Intermountain Children’s Health has launched a new pediatric asthma initiative designed to help children receive more timely, consistent, and evidence-based care closer to home.

The goal of the new initiative is to help kids breathe easier, avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, and return to the activities they love.

The Intermountain initiative builds on proven asthma care practices at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, where changes in emergency medicine treatment has helped avoid about one in four hospitalizations for children with asthma.

Intermountain Children’s Health caregivers are now working to expand the same standard of care across other emergency departments at hospitals, urgent care clinics, and KidsCare clinics throughout Utah.

Asthma attacks can be frightening for children and their families.

During an attack, airways tighten, swell, and fill with mucus, making it difficult to breathe. Without the right treatment early, children may need emergency care, hospital admission, or transfer to a higher level of care.

To address this condition, Intermountain Children’s Health caregivers developed a standardized approach that helps care teams treat asthma symptoms quickly and consistently, regardless of where a child receives care.

“By acting quickly, caregivers can stabilize symptoms sooner, prevent escalation and transfers that take a child far from home, and reduce the need for hospital admission.,” said Mike Johnson, MD, a pediatrician in the emergency department at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and an asthma care advocate. “We want caregivers to have every tool they need to start treatment sooner, when it can have the greatest impact.”

The initiative focuses on early treatment for children experiencing moderate to severe asthma attacks.

As part of this care process model, caregivers administer critical medications, including oral steroids, along with breathing treatments such as albuterol, as early as possible to open airways and reduce inflammation before hospitalization becomes necessary.

The work is already improving pediatric asthma care in emergency departments and the urgent care clinics across Utah.

At Intermountain Health, approximately 70% of the children with asthma in emergency departments now receive steroid within 60 minutes of arrival. This early intervention is helping kids get the right treatment closer to home.

In urgent care and KidsCare clinics across Utah, care teams are working to give steroids before albuterol treatment whenever appropriate.

This gives the steroid more time to work, may help reduce vomiting after treatment, and can help prevent a child from needing a transfer to an emergency department or hospital for admission.

More than 80% of children now receive a steroid before other treatments are started.

Together, these changes are helping more children receive the right care sooner and avoid unnecessary hospital stays. As the work expands to more sites, Intermountain Children’s Health leaders expect to prevent about one-fourth of asthma-related hospitalizations and transfers.

“The biggest win is that children across the state of Utah can now receive the same high standard of care in any Intermountain Health emergency department, urgent care clinic, or KidsCare location that they would get at Primary Children’s Hospital,” said Angelene Hunt, pediatric acute care clinical program manager for Intermountain Children’s Health.

The initiative also extends beyond hospital walls. Intermountain Health is partnering with local first responders, including South Davis Metro Fire, to begin treatment even before children arrive at the hospital.

“We’ve partnered with South Davis Metro Fire so children can receive medications like oral steroids and effective breathing treatments before they get to the emergency department,” said Tanner Trujillo, director of respiratory care services operations for pediatrics at Intermountain Health.

The initiative first launched in Intermountain Health clinics in Utah and is already showing promise as a scalable model for pediatric asthma care. 

Leaders now plan to expand the approach across the health system’s multi-state service area, so more children have access to timely, evidence-based care close to home.

# # #

Intermountain Health and Shriners Children’s anunciaron una afiliación colaborativa que establece un acceso más conveniente a la reconocida atención especializada sin fines de lucro en ortopedia pediátrica en Nevada. Ambas organizaciones han firmado una carta de intención para formar una nueva afiliación estratégica enfocada en mejorar la vida, el bienestar y la salud de los niños en el estado.

La afiliación une a dos organizaciones impulsadas por su misión con un compromiso compartido de ofrecer atención pediátrica especializada, segura y de alta calidad para todos los niños, independientemente de su capacidad de pago. A través de un liderazgo conjunto, gobernanza, planeamiento estratégico y operaciones coordinadas, la afiliación está diseñada para crear una línea de servicios sostenible e integrada en ortopedia y rehabilitación pediátrica que sirva tanto a las comunidades locales como regionales.

“Esta afiliación refleja nuestra creencia compartida de que los niños y las familias merecen la mejor atención posible cerca de su hogar”, dijo Mitch Cloward, presidente regional de Intermountain Health. “Al unir los recursos de Intermountain, la experiencia clínica y el profundo compromiso con la salud comunitaria con las capacidades especializadas de Shriners Children’s, estamos fortaleciendo un modelo de atención que mejora el acceso, apoya a las familias y ayuda a los niños a recibir la atención adecuada cuando más la necesitan”.

