your life? Me neither.
5

Loneliness hurts whether youre at a junior high

dance or in an ICU and its becoming a lot more
commonbut Valentines Day may bring an antidote
BY CHAPLAIN
ROSEMARY
BARON. Rosemary
is a member of the
regions Palliative
Care team; you can
reach her by calling
the Palliative Care
Answering Service
at 801-408-6249

NO ONE ASKED ME
TO DANCE during slow
dances, says Rosemary.
I stood alone at the wall.
I still remember the sting
of being alone, not included
in this adolescent ritual.
Then it dawned on me (and
was later confirmed by a
girlfriend): I was taller than
any boy or girl in my class.

THE CHAPLAINS PERSPECTIVE

When I was 13, my eighth grade class had a Valentine dance. I

remember wearing a red dress with a then in-style crinoline liner
underneath. I thought I looked beautiful. Dancing fast dances was
fun; I was asked often to dance by the boys in my class. But no one
asked me to dance during slow
dances. I stood alone at the
wall. I still remember the sting
of being alone, not included in
this adolescent ritual. Then it
dawned on me (and was later
confirmed by a girlfriend): I
was five feet eight inches tall,
the same height I am now
but thinner. I was taller than
any boy or girl in my class.
I didnt fit into the world of
the perfect-sized girl for slow
dances. I still remember that loneliness of standing by myself. It hurt.
That experience so many years ago comes to my mind as I talk
with many of our patients. So many of them are lonely and it

hurts them just like it hurt me. Three examples:

One patient wants to go home. But her family members are unable to care
for her because of her complex medical conditions. Theyve asked their
mother to return to the care center from which she came. Mother refuses
and says, Its too lonely there. I want to come home.
Another patient sits next to her dying husbands bed and says, I dont know
what Ill do. Ill be so lonely. Weve been married 60 years.
The wife of an intubated critically ill patient in an ICU finds it impossible to
allow her husband to die because hes the only support in the world for her.
Shed been physically abused in the past, and her husband had calmed and
protected her. She thought hed always be with her, but now she faces living
alone and afraid without her loving protector.

These brief encounters with our patients are part of a bigger picture:
More Americans are lonely. Some evidence:
Continued on next page

ROSEMARY: LONELINESS HURTS continued

Loneliness has doubled to include 40 percent of
adults, up from 20 percent in the 1980s, according
to an article titled Loneliness Is Deadly by
Jessica Olien.
Half of Americans are lonely which is defined
as having no one to talk to about their personal
problems or triumphs, according to an article
titled The Loneliness of American Society by
Janice Shaw Crouse.
The U.S. census examines a group of people called
unrelated individuals or people who dont live
in a family group and says about 70 percent
of those individuals live alone.
Social isolation and living alone were found to be
even more devastating to a persons health than
feeling lonely, respectively increasing mortality risk
by 29 percent and 32 percent, according to Justin
Worland in an article in Time titled Why Loneliness
May Be the Next Big Public Health Issue.
How does social media affect loneliness? Youd
think that in a technologically connected world,
wed be less lonely. But Jessica Olien says a study
of Facebook users found that the amount of time
you spend on the social network is inversely related
to how happy you feel throughout the day.
In his book Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam cites a
dramatic increase in television watching; he says
5 percent of households had a television in 1950,
95 percent in 1970, and today many homes have
TVs in every room. All those TVs are replacing

family conversations over the dinner table and

elsewhere in the home, and more people dont even
watch TV together they watch their own TVs by
themselves. That contributes to loneliness among
people who are living in the same house.

An antidote is coming on Valentines Day,

the day we show our love. I saw some

research that says 180 million Valentines (not

counting school Valentines!) will be exchanged
and 196 million roses will be given that day. Last
year, people spent $18.9 billion on Valentines
gifts. That seems like a lot of loving! But
is a gift or a card enough to relieve the real
loneliness faced by half of the American adult
population? Probably not.
Were all likely to give a Valentine remembrance
to those we love. But what about those who
could benefit from a heartfelt conversation, a
handwritten note, a personal visit, a stroll in the
park, a shared cup of soup or tea? These acts
of kindness take time and emotional energy,
yet theyre exactly what the lonely need. I invite
you not to let Valentines Day go by this year
without relieving the hurt and the sting of
loneliness for someone whos lonely in your
world. Dont let them be the person I was when
I was 13 alone at the wall during the dance.

