Newsletter Archive

Intermountain Healthcare publishes Intermountain Issues, a monthly news briefing that keeps our trustees up to date on issues that impact Intermountain and those we serve. Here is an archive of past editions, in PDF format:

Previous Newsletter Editions

• Intermountain Issues — April 2012
– Intermountain's Shared Accountability initiative: Part 2 in a three-part series.
– What is "Intermountain Personalized Primary Care"?
– Several Utah cities rank among best in new report on local health system performance.
– All U.S. hospitals are required to ask patients about their race.
– Author and Harvard Business Professor Clayton Christensen speaks at Healthy Dialogues.
– Trustee conference presentations are available on the trustee website.
• Intermountain Issues — March 2012
– Shared Accountability in 2012.
– Utah legislative session summary.
– Kem C. Gardner named "A Giant in Our City" by the Salt Lake Chamber.
– Douglas C. Black has been appointed Chairman of the board of SelectHealth.
– Marc Probst was named among the top leaders in healthcare IT.
– Trustee Conference recap.
• Intermountain Issues — February 2012
– Intermountain Healthcare again ranked among nation's top systems.
– Intermountain's Supply Chain Organization named one of the best in U.S.
– 2012 Utah Legislature Update.
– Mott named VP for Healthcare Transformation; Welkie named CEO of Primary Children's.
– Kim Henrichsen, RN, MSN, named VP of Clinical Operations and CNO.
– Focus on Quality: 2012 Clinical Board Goals.
• Intermountain Issues — January 2012
– Laura Kaiser joins Intermountain as Executive Vice President and COO.
– Intermountain named lead health system to improve patient safety nationally.
– Legislative update 2012.
– Stan Huff, MD, leads international health information technology collaboration.
– Focus on Quality: Clinical Operations 2011 year-end report.
• Intermountain Issues — December 2011
– Charles Sorenson, MD, discusses Intermountain's financial health.
– New CMS study: Utah has lowest per-capita health spending.
– Utah is ranked 7th-healthiest state in America's Health Rankings report.
– Dr. James ranked among nation's Top 25 Clinical Informaticists.
– Homer Warner Center ranked No. 1 workplace in healthcare IT.
– New report finds United States losing ground in affordable access to healthcare.
– Visit Intermountain's new Community Services microsite.
– Please plan to attend the Trustee Conference on March 9.
• Intermountain Issues — November 2011
– Intermountain's proposal for fixing Medicare.
– Dr. James awarded Columbia Business School's Deming Cup prize.
– Intermountain's Transparency Committee.
– Intermountain awarded CHIME 2011 Transformational Leadership Award.
– Dr. Leckman named treasurer of the American Medical Group Association.
– Karen Hale and Dr. Mark Lewis join Intermountain's Board of Trustees.
– Dr. Valdes accepts position with Intermountain, advancing Telehealth, Virtual Medicine.
– Governor and author speaks with Utah's community leaders on reforming healthcare.
• Intermountain Issues — October 2011
– Intermountain launches new Community Services microsite.
– Five from Intermountain named "Health Care Heroes" by Utah Business magazine.
– Intermountain Medical Group launches new "Personalized Primary Care" website.
– Study: Utah among states with more competition among health insurers.
– Kaiser Family Foundation releases status reports on health insurance exchanges.
– United States ranks last in preventable death, according to new report.
• Intermountain Issues — September 2011
– Intermountain's approach to "Shared Accountability."
– ECIS will roll out in September at Intermountain Medical Center, system-wide by 2012.
– First Utah hospital to receive Joint Commission advanced heart failure certification.
– Dr. Sorenson is named one of the "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare."
– Focus on Quality: Intensive Medicine Clinical Program.
• Intermountain Issues — August 2011
– Intermountain's employee engagement scores are highest ever.
– New immunization policy affects all Intermountain employees and volunteers.
– Intermountain hospitals ranked in U.S. News & World Report.
– Utah health insurance premiums are lower than national average.
– Utah communities are among the least expensive in the U.S. for healthcare.
• Intermountain Issues — July 2011
– Intermountain Healthcare: a midyear financial update.
– Mike Leavitt: healthcare and the economy.
– National journal spotlights Clinical Engineering team.
– SelectHealth gives awards and grants to organizations encouraging healthy lifestyles.
– Intermountain Healthcare named one of nation's best in use of computer technology.
• Intermountain Issues — June 2011
– Intermountain participates in Utah's new Clinical Health Information Exchange.
– Nancy Nowak, CNO and vice president of Clinical Operations, announces retirement.
– Drs. Sorenson, James, and Milstein are ranked among nation's most influential.
– John Pingree departs; Mikelle Moore named VP of Community Benefit Department.
– David Merritt of the Center for Health Transformation, speaks at Healthy Dialogues.
– Intermountain responds to Accountable Care Organization proposals.
– High Value Healthcare Collaborative expands.
– Legislature's task force focus on cost containment and Utah's Health Exchange.
– Recap: 2011 GE Annual Shareholder Meeting.
– Focus on Quality: Intermountain's Cardiovascular Clinical Program reports to trustees.
• Intermountain Issues — May 2011
– Intermountain's 2010 Annual Report is now available.
– Dr. Leckman named to Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women in Healthcare.
– CIO Marc Probst was named one of the top healthcare IT leaders in the country.
– Dimensions of Care: Service Excellence-why rounding is a key priority.
– The SelectHealth building is certified LEED Silver.
– Steve Anderson named new administrator for Heber Valley Medical Center.
• Intermountain Issues — April 2011
– Joe Mott to lead Intermountain's Shared Accountability approach team.
– Intermountain joins new Care Connectivity Consortium.
– Intermountain hosts national Accountable Care Organization conference.
– Lynn Pett and Kelly Matthews honored at Trustee Conference.
– Joe Horton will retire in early 2012.
– Former Sen. Bob Bennett hails Utah for quality and innovation in healthcare.
– Intermountain Healthcare earns the 2011 Gallup Great Workplace Award.
– FAIR initiative helps patients, expands to more facilities.
• Intermountain Issues — March 2011
– New Homer Warner Center will advance tools for better patient care.
– Legislative update: End of session, local and national developments.
– Clinical Board Goals for 2011: A message from Nancy Nowak.
– Utah performs well in new national report on healthcare quality improvement.
– Mark Allen appointed administrator of Sanpete Valley Hospital.
• Intermountain Issues — February 2011
– Initiative reduces C-section rates, results in better clinical outcomes.
– SelectHealth performs well in 2010 Health Plan Performance Report.
– Intermountain is again ranked among the nation's top integrated health systems.
• Intermountain Issues — January 2011
– Intermountain part of elite team, improving clinical quality, reducing costs.
– 2011 Board Goal: Have you completed your Advance Directive?
– SelectHealth responds to federal health reform changes.
– SelectHealth receives top ranking for child health coverage in Utah.
– Mountain West Anesthesia physicians donate $1.5 million to Intermountain.
• Intermountain Issues — December 2010
– Charles Sorenson, MD: 2010 financial update.
– Focus on Quality: Clinical operations 2010 year-end report.
– GE Healthcare leader touts partnership.
– SelectHealth: Top-ranked health plan in Utah by NCQA.
– SelectHealth introduces health benefits for federal employees.
• Intermountain Issues — November 2010
– Charles Sorenson, MD: Becoming an Accountable Care Organization.
– Intermountain expands insurance benefits to include domestic partners.
– Intermountain leads national partnership aimed at fast-tracking improvements.
– Intermountain among 10 hospitals partnering to address hand-off communications.
– Focus on Quality: L&D Safety Project changed minds, improved processes, safety.
• Intermountain Issues — October 2010
– A Day of Healing video captures 24 hours at Intermountain.
– Charles Sorenson, MD, on "staffing best practices."
– Primary Children's opens new unit at Riverton Hospital campus.
– Focus on Quality: Surgical Services Clinical Program improving patient safety.
– UHA Honors Intermountain's Larry Hancock.