“Cuando servimos juntos, podemos hacer más por la comunidad”, dijo Mandy Richards, DNP, RN, directora ejecutiva de enfermería y presidenta de Children's Health en Intermountain Health. “En el centro de esta afiliación se encuentra un compromiso común en construir un modelo de cuidados médicos que mejoren el acceso al cuidado pediátrico y al resultado de estos cuidados. Al reunir los recursos y la experiencia clínica de Intermountain con las capacidades especializadas de Shriners Children’s, podemos seguir llegando a más niños que necesitan atención”.

Como parte de esta afiliación y como muestra de su compromiso duradero con la comunidad de Las Vegas, Shriners Children’s tendrá una clínica ortopédica pediátrica independiente ubicada dentro de la recientemente construida Intermountain Health Badura Clinic, en el suroeste de Las Vegas, la cual se anticipa abrirá sus puertas este verano, y posteriormente en el Outpatient Services Center en el campus de Intermountain Health Nevada Children’s Hospital. Shriners Children’s también será el proveedor oficial de servicios ortopédicos, empleando personal clínico y no clínico que respalda sus operaciones.

“Shriners Children’s ha servido a los niños de Nevada durante décadas por medio de clínicas de ayuda comunitaria y telesalud”, dijo Leslie Stewart, MD, presidente de la junta directiva de Shriners Children’s. “Esta clínica representa un paso hacia adelante importante al continuar proveyendo nuestro cuidado pediátrico especializado a más niños en una comunidad en expansión. Nos enorgullece expandir nuestra misión en colaboración con Intermountain Health, y servir a más niños y familias en el área de Las Vegas”.

Esta afiliación también incluye planes de explorar un modelo de colaboración clínica. A través de esta estructura, las organizaciones podrán coordinarse en base a protocolos clínicos basados en las mejores prácticas, el uso compartido de datos y la integración clínica en el campo de cuidados médicos. Todo esto con el objetivo de ofrecer servicios de alto valor y costo efectivo a pacientes pediátricos y sus familias.

Para apoyar el éxito a largo plazo de esta afiliación y reforzar el compromiso compartido de mejorar la vida de los niños y las familias en la comunidad, Shriners Children’s proporcionará recursos dedicados y experiencia estratégica para apoyar a Intermountain Health Nevada Children’s Hospital y fortalecer sus servicios de ortopedia y rehabilitación pediátrica, en alineación con la misión de Shriners Children’s de ofrecer atención compasiva y de alta calidad.

Además, Shriners Children’s se comprometerá a proporcionar asistencia financiera para los pacientes de Shriners Children’s que reciban servicios a través del hospital y la línea de servicios, trabajando en coordinación con pagadores externos y con los programas de asistencia financiera de Intermountain.

Esta afiliación se basa en la sólida relación existente entre Intermountain Health y Shriners Children’s en Utah, donde ambas organizaciones están dedicadas a avanzar la atención pediátrica. “Cuando Intermountain Health y Shriners Children’s trabajan juntos en Primary Children’s Hospital, nuestra comunidad se beneficia”, dijo Dustin Lipson, presidente de Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital en Salt Lake City. “Estamos uniendo experiencia, compasión y propósito para asegurarnos de que los niños de toda la región tengan acceso a las mejores innovaciones en atención pediátrica”.

Aun cuando esta sea la primera vez que Shriner’s tenga presencia en las nuevas clínicas de Nevada, ya han formado parte de la comunidad por décadas a través de clínicas comunitarias y proporcionando transporte a sus ubicaciones en el sur de California y Salt Lake City. Además, el torneo de golf Shriners Children’s Open PGA Tour y el juego de fútbol americano universitario East-West Shrine Bowl, han tenido una conexión duradera con el área de Las Vegas.

Juntos, Intermountain Health y Shriners Children’s impulsarán enfoques innovadores en la prestación de atención pediátrica, respetarán y honrarán la historia y misión únicas de cada organización, y colaborarán de manera transparente para ayudar a que los niños de nuestra comunidad vivan sus vidas más saludables.

# # #

As kids return to school beginning this week in Nevada on Monday, bicycles, scooters, and e-bikes will be increasing around Clark County. This is also at the time that first responders have seen an alarming rise in the number of crashes and fatalities involving these modes of transportations for children and adults. 