Intermountain medical experts will

answer questions about heart health
during Ask the Expert on Tuesday
Intermountain Healthcare medical experts will answer
questions about keeping your heart healthy and share
updates about the latest research and treatments during
interviews on KUTV Channel 2 and over the phone
with callers on Tuesday, February 9, from noon to 5:30
p.m. People who are interested can call 877-908-0680
to speak free of charge to one of the many experts,
including doctors, dieticians, exercise experts, and other
clinicians, or receive answers via Facebook or Twitter
using #kutvasktheexpert. Experts from throughout the
Intermountain system will be answering questions. For more
information visit intermountainhealthcare.org/asktheexpert.
7

The power of choosing to be engaged

A look at the winter of my discontentand how
Im dissing the winter and learning to be content

think I was a bear in another life. Every winter I tell myself Im

not going to let the short days and cold weather get to me. But
when the days get short, my energy level drops and I start eating
like Im preparing for hibernation.
Central Region
Mentally, I know what I need to do.
NURSING HUDDLE
Emotionally and physically, though,
By
I fall into the same trap every year.
I gain weight. I dont exercise. I feel
Regional Chief
lethargic. Im not a good example of
Nursing Ofcer
living the healthiest life possible.

Lisa

Graydon

All thats standard after the holidays. Unlike other winters, though,
something else started happening over the last few months that kind
of snuck up on me. I started to have a
bad attitude. Not like Im bagging it
and going off the grid bad attitude,
but, Gosh, Im sick and tired of all this
STUFF I have to do bad attitude.

I FOUND MYSELF
DRAGGING INTO WORK, says
Lisa. And as my energy flagged,
my job list expanded. I was
behind on my email and behind
on some projects. It felt lousy to
feel lousy. Id been spending a lot
of time in my office catching up
and chose to call into meetings
instead of going in person. Even
when I was with people, I was
thinking about everything I
had to do and not taking the
opportunity to engage with them.
In short: I needed an attitude
adjustment.

Over the past month my work life has

included wrapping up last years goals,
creating this years goals, performance
evaluations, new team members to work
with, lots of meetings much of it stuff
I do every January. Im getting accustomed
to the constantly changing environment in
healthcare. Outside of work lots of whats
on the news is either scary or depressing,
like the recent stock market roller coaster. And dont even talk to me
about the ramp-up to the 2016 presidential election!
Whatever the cause, I found myself dragging into work,
feeling kind of tired, kind of ho-hum, here we go again. I got a

little cynical and threw some pity parties for myself. And as my energy
flagged, my job list expanded. I found myself thinking: How am I going
to have time for that new assignment? Cant we have just a few months without a
new regulation or requirement? Why do we have so many goals? I was behind
on my email and behind on some projects. It felt lousy to feel lousy.
Id been spending a lot of time in my office catching up and chose to
call into meetings instead of going in person. Even when I was with
people, I was thinking about everything I had to do and not taking
Continued on next page

LISA: THE POWER OF CHOOSING TO BE ENGAGED continued

the opportunity to engage with them. In short: I needed an attitude

adjustment.

Jon Gordon
said and I love
this: Research shows
you cant be stressed
and thankful at the
same time. Then Dr.
Sam Brown talked
about respecting the
intrinsic dignity of
the people we care
for (and work with).
He said: When we
separate ourselves
from the humanity
of those we serve,
we desecrate the
meaning of being
human.

Then one Tuesday, I was sitting in a meeting with our regional and
facility managers and I looked around the table. We were having a
great discussion I dont remember the subject and I thought:
Gosh, I really like these people. They make me smile. Im glad I
get to work here with them. That made me feel better than I had
in a couple of months. I had a thought: Id let myself get dragged down
by little things that didnt matter. Yes, all of the things I need to do are
important goals, projects, etc. But Id lost sight of why I do it,
which is ultimately about people. Our patients, their families, my
coworkers, our staff thats really what healthcare is all about.
The benefits of choosing to be positive and focusing on
people. We had a speaker at the meeting, Jon Gordon, who was

talking about the rewards of vision, connection, optimism, and

gratitude. He quoted Lou Holtz, the football coach, who said: Dont
talk too much about your problems; 80 percent of people wont care,
and the other 20 percent will be glad you have them. He said and
I love this: Research shows you cant be stressed and thankful at the
same time. Then Dr. Sam Brown of Intermountain Medical Centers
Shock Trauma ICU gave a powerful presentation on humanizing
intensive care. He talked about respecting the intrinsic dignity of the
people we care for (and work with). He said: When we separate
ourselves from the humanity of those we serve, we desecrate the
meaning of being human.
Hearing all those words and being with our managers had an effect
on me. As the meeting progressed I took a step back and reframed
my thought process. Being engaged is a choice, and I thought: Okay,
I can either keep wallowing in the reasons I have to be unhappy, or I can put a
smile on my face and re-engage. Since then Ive re-engaged. Ive thought
about why Im doing what I do. And its amazing how much better
I feel! I realized I had to make a conscious choice to be positive and
upbeat, even when I didnt feel that way to begin with. And heres a
secret: It helps. I still have a lot to do. The weather is still lousy. But
choosing to be engaged, and sometimes remaking that choice every
day, really works.

