Intermountain Health ha publicado su nueva Evaluación de las Necesidades de Salud Comunitaria (CHNA, por sus siglas en inglés) y las Estrategias de Implementación de Salud Comunitaria (CHIS, por sus siglas en inglés) para Nevada, en las que identifica dónde se encuentran las mayores necesidades de atención médica para las comunidades y las acciones que se deben tomar para mejorar la salud comunitaria.

El nuevo informe de la evaluación indicó que las necesidades de salud más significativas en el condado de Clark son mejorar el acceso a la atención médica conductual, invertir en factores sociales (como vivienda, alimentos y seguridad), aumentar el acceso a la atención y prevenir lesiones y enfermedades infantiles.

"Estas evaluaciones son un proceso basado en datos que nos ayuda a priorizar las necesidades de salud y luego a tomar medidas", dijo Lisa Nichols, vicepresidenta de salud comunitaria en Intermountain Health. "Al combinar los datos con la información personal, podemos centrar nuestros esfuerzos allí donde Intermountain Health puede tener el mayor impacto en la salud de la comunidad; a esto lo llamamos necesidades de salud significativas".

También se presta especial atención a la salud de la primera infancia. Iniciativas como las pruebas de detección en los controles de niño sano, las vacunas y la educación sobre el sueño seguro ayudan a las familias a proteger a sus bebés y a prevenir posibles tragedias. Además, este trabajo incluye la prevención del abuso y la negligencia infantil en nuestros vecindarios y comunidades.

El plan de acción también incluye el fortalecimiento de las coaliciones locales y los grupos de defensa para llegar a la mayor cantidad de personas posible.

"En Nevada, los datos señalan sistemáticamente que la salud conductual es un desafío compartido entre las comunidades", dijo Will Rucker, director de salud comunitaria de Nevada en Intermountain Health. "Estamos trabajando para abordar este desafío a través de un enfoque más estructural, fortaleciendo las condiciones que promueven el bienestar antes de que ocurra una crisis. Eso significa generar confianza, aumentar el acceso a través de colaboraciones comunitarias y ampliar la capacidad de los miembros de la comunidad, como educadores y otros adultos de confianza, para reconocer las señales y conectar a las personas con el apoyo adecuado en el momento oportuno".

En las comunidades del sur de Nevada, el informe concluyó que es fundamental ampliar los recursos de salud conductual y fortalecer las iniciativas de prevención del suicidio. Las medidas incluyen mejorar la seguridad, por ejemplo, al facilitar el acceso al almacenamiento seguro de armas de fuego mediante el uso de candados para armas y la capacitación familiar.

La salud en la primera infancia continúa siendo una prioridad clave en Nevada. Los esfuerzos se centran en prevenir problemas de salud, fortalecer los factores de protección y ofrecer educación para la prevención de lesiones adaptada a cada cultura para ayudar a adoptar prácticas seguras.

"Hemos estado colaborando con varios grupos y organizaciones comunitarias, como RTC, Safe Kids of Clark County y la YMCA, entre otros, para aumentar el acceso a dispositivos de seguridad como cascos de bicicleta y chalecos salvavidas", afirmó Rucker. "Todos tenemos objetivos similares, que son proteger y apoyar a nuestros niños y a las familias".

Intermountain Health está trabajando para que el hospital pediátrico Nevada Children’s Hospital se construya en el Parque de Investigación y Tecnología de la UNLV. Se prevé que este hospital estará terminado para 2030.

La metodología de la CHNA incluye trabajar con organizaciones comunitarias, departamentos de salud y otros para encontrar las mayores necesidades de las zonas aledañas.

El informe y las estrategias de implementación ayudan a Intermountain Health a escuchar, enfocarse y actuar frente a las necesidades de la comunidad.

Para obtener más información, se puede acceder al informe completo en la página web de la CHNA.  

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Intermountain Health has published its new Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the Community Health Implementation Strategies (CHIS) for Nevada, identifying where the greatest healthcare needs for the communities and the actions that must be taken to enhance community health.

The new assessment report found the most significant health needs in Clark County are: improvement in access to behavioral health care, invest in social drivers (such as housing, food, and safety), increase access to care, and preventing childhood injury and illness.

“These assessments are a data-driven process to help us prioritize health needs and then take action” said Lisa Nichols, vice president of community health at Intermountain Health. “By combining data with personal insight, we can focus our efforts where Intermountain Health can make the biggest impact on community health, we call these significant health needs.”