The Intermountain West also has the fourth-highest traumatic brain injury hospitalization rate in the country for children. Some of these injuries could be prevented by wearing a helmet. 

Child trauma incidents historically rise in the summer months, and peak in July. 

“I have personally seen the profound impact of the head injuries that can occur in our children here from bikes, e-bikes, scooters, and more,” said Taryn Bragg, MD, pediatric neurosurgeon with Intermountain Health in Las Vegas. “Traumatic brain injuries can be devastating for kids and their families with lifelong aftereffects. Helmets, and proper-fitting ones at that, are vital to our safety for our children, as well as adults.”

Dr. Bragg is the only full-time, board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon in the entire state of Nevada. She sees the effects that head injuries have on families on a near-daily basis.  

 Parents can check the fit of their child’s helmet by making sure of the following:

• The helmet fits snugly and sits level on the child’s head. 
• The helmet fits two finger widths above the child’s eyebrow
• The side strap V-shape fits just under the child’s ears.
• One adult’s finger can fit between the child’s chin and the strap. 

“Helmets are not a one size fits all situation,” said Will Rucker, Nevada Community Health director. “As parents, and as a community, we need to be sure that our vulnerable children are protected as much as possible. Make sure those helmets fit and are being worn properly.” 

Safe Kids of Clark County have been working diligently with communities to get the word out on bike helmet safety.  

“Parents should take the time to ride or walk the route to school with their children, to make sure that they are always following the rules of the road. Also, remember the helmet is the most important piece of equipment that the child must have,” said Jeanne Marsala, MSN, RN, Executive Director Clark County Safe Kids.

Officials in Nevada have been working to help curb the injuries and fatalities over recent years. New e-scooter ordinances that began May 21, 2025, detailing several new restrictions including a speed limit of 15 mph and limits on riding in park areas, and riders under age 18 must wear a helmet.

“Please, slow down in school zones, obey crossing guards, and stay alert for children biking and walking to school,” said Commissioner Michael Naft. “It is a responsibility of drivers to acknowledge and share the road with all road users. By remaining mindful and considerate of all modes of transportation in school zones, we can ensure a great start to the school year.”

Intermountain Health is committed to strengthening collaborations with local organizations, state and local officials, and community advocates working to prevent and decrease injuries for children. This commitment is part of the Intermountain Community Health Needs Assessment.

The bike safety event was held at Amplus Academy and the school participated with several students’ showing proper helmet safety while riding a bike course. Amplus Academy is next to the site where Nevada’s first comprehensive stand-alone children’s hospital will be built to meet growing regional children’s health needs. It will include specialty-based care, such as oncology and cardiovascular services, and others that patients have had to travel out-of-state to receive this care. 

The new children’s hospital, projected to be completed by 2030, is an historic initiative that represents one of the most significant and exciting opportunities to elevate children’s health in Nevada. Philanthropy and community partnerships are critical to make this vision a reality, and campaign planning is underway.      

###

The YMCA of Southern Nevada hosted the Y’s annual Healthy Kids Day^® on April 26th from 12pm-2pm located at the Durango Hills YMCA. 

The free, annual event features a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families and a healthy start to the summer season. With water safety top of mind, registration for our Safety Around Water (SAW) program designed with a specific sequence of skills proven to ensure children have a safe and fun aquatics experience will also begin on Healthy Kids Day. 

The Y offers this program at no cost to youth in our community.

Sponsored nationally by Peanuts, Healthy Kids Day’s mission is to prepare Las Vegas families for a safe, healthy, and fun summer. One of the biggest highlights of the event is early access to the YMCA’s outdoor water park, giving families a head start on summer fun before it officially opens for the season. 

In addition, engaging safety around water demonstrations will be offered, helping parents and kids learn essential tips to stay safe in and around the water. The day also features a variety of community vendors, making it a celebration for the whole family.

"It’s crucial for kids to stay active during the summer, both physically and mentally," said Shene Tracy, Sr, experience director for the YMCA of Southern Nevada. “At the Y, we’re dedicated to providing families with the resources they need to build healthy habits year-round. Healthy Kids Day is a fun, free community event designed to encourage families to explore all the amazing summer activities the Y has to offer.”

Locally, Healthy Kids Day is sponsored by Intermountain Health, and POOLCORP.

Intermountain Health has made children health and safety part of their main health priorities. The critical areas were identified as part of the current Community Health Needs Assessment, which was built from extensive research from local health status, health needs, and assets that allow the nonprofit health system to inform and identify key local area health priorities, including the sustaining health needs of children and families. 