• Intermountain Issues — September 2010
– Utah Health Reform Task Force Update: Five priorities.
– Reform: Health legislation components kicking in this month.
– Focus on Quality: Regulation and accreditation.
– Intermountain creates Office of Sustainability to protect the environment.
– Census Bureau reports rise in the number of uninsured Americans.
• Intermountain Issues — August 2010
– Mid-year updates: Financial, clinical, SelectHealth.
– Focus on Quality: Behavioral Health Clinical Program.
– Intermountain's FAIR program continues rollout.
– Intermountain's excellence in IT nationally recognized.
– LDS Hospital receives national award.
– Two Intermountain trustees are honored as "Health Care Heroes."
• Intermountain Issues — July 2010
– Legislative task force looks at new statewide healthcare resource.
– Focus on Quality: Respiratory Care Services.
– Dixie Regional named one of America's 20 most beautiful hospitals.
– Intermountain listed among best places for computer professionals.
– Financial Assistance and Improved Registration begins rollout.
– Utah's pioneering Health Information Exchange.
• Intermountain Issues — June 2010
– Healing for those in need: One day of charity care at Intermountain.
– Legislative Task Force reviews health reform pilots.
– Focus on Quality: Primary Care Clinical Program.
– A new trustee training module on healthcare regulations is now available.
– Healthy Dialogues: AHA chairman says trustees play key role.
• Intermountain Issues — May 2010
– Focus on Quality: Improving communication.
– Utah legislature recap: Harvard professor gives nod to Intermountain.
– White House chooses Intermountain for $15.8 million diabetes program.
– SelectHealth relocates.
• Intermountain Issues — April 2010
– How federal health reform might affect Intermountain Healthcare.
– FAIR program continues to grow and benefit patients.
– Intermountain's new cancer communication campaign.
– Focus on Quality: ECIS (Enterprise Clinical Information System).
– How you can help: Support and lead Intermountain's quality efforts.
• Intermountain Issues — March 2010
– Federal health reform update.
– Focus on Quality: The Oncology Clinical Program.
– Sentinel Events report released.
– Trustee Conference wrap-up.
• Intermountain Issues — February 2010
– SelectHealth earns strong scores in annual UDOH survey.
– Focus on Quality: H1N1 update.
– Intermountain ranks among nation's top integrated health systems.
– Awards and recognition.
• Intermountain Issues — January 2010
– FAIR update: What all trustees should know
– National reform: the final stretch?
– OECD report: U.S. per-capita healthcare spending still highest.
– News resources for trustees.