Quote of the week from Becky Thompson

Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.

ARE YOU INTERESTED

IN A CAREER AS AN OR
TECH? CLICK TO SEE
WHAT THE JOB IS LIKE.

In a video titled Life of

an Operating Room Tech,
Intermountain OR techs and OR
leaders talk about what they do,
why its important and why
working as an OR tech is a rewarding
career. They also talk about what
the job requires: Teamwork, focus,
knowledge of anatomy and physiology, being ready for anything,
assertiveness, stamina, resiliency, and more.
Katie, whos interviewed in the video, says: You get to help
someone. Whether its taking out a tumor thats cancerous or youre
relieving them from pain from a kidney stone, you get to see the
immediate results and know that youre helping someone. Its a great
feeling.
And Tacy, whos also interviewed, says: For me, I went from
being a student to assisting surgeons in the operating room in just
over 19 months. If you or one of your colleagues is looking for an
interesting, meaningful, high-impact career, watch the four-minute
video, then be watching for information about a training program
Intermountain will offer in partnership with the Davis Applied
Technology College in Kaysville. The program will take approximately
a year to complete. Applications will be accepted starting February 15.
Stay tuned for more news!

Employees whod like to be medical coders

are invited to sign up for a training program

HOW TO APPLY: Go to
Intermountain.net, go to
the A to Z index, click on
Talent Link, then sign in
with your master account
if youre not already signed
in. Scroll down to about the
middle where it says Job
Openings and type in: Health
Information Management
Coding training program
or enter the job number
180185. Click on the
highlighted title and then
click on Apply Now.

A training program in health information management coding

designed to help Intermountain Healthcare meet additional needs
for coding staff is offered by Intermountain and Weber State
University. Employees whod like to begin the program in the
summer or fall semester of 2016 can apply online until Monday,
February 29. Classes are available online or on-campus at Weber
State.Intermountain will pay tuition for the students in the course;
theyll only need to pay for books and pay miscellaneous fees.
Some prerequisite courses must be met in order to apply for the
program. If you have questions or want more information, call 801442-2102 or email crstudentprograms@imail.org.

10

FOCUS ON INTERMOUNTAINS VALUES

Trust:

We count on and support one another

individually and as team members.
When Intermountains mission, vision, and values were updated
last year, the language for each value was also updated. The
following expectations affect both you and your manager:
YOU CAN EXPECT YOUR MANAGER TO:
Be accessible and open to input from all levels.
Reinforce, not punish, constructive criticism and divergent views.
Give positive feedback publicly; give constructive criticism thoughtfully and
privately.
Be clear about who is making the decision.
Be relentlessly confidential and protect the privacy of patients, members, and
coworkers.
YOUR MANAGER AND COWORKERS CAN EXPECT YOU TO:
Share your ideas and your opinions even if they are different from those of the
majority.
Support decisions once they are made.
Give positive feedback publicly; give constructive criticism thoughtfully and
privately.
Be relentlessly confidential and protect the privacy of patients, members, and
coworkers.

Intermountain is honored as part of a new national

listing of 40 health systems with innovation centers

Intermountain Healthcare is included in a new national listing of 40

Hospitals and Health Systems With Innovation Centers compiled by
Beckers Hospital Review, a journal for hospital and health system leaders.
The 40 recognized facilities were selected based on editorial research by
Beckers staff. Innovation centers included on the list include Brigham
and Womens Innovation Hub, Cleveland Clinic Innovations, Henry
Ford Health Systems Innovation Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicines
Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Kaiser Permanentes
Sidney R. Garfield Health Care Innovation Center, Massachusetts
General Hospitals Stoeckle Center, and Mayo Clinics Center for
Innovation. A summary of Intermountains center in the Beckers article
says: Intermountain Healthcare opened its Transformation Lab in
Murray, Utah, in 2013. Projects at the lab include developing the patient
room of the future, 3D printing, and sensors to boost hand hygiene
compliance. Marc Probst, CIO of Intermountain Healthcare, oversees
innovation at the lab. Click here for more information.
11