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The majority of drowning deaths occur in family pools. The most common drowning victim is a child four years of age or younger, occurring between noon and dinner. These tragedies often occur while parents are home and there is a brief lapse in supervision.

“We encourage parents and youth to learn the ABCD’s of drowning prevention: Adult Supervision, Barriers like self-closing gates, Classes, swimming, water safety & CPR and devices like life jackets,” said Will Rucker, community health director for Nevada for Intermountain Health. “There is no substitute for active adult supervision, which is why we recommend an “adult water watcher” be assigned any time children are swimming or around water to prevent drowning.”

Today, Intermountain Health donated 129 life jackets to the YMCA of Southern Nevada to be used for free at the four waterpark YMCA locations. 

Intermountain announced in October, plans to build Nevada’s first comprehensive stand-alone children’s hospital.The facility, set to be located in the UNLV Research and Technology Park, is projected to be completed by 2030, providing specialized pediatric care to meet the growing needs of the region.

For more information, contact the YMCA of Southern Nevada at (702) 240-9622 or visit lasvegasymca.org. 

# # #

Las Vegas. La YMCA del sur de Nevada organizó el Healthy Kids Day^® (Día del Niño Saludable) anual el 26 de abril de 12 p. m. a 2 p. m. en la YMCA de Durango Hills. El evento anual y gratuito ofrece una variedad de actividades familiares para fomentar la salud de los niños, de las familias y un comienzo saludable de la temporada de verano. Teniendo presente la seguridad en el agua, en el Día del Niño Saludable también comenzará la inscripción para nuestro programa Seguros cerca del agua (SAW, por sus siglas en inglés), que está diseñado con una secuencia específica de habilidades probadas para garantizar que los niños tengan una experiencia acuática segura y divertida. La YMCA ofrece este programa sin costo para los jóvenes de nuestra comunidad.

Patrocinado a nivel nacional por Peanuts, la misión del Día del Niño Saludable es preparar a las familias de Las Vegas para un verano seguro, saludable y divertido. Uno de los aspectos más destacados del evento es el acceso anticipado al parque acuático al aire libre de la YMCA, que les permite a las familias disfrutar de la diversión veraniega antes de la apertura oficial. Además, se ofrecerán demostraciones interesantes de seguridad en el agua, que ayudarán a padres y niños a aprender los consejos imprescindibles para mantenerse seguros en el agua y cerca de ella. La jornada también contará con la presencia de distintos proveedores de la comunidad, lo que la convertirá en una celebración para toda la familia.

“Es fundamental que los niños se mantengan activos durante el verano, tanto física como mentalmente”, indicó Shene Tracy, directora sénior de Experiencia de la YMCA del sur de Nevada. “En la YMCA, nos dedicamos a ofrecer a las familias los recursos que necesitan para crear hábitos saludables durante todo el año. El Día del Niño Saludable es un evento comunitario divertido y gratuito diseñado para animar a las familias a explorar todas las actividades estupendas de verano que ofrece la YMCA”. 

A nivel local, el Día del Niño Saludable cuenta con el patrocinio de Intermountain Health y POOLCORP.

Intermountain Health hizo que la salud y la seguridad de los niños sea una de sus prioridades de salud principales. Se identificaron las áreas importantes como parte de la Evaluación de necesidades de salud comunitaria actual, que se creó a partir de una amplia investigación del estado de salud local, las necesidades de salud y los activos que permiten al sistema de salud sin fines de lucro informar e identificar las prioridades clave de salud del área local, incluidas las necesidades de salud sostenibles de los niños y las familias. 

Ahogarse es una de las principales causas de muerte infantil en Las Vegas y sus alrededores. La mayoría de las muertes por ahogamiento se producen en las piletas de las familias. Las víctimas de ahogamiento más comunes son los niños menores de cuatro años y se producen entre el mediodía y la cena. Estas tragedias suelen ocurrir cuando los padres están en el hogar y hay un pequeño lapso en la supervisión.

“Recomendamos a los padres y jóvenes a que aprendan los principios básicos de la prevención del ahogamiento: supervisión de un adulto, barreras como puertas de cierre automático, clases, natación, seguridad en el agua y RCP, y dispositivos como chalecos salvavidas”, informó Will Rucker, director de Intermountain Community Health en Nevada. “No hay nada que pueda sustituir la supervisión activa de un adulto, por lo que recomendamos que se asigne un ‘adulto vigilante del agua’ cada vez que los niños estén nadando o cerca del agua para evitar que se ahoguen”.

