Excellent clinical care is at the heart of our mission – we’re always looking for ways to improve the healing experience for our patients. Intermountain is fully committed to clinical research, and our focus on quality improvement has helped us achieve outcomes that are among the best in the nation.
Clinical Programs
Intermountain's clinical programs focus the efforts of physician specialists, nurses, administrators, and other caregivers on the processes of care within Intermountain. Our goal is to deliver the best care to every patient every time. Below are Intermountain's nine clinical programs and some of their recent achievements and projects:
1. Cardiovascular. Heart patients at Intermountain's hospitals consistently experience among the lowest mortality rates for cardiac surgery in Utah (severity adjusted), as well as fast emergency response times and other indicators of excellence. In addition to saving lives, these achievements have reduced heart damage to patients and have lowered hospital readmission rates. In 2008, the program is focusing on best practices in the treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction patients and Heart Failure patients.
2. Oncology. Intermountain is a leader in oncology-related clinical trials in Utah, providing patients with leading-edge modes of treatment. Patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to care, in which teams comprised of medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists; radiologists; pathologists; plastic surgeons; nurses; and other clinical experts collaborate in patient care. In 2008, the program is focusing on best practices in the treatment of colon cancer.
3. Women and Newborns. Premature births and elective inductions prior to 39 weeks of gestation have been significantly reduced, resulting in improved outcomes for mothers and newborns (e.g., decreased caesarean section rate and time in labor). Specifically, the percentage of elective inductions performed at less than 39 weeks of gestation fell from nearly 30% in 1999 to less than 5% in 2005. Also, perinatal care managers help expectant mothers who are experiencing problems with their pregnancies. In 2008, the program is focusing on reducing the incidence of blood stream infections in infant patients in Newborn Intensive Care Units.
4. Intensive Medicine. Intermountain has educated caregivers on practices that help prevent the onset of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP). The incidence of VAP in ventilated patients dropped more than 55% in the three years from 2004 to 2006. In 2008, the program goals focus on the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.
5. Primary Care. Intermountain is improving routine physician care provided to patients in a number of ways.
a. Diabetes and asthma patients benefit from care managers who act as "healthcare coaches," supporting the work of primary care physicians and helping patients comply with physician treatment plans.
b. Mental health. Intermountain is piloting several mental health programs that integrate primary care physicians and mental/behavioral health professionals. These programs address the mental health components of physical illnesses.
In 2008, the primary care program is focusing on managing blood pressure in diabetic patients.
6. Pediatric Specialties. Intermountain developed and implemented specific bronchiolitis care guidelines at major facilities, resulting in faster recoveries and shorter hospital stays for children with this lung condition. Also, new guidelines for treating fever in infants, developed at Primary Children's, are now being implemented at other Intermountain hospitals. The program goals in 2008 focus on the care of infants with fever.
7. Surgical Services. This clinical program, started in 2006, established care process models for excellence in bariatric surgery, total joint replacement, and pain management. In 2008, the program is focusing on improving compliance with goals related to prophylactic antibiotics, as specified in the Surgical Care Improvement Project of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
8. Behavioral Health. The program is focusing on improving metrics related to the "therapeutic alliance": the working relationship between a clinician and patient.
In addition, Intermountain has a Patient Safety Initiative that functions like a clinical program. This initiative has created guidelines to help protect patients from falls and reduce the incidence of pressure sores (i.e., bed sores). It is currently focusing on "Medication Reconciliation," a process for reviewing medications administered to patients in order to avoid adverse drug events (ADEs).