There is also a strong focus on early childhood health. Efforts such as screenings at well-child checks, immunizations, and safe sleep education help families protect their infants and prevent possible tragedies. This work also includes preventing abuse and neglect among children in our neighborhoods and communities.

The action plan also includes strengthening local coalitions and advocacy groups to help reach as many as possible.

“In Nevada, the data consistently points to behavioral health as a shared challenge across communities,” said Will Rucker, director of community health in Nevada at Intermountain Health. “We’re working to address this challenge through a more upstream approach by strengthening the conditions that shape well-being before a crisis occurs. That means building trust, increasing access through community-based collaborations, and increasing the capacity of community members, such as educators and other trusted adults, to recognize the signs and connect people to the right support at the right time.”

In southern Nevada communities, the report found that expanding behavioral health resources and strengthening suicide prevention efforts are vital. Action includes improving safety, including increasing access to safe firearm storage through gun locks and family education.

Early childhood health remains a key priority in Nevada. Efforts are centered on prevention, strengthening protective factors, and delivering culturally relevant injury prevention education to help adopt safe practices.

“We have been engaging with several groups and community organizations, such as RTC, Safe Kids of Clark County, and the YMCA, among others, to increase access to safety devices such as bike helmets and life vests,” Rucker said. “We all have similar goals, which are to protect and support our kids and families."

Intermountain Health is working toward the Nevada Children’s Hospital to be built on the UNLV Research and Technology Park. The children’s hospital is slated to be completed by 2030.

The CHNA methodology includes working with community organizations, health departments, and more to find the greatest needs for the surrounding area.

The report and implementation strategies help Intermountain Health listen, focus, and act to community needs.

To find out more, the full report can be accessed here on the Intermountain Health CHNA webpage.  

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For more than three decades, a collaboration between Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital and Hilltop Community Resources has helped thousands of families in Mesa County get the support they need for a healthy pregnancy and start to parenthood. 

The B4 Babies program began four decades ago to help pregnant women access prenatal care, education, and resources during a critical time for both mother and baby. 

“The collaboration with B4 Babies and St. Mary’s began in 1989,” said Victoria Grasmick, who works in Community Health at Intermountain St. Mary’s Regional Hospital. “It gets families off to the right start from the get-go, which then gives them a higher likelihood of success throughout life.” 

When the program was created, Mesa County was seeing an increase in the lack of access to health insurance and as a result expectant mothers were not getting prenatal care.  

“We had a lot of women that were coming to the emergency department in pre-term labor, mostly because they didn’t have access to the resources they needed,” said Bryan Johnson, market president for Intermountain Health in Western Colorado. 

“There was a lack of access to doctors delivering babies, especially for individuals on Medicaid, and many didn’t have transportation to get to doctor’s appointments. As a result, they had zero prenatal care, no doctor, no information, and no education,” said Mike Stahl, CEO of Hilltop Community Resources. 

This was 30 years before the Affordable Care Act, and the Mesa County Prenatal Task Force was finding the major barrier for these women was access to health insurance. 

“The lack of access to Medicaid was a significant issue,” Stahl explained. “So, when B4 Babies started, it was really set up as a presumptive eligibility site where any pregnant mom could then be deemed on Medicaid.” 

The data was tracked, and the results were quickly seen in the area’s community health data. 

“Two years after B4 Babies began, the data was showing our low-birth-weight rates significantly decreased, to the point where a lot of the professionals were like, ‘what's going on here?’ And the only thing they could attribute it to was the advent of B4 Babies,” Stahl said. 

Over the years, the program has expanded beyond simply helping mothers obtain medical coverage. Today it provides a wide range of services designed to support families throughout pregnancy and early childhood. 

“We provide an array of services for prenatal and postnatal families, including accessing affordable health care, transportation to and from appointments, interpretation services, we provide diapers, and car seat checks so that their little one is safe during transportation,” said Karen Clymer, Early Childhood Program manager at Hilltop Community Resources. 

The program now serves roughly 250 to 300 individuals each year, which adds up to about 500 to 900 appointments every month helping families access healthcare, education, and community support. And still, 37 years later, the collaboration between St. Mary’s and Hilltop plays a critical role in sustaining those services. 

“St. Mary’s has always been a great stakeholder,” Stahl said. “They’ve been an annual supporter of our financial model for years.” 

According to leaders with St. Mary’s and Hilltop, the collaboration goes well beyond financial support.  

“It’s what we call clinical integration. It’s sharing information, looking for resources, and helping people get in to see doctors when they need to,” Johnson explained. 

And the vital collaboration also helps with response to emerging healthcare needs in the region.  