Edwards Internal Medicine Clinic at

Intermountain Medical Center offers a unique
extra level of care and follow-up to patients
while it provides hands-on medical training

orwin Edwards, MD, remembers a really sick patient who came

into Intermountain Medical Centers internal medicine clinic.
She had hypopituitarism and was very high-risk she had lots
of endocrine abnormalities related to her damaged pituitary, he says.
It was her first visit to the clinic, and Dr. Edwards, whos an internist,
remembers all the physicians who were in her room to consult about
her care. We had an endocrinologist, the clinics senior attending
internist, a resident, a medical student, and myself, all of us working
to take care of her,
he says. She was
surprised we were
doing so much for
her. Shell require
life-long care
and in fact she
could have died
but shes receiving
great attention here
and she continues
to do well.

THE STAFF OF THE

INTERNAL MEDICINE
CLINIC includes, on the front
row from the left, Brooke
Thompson, Michaela Ishino,
Allyson Eddy, Debra Hatch, Dez
Small, and Erik Riessen, MD.
Back row: Debra Platts, Karen
Murrell, Marcie Jaramillo, Nate
Allred, MD, Brian Clements, DO,
and Tiffany Dean.Not pictured:
Janis Matsumura, Camille
Simpson, Anna Zagarich, and
James Jepson.

We see lots of
examples of
patients like that
ranging from
people with very
severe disorders to
people with minor but longstanding health problems, he says.
The case illustrates the purpose of the Internal Medicine
Clinic: To provide high-quality care and long-term follow-up for

its patients and to deliver that care while we provide hands-on

training to medical residents, interns, and students. Residents who
are completing their training in internal medicine at the University of
Utah School of Medicine serve in the clinic, as well as interns and
third- and fourth-year medical students.
Most of our patients really like having the residents here, says
Nate Allred, MD, Medical Director of the clinic. That means we
have more time to spend with them, and we try to schedule our
appointments so our patients see the same residents, along with their
Continued on next page

12

SPOTLIGHT ON THE EDWARDS INTERNAL MEDICINE CLINIC continued

primary care physician, each time they come in. Our residents are
excellent smart, energetic, and motivated and having them here
means our patients have two brains thinking about them rather than
just one.
The clinic is an excellent primary care option for Intermountain
Healthcare employees, especially those who work at
Intermountain Medical Center. Its a great place to be a patient,

and extra time to

says Mark Ott, MD, the Central Regions Chief Medical Director. If
our employees dont have a personal physician, it could be a wonderful
option for them to consider. They could get in to see their doctor
without the long waits that often happen with other clinics, and theyd
get the extra attention some patients really appreciate, especially if
they have complicated problems or long-term medical issues.

its patients. The

More details about how the clinic works and the benefits it offers:

patients who come

Who the clinic serves: The clinic treats adults who need all kinds of
primary care services, including regular check-ups and care for chronic
problems. The clinics staff has a lot of experience treating hypertension,
diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, neurological
disorders, gastrointestinal problems, skin disorders, connective tissue
problems, pulmonary disorders, asthma, obstructive lung disease, pneumonia,
and other problems.
Excellent collaboration: The clinics staff is skilled at working with any
specialists their patients may need to consult with, including neurologists,
cardiologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, gastroenterologists,
nephrologists, ophthalmologists, and more.
The clinic offers extra attention and extra time to its patients.
The patients who come here get to see a medical student, an intern, or a
resident in addition to their senior attending physician, says Dr. Edwards.
They get a lot of people thinking about them, and I think that extra
attention is a tremendous benefit.
Whos on the clinics staff (and why are their patients so satisfied)?
The clinics staff includes three full-time attending internists Drs. Nate
Allred, Erik Riessen, and Brian Clements 24 internal medicine residents
(who serve at the clinic for three years), medical interns or students, and 10
other staff members, including nurses, medical assistants, schedulers, patient
care coordinators, and pharmacists. We have an awesome staff, says Dr.
Allred. They get excellent marks on our patient satisfaction surveys. They
work hard not only to provide great care, but to schedule appointments
quickly, coordinate schedules, do reminder calls, and do all the things that
help an effective clinic work well.
Getting appointments quickly is a huge benefit. We can normally see
Intermountain employees right away on the same day they call for an
urgent appointment and within a few weeks for a new patient visit, Dr.
Allred says.
The clinics patients come from a variety of backgrounds. Our patients
range from healthy people who come in for a yearly appointment to people
with chronic conditions who need regular follow-up, says Dr. Edwards.
Theyre from all socioeconomic classes, and we take great pride in taking

The clinic offers

extra attention

here get to see a

medical student, an
intern, or a resident
in addition to their
senior attending
physician, says
Corwin Edwards,
MD. They get a lot
of people thinking
about them, and
I think that extra
attention is a
tremendous benefit.