Actualmente, Intermountain Health ha donado 129 chalecos salvavidas a la YMCA del sur de Nevada para que se utilicen de manera gratuita en las cuatro sedes de la YMCA de los parques acuáticos. 

En octubre, Intermountain anunció su intención de construir el primer hospital infantil independiente de Nevada. Se prevé que el centro, situado en el Research and Technology Park de la Universidad de Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV, por sus siglas en inglés), esté terminado en 2030 y ofrezca atención pediátrica especializada para satisfacer las crecientes necesidades de la región.

Si quiere obtener más información, comuníquese con la YMCA del sur de Nevada al (702) 240-9622 o visite lasvegasymca.org.  

# # #

Child safety advocates at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital are seeing a rise in the number of parents unknowingly purchasing counterfeit car seats online for their children, which puts them at higher risk of serious injury – or worse – in case of a crash.

 These types of car seats are almost always purchased online and are enticing because of the steep discount in price compared to major brands. What often confuses parents is that these seats are found on the websites of major national retailers through third-party sellers.

 “It’s hard to tell a car seat is counterfeit from a small picture online, and many parents think they found a great deal from a major retailer,” said Michelle Jamison, community health program manager at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “Once they realize there’s a problem and try to return it, the site they got it from has already been taken down.”

 For years, Intermountain Primary Children’s has offered both in-person and virtual car seat checks to help educate parents about proper installation and correct use of car seats.

 Jamison says that’s where caregivers started noticing more of these counterfeit seats, or those that don’t meet U.S. safety standards, popping up.

 The counterfeit car seats that Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital caregivers are seeing look legitimate and can cost hundreds of dollars. But many of these are missing key components that keep children safe in a crash, and they worry that using these seats could have deadly consequences.

 One of those parents is Jilian Davis.

 Davis was gifted a car seat during her pregnancy from a family member who bought it online from a major retailer.  After giving birth in late June, her daughter had to spend two weeks in NICU at Intermountain LDS Hospital & Intermountain Primary Children’s before she went home. As they were set to leave the hospital, a car seat tech who was helping them, realized it was counterfeit.

 “It’s completely shocking because this is my fourth child and I’ve never heard of this being an issue,” said Davis. “It’s scary to think I could have been driving around with my child in a car seat that’s dangerous.” 

 Caregivers at Intermountain Primary Children’s gifted Davis a car seat to use, but now she wants to warn other parents and their families who might unknowingly buy a counterfeit model.

 Experts say the best way to avoid counterfeit car seats is to buy directly from the manufacturer’s website or go to a store in person to purchase the seat. All these models will be legitimate and meet safety standards.

 “Parents may think an in-store purchase is more expensive but what they’re really getting is the peace of mind their child’s car seat is safe,” said Jamison. “While some models are pricey, there are less expensive ones that are still crash tested and safe.”

 There are several things required on car seats to meet stringent federal safety standards, and parents should look closely to see if any are missing to know if it’s counterfeit.

 All car seats are required to have a manufacturers label which includes the name of the car seat, date of manufacture, branding, model number, and expiration date.

 This information is used to help register your car seat which allows manufacturers to notify you of any recalls. Counterfeit car seats don’t have the number and make it ineligible to register.

 To meet safety standards car seats in the U.S., seats must also include warning labels written in both English and Spanish. They can be found on the back of the car seat but are also required in the area near where the baby’s head rests at the top of the seat.

 Counterfeit car seats are often missing the labels, or they’re written in another language. Sometimes these labels have grammatical errors, and the wording doesn’t make sense.

 Experts note a missing chest clip is an immediate sign a car seat isn’t safe. They’re required in the United States but not in every country, which is why counterfeit seats usually don’t have them.

 “If you determine that you have a counterfeit car seat, stop using it immediately and contact the retailer to notify them that they sold a counterfeit car seat,” Jamison said. “You may be able to recover the cost of the seat if you used a credit card or purchased through a major retailer.”

 Parents can also report it through STOPfakes.gov, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the U.S. Department of Commerce via their contact form.

They should also submit a report through their state’s consumer protection agency. 

 For help with evaluating or installing your car seat, find a technician near you or call Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital to book a virtual or in-person car seat check at 801-662-CARS.

 For more information go to primarychildrens.org/safety.

  ###

NOTE TO MEDIA: Images and video available upon request.