“St. Mary’s is really great about identifying different needs in our community, and our community includes the entire Western Slope,” Clymer said. “Recently, when the labor and delivery unit in Delta shut down, St. Mary’s collaborated with us to provide B4 Babies services in Delta County as well as Montrose County.” 

For families, the impact can be life changing. Noemi, a B4 Babies client, first connected with the program when she found out she was pregnant as a teenager. 

“When I saw a positive pregnancy test, I instantly went into shock,” she said. “I didn’t know anything.” 

After reaching out to B4 Babies, she began receiving guidance and support. 

 “They helped me with getting health insurance and getting back on my feet,” she said.  

Through regular meetings with a family navigator, she built a trusted relationship that eventually helped her navigate two pregnancies and parent her two sons.  

“Just meeting every month with my navigator is so helpful. She feels like family to us,” Noemi said. “My kids have a great connection with her, and I have a great connection with her.” 

Community leaders say stories like that from Noemi illustrate the program’s long-term impact. 

“When we think of Intermountain’s mission, what we’re trying to do is help our community live their healthiest life possible,” Johnson said. 

Clymer added, “I get to see the families that we serve out in our community every day. They’re happy, they’re healthy, and it really is making a difference in their lives.” 

B4 Babies is one of several community programs Intermountain St. Mary’s Hospital supports through its annual community benefit work. In 2024, St. Mary’s invested $86.8 million to strengthen the health of Western Colorado, directing these dollars through a thoughtful, data‑driven Community Health Needs Assessment process that ensures resources go where they can make the biggest difference for families. 

This commitment reflects the organization’s mission to help people live the healthiest lives possible and the promise to stand with the local communities, especially those who need support most.

Learn more about St. Mary’s community benefit work here. 

Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital has signed an agreement to transfer the sponsorship of Meals on Wheels Mesa County (MOW) to Volunteers of America Colorado (VOA Colorado), a nonprofit, faith‑based organization with expertise in senior nutrition programs across the state. The transition will take effect April 18, 2026. 

St. Mary’s has proudly served as the sponsoring organization for MOW for more than 35 years. When the donation‑ and grant‑funded program faced closure in 1989, St. Mary’s stepped in to ensure it could continue. Since then, the program has grown into a vital community resource, now delivering roughly 136,000 nutritious meals each year through home delivery and eight dining sites.

"Meals on Wheels Mesa County is an essential lifeline for so many seniors in our community,” said Bryan Johnson, President of St. Mary’s Regional Hospital. “We have been honored to support this mission and recognize Volunteers of America Colorado is uniquely positioned to carry this work into the future. This transition ensures the program is well‑positioned for continued growth and long‑term success.” 

The sponsorship organization provides essential in‑kind support for the MOW program, including human resources, information technology, facilities management, financial oversight, and fundraising support. 

“St. Mary’s decades of support have been essential to Meals on Wheels’ success, and we’re grateful for the stability and compassion they’ve brought to this program,” said MOW program director Amanda de Bock. “As we bring together what St. Mary’s has built with this new transition, it’s our hope more seniors will be served, continuing to make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults in our community. We appreciate all St. Mary’s and VOA Colorado have done to help make this transition as smooth as possible.” 

As part of the transition, St. Mary’s will continue its commitment to senior nutrition by donating $250,000 to MOW over the next five years, supporting long‑term program sustainability and helping the program reach more seniors in need. 

With more than 45 years of service on the Western Slope, VOA Colorado brings deep local roots and statewide experience to the program. 

VOA Colorado currently supports Meals on Wheels programs in Northern Colorado and the Denver metro area, providing more than 2.2 million meals last year. The organization also offers a range of services to western Colorado communities, including housing and veteran programs. 

“We are honored to carry forward the extraordinary legacy of Meals on Wheels Mesa County and to build upon the strong foundation St. Mary’s has established,” said Dave Schunk, President and CEO of VOA Colorado. “Our priority is clear: to ensure meals remain on the tables of the seniors who depend on them and to sustain this program for years to come. We are deeply committed to this community and to strengthening the relationships and services that help older adults live with dignity and independence.” 

All MOW employees will have the opportunity to transition from employment with St. Mary’s to VOA Colorado to continue supporting the program. The more than 300 volunteers who generously dedicate their time to delivering meals and supporting the program are encouraged to continue their service with VOA Colorado as the program moves forward under the new sponsorship. 

"This transition represents thoughtful planning and a focus on the future. The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Colorado fully supports Meals on Wheels Mesa County as they begin this new chapter with VOA Colorado,” said Heather Jones, Director of Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Colorado, the oversight agency for Meals on Wheels Mesa County. “We're excited about the leadership and support VOA Colorado will bring, and their shared commitment to the older adults who rely on these meals each day. We are confident this transition will ensure long-term stability and continued service to the community." 