Continued on next page

13

INTERNAL MEDICINE CLINIC continued

care of everyone equally well, whether theyre very
poor or wealthy, and whether they have private
insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, or no insurance
at all.

This is a great place to come for care, says

Dr. Allred. We try to model the best and most
up-to-date clinical practices for the residents,
because were teaching those methods, but
we do more than that. We really want to set
our residents on a path that will help them
be excellent clinicians and educators in the
future. Theyre not just memorizing things
in a textbook and prescribing reflexively, but
with the gift we have of extra time and extra
personnel, we really try to listen to our patients
and work together with them to enhance their
health.
Dr. Edwards adds: I have complete confidence
in the clinics staff. Theyre terrific people who
are strongly committed to the patient. Any time
I have a health problem, I make an appointment
to see one of our trainees and the attending
physician, and together we make a plan for
whatever it is that I need. Similarly, all of my
family members, including my wife, children and
my parents, have come in over the years when
they needed care. Thats evidence that I really
believe in the quality of the people here and the
care they provide.
To get more information about the clinic or
to set an appointment call 801-507-3310.

A LOOK AT THE LEGACY

OF DR. CORWIN EDWARDS
The Dr. Corwin Q. Edwards Ambulatory Internal
Medicine Clinic honors the influence of Dr. Edwards,
who was one of the founders of the clinic at LDS
Hospital in 1979 and served as its medical director
from then until 1999. The clinic was named after
him in 2010 at the request of an anonymous donor
who gave a significant
gift in his honor to the
Intermountain Research
and Medical Foundation.
Nate Allred,
MD, the clinics current
medical director, says: Dr.
Edwards is an extremely
warm and kind person who
has an uncompromising
Corwin Edwards, MD
commitment to medical
education. I dont think anyone on this campus is
more dedicated to providing a good educational
experience for the housestaff. Hes set the bar really
high for us, and that goes back to when I was a
resident in this clinic. He does all he can to provide
best clinical care and best education here.
Dr. Edwards serves as director of graduate
medical education at Intermountain Medical Center
and as a professor of internal medicine in the
University of Utah School of Medicine. Hes received
over 30 teaching/administrative and patient care
awards, including the 2010 Golden Apple Award
presented to the outstanding faculty member by
Intermountain Medical Centers transitional year
housestaff and the U. of U. Department of
Medicines 2011 Outstanding Faculty Teaching
Award. He was also named Researcher of the Year
for Intermountains Central Region in 2012.

Three legislative updates are set; everyones invited

Legislative updates are scheduled as follows across the Central Region.
Everyones invited to come talk with legislators about issues that are
important to you and hear a brief update about bills that are being
considered. A free breakfast will be served and theres no need to RSVP.
LDS HOSPITAL: Saturday, February 13, at 1 p.m. in the auditorium.
INTERMOUNTAIN MEDICAL CENTER: Saturday, February 20, at 9 a.m.
in the education center
ALTA VIEW: Saturday, February 20, at 9 a.m. in the large classroom

14

Community input from across Utah helps

Intermountain improve our billing, collections,
and charity care policies and processes

ne of the ways Intermountain Healthcare gets community

input into its policies on billing, collections, and charity
care is through a series of meetings held throughout
Utah. The meetings called Community Financial
Services Advisory Councils involve more than 75 area leaders
representing small and large businesses, social services, government
and other local entities. The councils allow us
the unique opportunity to discuss our policies
with the people who pay for health services and
those who cant (or with advocates for those
who cant), says Mikelle Moore, Vice President
of Community Benefit for Intermountain.

Mikelle Moore

Recent meetings were held in Ogden, Salt

Lake, Provo, and St. George and similar
meetings have been held in each of the past

10 years. Community leaders were asked to provide input about how

Intermountain is doing in providing appropriate help to those who may
be uninsured or unable to pay for necessary medical care. Having Utah
leaders who represent diverse parts of the community participate in the
dialogue provides balanced input on many important issues related to
unfunded or underinsured patients, Mikelle says.

