Intermountain Health

You might hear Melvin Kirk, EVS supervisor at Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, Colorado, before you see him. Giggles surround him, as well as the support to grow and learn in his career at Intermountain Health. Discover how Melvin is taking advantage of the opportunities and benefits available at Intermountain, building a flourishing, joyful career for himself. Article written by: Meredith Wilson #CareerDevelopment #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

For many families, today is the kickoff to summer. So many fun activities are ahead—boating, swimming, ATV-ing, and just spending time outside in general. We live in a pretty great area for it! But the 100 days from Memorial Day and Labor Day are also some of the most dangerous days, with an increase in injuries and death from summertime activities. You can take our Summer Safety pledge to learn the latest summer safety tips and win prizes. Go to https://lnkd.in/g52tn9Vf to learn more.

When physician Jaimee Imperial, MD, was choosing where to complete her residency, she chose southern Nevada not just for the medical program, but the community itself. “This was the best fit for me in terms of people and location," she said. "I stayed because there is a nice Filipino population here...It made Las Vegas feel more comfortable because it felt close to home.” Dr. Imperial serves patients at the Siena Senior Primary Care Clinic in Henderson, Nevada. She was born in the Philippines, and when she was one, her family relocated to California. Over the years, she moved back and forth multiple times between the U.S. and the Philippines. The constant moving helped her build up her resiliency. "It got me used to thinking on my feet, getting along with different types of people," Jaimee said. "That helped me a lot because [I've] seen so many different demographics." Throughout her life, Dr. Imperial’s parents remained a constant presence and influence. Her father, an anesthesiologist, introduced her to the healthcare world and she would often accompany him on medical missions in rural communities. Her mother was an elementary school teacher whose work ethic and perspective was just as inspiring when it came to Dr. Imperial’s outlook in serving patients. “My mother knows how to teach people things, and that is what I do more of now: lead people more into what the best decision is for them,” she said. Dr. Imperial is fluent in English and Tagalog. Tagalog is the third most spoken language in Nevada. "Generally, most of my Filipino patients can speak English, but speaking in your native language is easier to express yourself,” Dr. Imperial said. “I can get more out of their history." Dr. Imperial continued, "In the Filipino culture, family is important. That helps me in terms of compassion and trying to relate to my patients," she said. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated every May. These Intermountain caregiver stories highlight individual histories that led to healthcare and the importance of meeting our patients and communities where they are to deliver culturally competent care.

Having a baby can bring out a variety of emotions from joy and elation, to feeling overwhelmed, anxious or down, or having the baby blues. In Utah, 1 in 3 women will experience either depression during pregnancy, anxiety during pregnancy, or postpartum depression according to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Intermountain Health has integrated or connected behavioral health providers into 12 women’s health clinics across Utah. Both women’s health and family medicine clinics do mental health screenings at the first visit. Behavioral health experts vary by location and include: psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, social workers, marriage and family counselors and behavioral health care mangers. Intermountain Health is committed to increasing the number of clinics with integrated behavioral health providers. For help finding mental health resources in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, or Montana, call Intermountain’s behavioral health navigation line at 1-833-442-2211, or to find a provider visit the Women’s Health or Behavioral Health pages on intermountainhealth.org

In today’s fast-paced world, balancing career aspirations with personal health and well-being is a challenge many face. At Intermountain Health, we recognize this reality and are committed to supporting the health and well-being of our caregivers through every stage of life. More than 70% of our workforce at Intermountain is made up of women. For Cammie Cable, vice president of people operations and compensation, it’s crucial to acknowledge the unique health challenges women face, which is why we are dedicated to increasing access to essential health programs and providing education, preventative services and treatment options that are tailored to women’s unique needs. “Our approach is rooted in the belief that health is holistic,” Cable said. “We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to benefits. Instead, we look at each caregiver as a whole person, recognizing that there are moments—big and small—that matter throughout their life journey.” From our employee assistance program and our caregiver counseling services to our medical premium assistance program, we strive to ensure our caregivers have the support they need to thrive. This commitment was recently highlighted at the Denver Business Journal’s inaugural Women’s Health Summit on May 15. The event brought together hundreds of women from across the Denver metro area to connect, learn, and be inspired. Intermountain sponsored the event, which featured Cammie Cable as a panelist; Melissa Rapp, behavioral health program manager, also represented Intermountain as a speaker, and representatives from various Intermountain service lines connected with attendees at the event. Cammie participated in a panel discussion focused on how organizations can support women in the workplace by integrating physical, mental, emotional, and financial health. “We ask ourselves, ‘What do we need to do to make sure our caregivers can show up, bring their whole selves to work, and be able to balance everything that life throws their way?’” Cable said. She emphasized the importance of designing benefits and programs that reflect the diverse needs of our workforce. Melissa shared insights into our behavioral health programs, which are designed to provide compassionate, empowering, and evidence-based care. “Our programs support women in managing stress, anxiety, depression, or any behavioral health experience,” Rapp said. Her message underscored the importance of mental health as a cornerstone of overall well-being. We are grateful to the Denver Business Journal and KUSA-TV, 9NEWS for their partnership in bringing this important event to the community. As Rapp noted, “It is together that we, collectively, can advance women’s health, and that will positively impact the future for everybody.” Discover more of the insights shared at the Women’s Health Summit by watching the full recording here: https://lnkd.in/g8hzTbbV Article written by: Jenny Nailling #WomensHealthMonth #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