The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Colorado contracts with Meals on Wheels Mesa County to provide congregate and home-delivered meals funded by the Older Americans Act and the Older Coloradans Act. 

Meals on Wheels Mesa County, St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, and VOA Colorado share a mission to promote independence, health, and well‑being for the community’s most vulnerable populations. This transition ensures that Meals on Wheels will remain strong, sustainable, and poised for future growth in Mesa County.

On any given night at the symphony, the most visible story is onstage. 

In the seats, hundreds of personal stories are unfolding quietly – students experiencing live orchestral music for the first time, families taking part in a tradition that might otherwise be out of reach, and listeners finding calm in the middle of a hard season. 

That idea sits at the center of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra’s Gateway Initiative, which is supported by Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital. 

The program gives students free access to concerts and offers families reduced-price tickets. 

In the 2024–2025 season, it provided 515 students with free tickets. 

For some students, the impact is immediate and personal. 

“I actually have had struggles with mental health before, and music really helps me,” said ticket recipient Nora Gant. “I love music so much.” 

Reflecting on a recent performance she attended through the initiative, Gant called it “the most inspiring, incredible thing. It was so fun.” 

Parents also point to cost as a major hurdle for arts participation. One parent, Mykan White, said the initiative “is a great way to increase access to something that might otherwise be unaffordable.” 

The orchestra sees the Gateway Initiative as aligned with its broader mission of connecting the community through live performance. Executive Director Andrew Price said a concert hall holds hundreds of individual experiences at once. 

“We perform music, but the next level is about touching the emotions of people when they come into the hall,” said Price. “There are 800 different circumstances in the room, and the music we perform is going to impact every single one of them in a different way.” 

That notion—that music can reach people where they are—shows up repeatedly in history. 

In 1940, composer Olivier Messiaen wrote Quartet for the End of Time while imprisoned in a concentration camp, composing with limited materials alongside fellow musicians. Accounts of the work’s first performance describe how it offered a rare sense of beauty and dignity in a brutal place. 

In moments of crisis—natural disasters, mass tragedy, even 9/11—people often turn to song and shared sound before they can find the right words. As pianist Karl Paulnack explains, music helps us “locate the big, invisible moving pieces inside our hearts and souls,” giving shape to emotions when words fall short. 

For St. Mary’s, that belief translates into practical support: underwriting access so more young people can be in the room, hear the music live, and decide for themselves what it means. 

Supporters describe the initiative as an investment in community wellbeing—one that recognizes health as more than the absence of illness. By helping students and families cross the threshold into the concert hall, St. Mary’s and the orchestra are betting that the arts can strengthen resilience, connection and hope far beyond hospital walls. 

SafeNest, Nevada’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence, today held a housewarming media event in Las Vegas for its new trauma triage center. 

SafeNest purchased the two-story building two years ago with funding from Intermountain Health’s Place-Based Investment portfolio. Intermountain secured for SafeNest a loan of nearly $1 million to allow them to purchase the center with very low interest rates and non-profit center tax credits. 

Intermountain Health Region president and community health lead, Mitch Cloward, shared that SafeNest’s focus on addressing the devastating impact of domestic violence aligns with the nonprofit health system’s mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible. 

“Domestic violence is a key social driver of health, non-medical factors that can significantly impact the health of a family, neighborhood, and community,” Cloward said. “As a forever anchor institution, Intermountain is committed to serving our communities with the long-term health of all individuals as our top priority. We are honored to have been able to create a sustainable resource for our community partner SafeNest and its clients for years to come.” 

The new center has 10 beds for clients who have been screened through SafeNest’s hotline. Domestic violence survivors may stay at the center for 72 hours and work with a case manager. 

The 2,000-square-foot center is designed to resemble a spa-like refuge for decompressing: quiet, tranquil and calm. SafeNest’s staff reviews the clients’ options for living arrangements. If there are no friends or family to safely take the client, SafeNest moves them into its confidential shelter. 

Downstairs, the center also has a kitchen and children’s library. SafeNest staff and advocates have their offices upstairs to provide immediate accessibility. 

“This is where hope begins,” SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger said. 

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WHAT: 
Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, the Southwest Utah Public Health Department, the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks, Utah Drowning Prevention Coalition, and the Utah Injury Prevention Coalition are holding a life jacket donation drive starting Monday to enhance water safety in Southern Utah.