Feedback from the most recent meetings was positive and included
ideas to improve billing and our financial assistance processes, she
says. Other discussion and suggestions from the councils revolved
around the issue of engaging patients in their health and care, and about
how TeleHealth technology could be effectively used by community
members. The Community Financial Services Advisory Councils will
meet again later in 2016 to provide more input to Intermountain.

Dave Barry philosophizes about left-turn signals

Condensed from Dave Barrys Calendar, copyright by Dave BarryHave

you noticed the

people who are always in front of you when youre trying to turn
left at a busy intersection that has a 10-second left-turn green
arrow? When the arrow lights up they react as though theyve
never seen such a thing before. They try to make sense of this
baffling set of clues: A green arrow points left, here in the left lane,
with giant painted lane arrows pointing left, and big signs that say,
LEFT LANE MUST TURN LEFT. Whatever could it mean?
15

Farewell party for Michele Barker is Monday

A retirement open house for Michele Barker, the Central Regions
EKG & Cardiac Rehab Director, is Monday, February 8, from 3 to
4 p.m. in the lobby of Intermountain Medical Centers Heart-Lung
Center on lower level 1. All of her friends and fans are invited to
drop by to thank her for her service and wish her well.
A summary of Micheles career: People enter your doors
as patients, but leave as friends. Michele has served at

Intermountain for 27 years. I sort of fell into the healthcare

profession, but I stayed in it because I realized I could make
a difference in peoples lives, she says. She started working in
cardiology in 1977 in Castro Valleys Eden Hospital Medical Center in
California until 1988, then moved to Utah and became the Director
of Cardiac Rehab at LDS Hospital. She was named Director of
EKG-Based Services in 1999. It was my privilege to assist in the
planning of the Heart and Lung Services at Intermountain Medical
Center, she says.
Continued on next page

COMMENTS FROM SOME OF MICHELES COLLEAGUES

BRENT WOOD, MBA, Cardiovascular Business
Administration and Central Region Community
Benefit Reporting Director: Michele is the
consummate professional and an excellent clinician and
manager.Michele cares deeply about both her patients
and staff. Shes the epitome of the perfect manager
if every manager followed her style, quality of care
would be high and costs would be low. Its been an
absolute pleasure to know and work with Michele!
SANDI STOKER, RN, Director, Heart Failure, Heart
Transplant, and Artificial Heart: Micheles been such
a great mentor for me; shes been an excellent example
of caring and leadership. I truly appreciate her for
having an open door policy and the times shes helped
me problem-solve difficult issues. Ill truly miss Michele
but wish her all the best in her future endeavors!
FRANK YANOWITZ, MD, cardiologist: Ive worked with
Michele since approximately 1988 when she was hired
to work with us in the Fitness Institute and manage
our Cardiac Rehabilitation program at LDS Hospital,
the first of its kind in Salt Lake City.In the early days
of cardiac rehab (before all the rules, regulations,
paperwork, etc.) many of our patients became longterm participants and were almost like family. Michele
kept track of birthdays, and on the evening before a
patients birthday shed create a huge Happy Birthday
poster using magic markers and funny drawings. Shed
have the poster taped to the wall before the patient

showed up for the rehab session.Our patients and

their families were invited every year for a Christmas
dinner in a local restaurant and a summer picnic and
these were always well-attended. One other story from
long ago involved an older woman in Cardiac Rehab
who was blind.Michele organized and raised money
to purchase an exercise bicycle for her to take home
after completing her program in the Fitness Institute.
Michele always was beyond extraordinary in everything
she did during her many years at Intermountain. Shell
be missed by all of us.
JAY GROVE, Cardiac Rehab Manager: Michele has
truly been an inspiration to me for as long as Ive
known her. I interviewed for a part-time job in Cardiac
Rehab in March 1998.I flew to Salt Lake City from
Ann Arbor, Michigan and met Michele for the first
time. I felt like she was a quality individual who cared
about the patients, and ultimately I was offered the
job and ended up moving across the country because
I knew Michele was a person of integrity. I knew
shed be a good person to work for.I basically left
everything to have the opportunity to come and work
for Michele.Since then shes been my boss, my mentor,
and my friend.Michele has earned her retirement.Her
years at Intermountain Healthcare have been one
continuous, tireless effort to better the programs she
directed.Ill miss her as my boss and mentor but shell
always be my friend.Shell be greatly missed.