We are innovating orthopedic surgery in our Southern Utah market, where procedures are essentially completed before they even happen.   Our Southwest Orthopedics – Sports Medicine clinic in St. George, Utah, is the first in the region to offer VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Surgery for total knee replacements. While Intermountain Health is among other healthcare systems using robotic-assisted technology, we are the first in St. George to use VELYS™ as a true robotic-assisted program.   This advanced technology was introduced in November 2024 in St. George and performed by orthopedic surgeons Dr. Robert Jamieson and Dr. Darin K. Allred and enables a more personalized, precise, and efficient knee replacement experience. Drs. Jamieson and Allred completed over 500 total knee replacements a year, and collectively have done more than 250 robotic assisted knee replacements to date. While robotic surgery itself is not a new technology, it is a newer tool for orthopedic surgery. The key to this technology is enhancing the preparation and accuracy while also better customizing the care for each patient. "It allows us to really know the end from the beginning," Dr. Jamieson said. St. George resident Jay Sessions recently had the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Surgery for his knee in January 2025 and called the experience "pure joy." Before the surgery, his mobility was limited to the point where he would fall over, but since his procedure, he's felt no pain. “Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty offers several significant benefits for patients undergoing joint replacement surgery," said Dr. Allred. "This advanced technology allows for enhanced precision during the procedure, enabling surgeons to plan and execute the operation with greater accuracy. The robot assists in aligning implants more precisely to a patient’s unique anatomy, which can improve joint function and increase the longevity of the implant. Additionally, robotic assistance can result in smaller incisions, reduced soft tissue damage, and less post-operative pain. These advantages often lead to quicker recovery times, shorter hospital stays, and better overall outcomes for patients.”   We aim to increase knee replacement volume by 300 per year, reaching a total of 800 per year over the next 2 years. Article written by: Joseph Gaccione Video produced by: Silvia Landa Ging #WeAreLeadersInClinicalExcellence #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

When it comes to stroke care, Utahns are getting the fastest treatment in the nation – saving lives and precious brain cells. This is all thanks to state-of-the-art medications and innovative treatment protocols that utilize multi-disciplinary medical teams to mobilize immediate care for stroke patients and close coordination with first responders. Nearly all patients at Intermountain Health (Intermountain Medical Center, McKay Dee, St. George, and Utah Valley Hospitals) receive life-saving clot-busting medication treatment within 45 minutes or less of their arrival to an emergency department. How can you spot a stroke? Remember BE FAST Balance problems Eye (vision loss) Face drooping Arm weakness Speech problems Time to act Don’t wait. Call 911.

A simple act of kindness can change a life. When Matthew was at his lowest, an emergency department tech named Aaron at Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado cared for him and provided him with a few words of encouragement. That moment became the foundation of his sobriety. Read his inspiring journey and the impact of this one small gesture in the article below. Article written by: Katie Cain #WeServeWithEmpathy #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

No matter the birthplace, caregivers find a home at Intermountain Health — and our backgrounds help us serve our patients. Truc Ta, MD, RPVI, moved to the U.S. from Vietnam as a child. Jaimee Imperial, MD, moved back and forth between her native Philippines and California. Jake Fitisemanu Jr was born in New Zealand and taught to treasure his heritage as he grew up in Hawaii. Learn how these caregivers bring their cultures and traditions to their work every day in the article below. Article written by: Lance Frazier, Joseph Gaccione, and Patricia Demchak Billinger #AAPIHeritageMonth #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives

The patient called in feeling dizzy and thought their speech might be slurred. They also remarked they’d experienced similar symptoms before and didn’t seem concerned, so patient services representative (PSR) Brittney Frasco initially wasn’t concerned either. She scheduled an appointment a few days out and ended the call.   Afterward, Brittney stopped to reflect.   “Something just didn’t feel right,” she said. “I called the patient back and asked if they would be willing to talk with the nurse triage team.”   PSRs have a list of “trigger words” that prompt a referral to nurse triage, a team of remote nurses who field calls from patients whose symptoms are concerning enough to warrant immediate medical attention. Terms like “severe abdominal pain,” “breathing problems,” “blood sugar issues” make the list. Dizziness and slurred speech are on there, too — and so is “intuition.”   “That’s one of our most ambiguous trigger words,” said Alicia Martinez, manager of the clinical nurse triage and transitions team, which took over after Brittney called the patient back. “We want our PSRs to refer patients to us if something just doesn’t feel right.”   The triage and transitions team applies a standard protocol designed to determine the severity of the patient’s condition. Although the patient had downplayed her symptoms with Brittney, the triage nurse she talked with was concerned enough to call 911. An ambulance arrived minutes later and rushed her to the hospital.   The treatment she received there likely saved her life.   “Our PSRs don’t have clinical training, but we want to empower them to trust their gut,” said Alicia, “Brittney did an amazing job of doing that.”   Brittney’s action that day shows all caregivers, even non-clinical ones, play a key role in Always Safe practices like Stop, Reflect, and Resolve. In fact, our patients depend on it.   “At first, I thought, ‘No big deal, It’s just my job,” Brittney said. “I could have let it go and just made the appointment, and the patient could have lost her life. That would have been a huge loss.” Article written by: Jef Otte #SafetySpotlight #TogetherForTheHealthiestLives