16

MICHELE BARKER IS RETIRING continued

Most of my career has been spent in cardiac

rehab, where Ive had the chance to encourage
patients to have a healthy lifestyle through diet,
exercise and stress reduction and help them
achieve optimal health (or live the healthiest lives
possible) so they can enjoy life doing the things
they love and being with those they love,
she says. Ive had a wonderful career as a
clinical exercise specialist and as a manager
with Intermountain Healthcare and have been
grateful for the support Ive received from my
managers, medical directors, Administration and
the Central Office.
Throughout her career, shes mentored young

people who are interested in, or beginning,

healthcare careers. Many of my employees
have gone on to be physicians, nurses, physician
assistants, ultrasound technicians, cardiac rehab
exercise therapists, and serve in other areas of the
medical field, she says. Thats been a wonderful
experience for me as well, and I can honestly say
I love each one of my staff members.
Michele adds: My personal experience from
years in Cardiac Rehab is that people enter your
doors as patients, but leave as friends. I think
that even though Ive always given my best to
the patients, Ive received more from patients
than Ive ever given. The patients have been
great blessings in my life and have enriched my
life with friendship and love.

Want to learn how to get involved politically?

GETTING

INVOLVED

nterested employees and staff members are invited to learn

how you can make a difference on political issues in Utah at
free one-hour workshops in the Central Region. The states
neighborhood caucus system gives voters who get involved a
big voice in the political process. You can learn how the system
works and how you can make a difference in deciding who your
elected representatives are during your neighborhood caucuses, which will
take place on March 22. The schedule:

Tuesday, February 9, at noon in Riverton Hospitals Herriman room

Friday, February 19, at noon in Intermountain Medical Centers Dickson board
room (in Administration on lower level 2 of the Womens Center)
Monday, February 22, at noon in Alta View Hospitals large classroom

To RSVP (and get a free box lunch), contact Mandy Glettler at 801-5077040 or mandy.glettler@imail.org.

Intermountains annual research summit is April 22

Intermountains 13th annual research summit titled Research in a
Model Learning Healthcare System is Friday, April 22, from 7:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m. in Intermountain Medical Centers Education Center. You can
attend either onsite or online. To register or get more information click
www.intermountainphysician.org/researchsummit, call 801-442-3930, or
email CME@imail.org.
17

New TV news reports from the Central Region look at heart health, the
dangers of bad air, and how you can work out with paper plates (seriously)
A look at the Heart Fair: Fox
A workout in the kitchen can
13s Big Budah previewed the
improve your heart health:
2016 Intermountain Medical
There are a variety of ways to
Center Heart Institute Family
work out, including stuff you
Heart Fair:
may use often in the kitchen.
Strength training at home
Jeffrey Beck demonstrates a
How to Go Red for
kitchen workout routine with
Women! to support womens
KUTVs Mary Nickles.
Jeffrey Beck
heart health
Heart disease kills more people
Active kids means healthier
than all forms of cancer combined: One in
hearts
32 women die of breast cancer annually
Knowing the signs of a heart attack
but one in three women die of heart disease.
Big Budah gets an EKG
Cardiologist Kirk Knowlton, MD, discusses
Portion control is vital to a heart-healthy diet
heart disease.
An at-home workout using paper plates:
Understand your heart rate (and whats normal):
Looking for a new way to workout at home?
What is a resting heart rate and what are normal
Exercise physiologist Jeffrey Beck of the
levels? Cardiologist John Day, MD, with the
Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute
Intermountain Heart Institute discusses whats
shows KUTVs Ron Bird how you can do a
normal and abnormal with KUTVs Ron Bird.
simple workout routine using paper plates.
Heart attack differences between men and
The statistics of heart disease are staggering:
women: What are the symptoms of a heart
Cardiologist Kirk Knowlton, MD, of the
attack in women? It may be different than what
Intermountain Heart Institute discusses the
you see in the movies. Cardiologist Lee Burke,
disease.
MD, of the Intermountain Heart Institute talks
Do you know the symptoms of a heart attack?
about women and heart disease and Jolene
Cardiologist and researcher Brent Muhlestein,
Wolstenholme shares what she felt when she
MD, of the Intermountain Heart Institute
was having a heart attack.
shares the symptoms with KSL 5.
Eagle scout focuses on saving peoples lives: A
A look at the link between bad air and heart
local Boy Scout promoted Be the Match the
disease: New research from the Intermountain
national bone marrow registry program which
Heart Institute highlights the link between
is helping LDS Hospital match donors with
poor air quality and heart attacks. Researcher
people who need a bone marrow transplant.
Benjamin Horne, PhD, talks about the threats
Good Things Utah
of bad air and how to protect your heart.
KSL TV
The impact of smoking on children and
newborns: Pediatrician Glen Huff, MD, with
Riverton Hospital tells KUTVs Ron Bird how
smoking produces harmful chemicals that
threaten children and newborns with respiratory
and ear infections, tooth decay, and more.

The goods and bads of smoothies: Lots of

people want to eat healthier. But do smoothies
help? LDS Hospitals Ali Spencer, RD, shares
tips for finding healthy smoothie recipes and
whips up a green smoothie thats excellent for
your heart.
18

healthy

Join Us .

Vote for LDS Hospitals entry at this years Food

Design contest and benefit the Utah Food Bank
Everyones invited to visit the Salt Lake City Public Library and
vote for their favorite food design at the annual Salt Lake County
Health Departments Food Design Contest. The
contest features sculptures made out of canned and
non-perishable food submitted by local healthcare
partners like LDS Hospital, SelectHealth, University
of Utah Healthcare, and Molina Healthcare Utah. The
theme: Eat, Work, and Play in a Healthy Way. LDS
Hospitals submission is a clever spin on Sesame Streets
Cookie Monster and is titled Veggie Monster. The
sculptures will be on display from Monday, February
8, to Sunday, February 14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the
library at 210 East 400 South. After the contest, the sculptures will
be dismantled and the food will be donated to the Utah Food Bank.

Free workshop on codependency is February 25

A free class titled Healthy Relationships: Addressing
Codependence is Thursday, February 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. in
classrooms 6 and 7 of Intermountains Employee Services Center,
5245 S. College Drive (480 West) in Murray. It will focus on
codependency, which is a dysfunctional helping relationship where
one person supports or enables another persons addiction, poor
mental health, immaturity, irresponsibility, or underachievement.
The agenda will help participants identify codependency in their
relationships which is often the first step in recovery and
offer suggestions for support and course correction.
The class is sponsored by Intermountains Employee Assistance
Program; the instructor is EAP counselor Ingrid Brown, LCSW. All
employees are invited. Call 801-442-3509 to register or get more
information, and call soon since space is limited.

Annual Utah sleep conference is February 26

The sixth annual Utah Sleep Society conference is Friday, February
26, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Intermountain Medical Centers
auditorium. Sleep physicians, technologists, and registered nurses
are invited. To register or get more information click here, call 801442-3930, or email CME@imail.org.
19

LiV
e

Terri Flint says: Once you understand why you

want to do something, youre more likely to do it

e
cur
Se
LiVe Eng
ag
e

LiVe C
ne

ed

LiVe H a p p y

LiVe Healthy

on

ct

y January LiVe Well experiment was to track my

food every day, says Terri Flint, PhD, LCSW,
Intermountains Wellness Director. I tracked for
31 days and the benefit was far greater than the
five minutes a day it took to electronically track it. I wont confess the
details of my nutritional gaps, but I will share an insight I discovered.
In my head, I know that eating healthy foods is good for me. I believe
the experts and especially my friends who
are experts. But when I see that delicious
chocolate cream pie, all of my rational thought
flees and Im left with crumbs on my chin.

That reminds her of this thought from

Stephen Covey: You have to decide
what your highest priorities are and have
the courage pleasantly, smilingly,
nonapologetically to say no to other
things. And the way you do that is by having a
bigger yes burning inside.
IF IM GOING TO SAY NO
to chocolate cream pie, my why
needs to be affixed to my heart,
says Terri. I have to know my
personal purpose for eating well,
because that will be the source
of courage when Im confronted
with that creamy, sweet,
homemade pie with whipped
cream and a tasty crust.

Terri says: Do you have a big yes in your life? If Im going to

say no to the pie, my why needs to be affixed to my heart, she says.

I have to know my personal purpose for eating well, because that
will be the source of courage when Im confronted with that creamy,
sweet, homemade chocolate pie with whipped cream and a tasty crust.

So what did Terri learn during the 31 days she tracked her food in
January? For me, the biggest surprise of all is that after a month, I
still havent quite pinned down my why, she says. Ive seen clear
patterns to my eating and Ive made some minor tweaks, but Im being
patient in my quest to discover my inner motivation to change. Good
research shows taking time to get ready to change increases your
ability to change and sustain it. Im going to test that out on myself
and will let you know what I discover.

And she adds: Isnt this journey to well-being interesting and fun?

Social commentary from Jimmy Fallon

Last weekend the President honored 20 researchers for their
contributions to science and technology. But unfortunately, the event
was overshadowed by the NFLs big football game or as the
researchers put it, Man, high school never ends, does it?
20