The public is being asked to donate new, or slightly used, life vests that will go in loaner stations at several local state parks. The drop off sites include Gunlock State Park, Quail Creek State Park, Sand Hollow State Park, Southwest Utah Public Health Department, and at the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce.

Drowning is among the top five causes of death in pediatrics.

Children who live in Southwest Utah are two times more likely to drown than children who live in other parts of the state. Wearing a life jacket in open water will make people more visible to others, decrease your chances of drowning, and help you float with little effort if you get tired in the water.

Media is invited to cover the event.  

WHEN: 
10 am MT, September 8, 2025    

WHO: 
Intermountain Health experts, state and local authorities, and safety advocates.

WHERE:
Quail Creek State Park Ranger Station
472 5300 West
Hurricane, UT

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Select Health has awarded a total of $150,000 to 30 nonprofit organizations across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada through its annual Select Health Awards program. 

Each organization will receive $5,000 to support initiatives that expand access to care and improve the health and well-being of underserved communities throughout the Mountain West.

Now in its second year in Nevada and long-standing in Utah and Idaho, the Select Health Awards recognize and support organizations making a meaningful impact in their communities. The 2025 recipients are tackling a wide range of challenges—from food insecurity and housing instability to mental health, disability support, and access to medical care.

This year’s honorees are leading efforts such as meal delivery for seniors, bilingual behavioral health services, adaptive sports and fitness programs, mobile vision care for children, diabetes management, and emergency shelter for survivors of domestic violence.

“These organizations are the heart of our communities, and their work is essential to improving lives,” said Rob Hitchcock, president and CEO of Select Health. “We’re proud to support their efforts through the Select Health Awards and help advance our shared mission of promoting wellness and expanding access to care for those who need it most.”

Since launching in 2008, the Select Health Awards program has contributed more than $1 million to organizations across Utah, Idaho, and Nevada. This ongoing support reflects a shared mission of Select Health and Intermountain Health: to advance community well-being by promoting preventive care, supporting wellness, and helping people live the healthiest lives possible. For more information, visit selecthealthawards.org.

2025 Select Health Award Recipients

Utah

• Backpack Club (Richfield): Provides weekend and holiday food kits to children experiencing food insecurity in Sevier County.
• Center of Hope Food Pantry (North Salt Lake): Distributes fresh food and groceries to more than 2,500 individuals each month.
• Central Utah Food Sharing (Richfield): Expands access to nutritious food through a community garden serving five rural counties.
• Centro de la Familia (Salt Lake City): Delivers oral health care and dental treatment to underserved children in rural Head Start programs.
• Community Rebuilds (Moab): Builds affordable, energy-efficient homes for low-income families and trains interns in sustainable construction.
• EyeCare4Kids (Midvale): Provides vision screenings, exams and eyeglasses to children in underserved communities across Utah.
• Flourish Therapy Inc. (Orem): Offers trauma-informed, mental health services and counseling to support LGBTQIA+ youth and families.
• People Helping People (Salt Lake City): Coaches and mentors low-income women, especially single mothers, to achieve financial independence.
• Project Reality (Salt Lake City and Murray): Delivers integrated mental health and substance use recovery services to underserved individuals.
• Wayne County Senior Citizens (Loa and Bicknell): Provides meals, transportation and wellness services to seniors in rural communities.

Idaho

• Breaking Chains Academy of Development (Nampa): Provides mentorship, education, and work-skills training to at-risk youth transitioning into adulthood.
• Caldwell Health Coalition & Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force (Caldwell): Expands access to fresh produce for older adults through the Senior Produce Program.
• Community Council of Idaho – Familias Unidas Legal Services (Caldwell): Offers legal assistance and outreach for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
• Community Resource Center of Teton Valley (Driggs): Provides emergency financial aid and hygiene supplies to families in need.
• Genesis Community Health (Caldwell): Delivers free healthcare services to low-income, uninsured adults in Canyon County.
• Idaho Pediatric Cancer Coalition (Twin Falls): Supports families navigating pediatric cancer with financial assistance and essential supplies.
• Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (Boise): Offers adaptive sports and physical activity programs for blind and visually impaired youth.
• UCAN – Unique Center for Athletes of All Needs (Sandpoint): Empowers individuals with special needs through fitness, nutrition, and adaptive equipment.
• Wellness Tree Community Clinic (Twin Falls): Provides free diabetes screenings, medications, and education to uninsured patients.
• West End Senior Citizen’s Inc. of Buhl (Buhl): Enhances senior health and independence through nutritious meals and community services.

Nevada

• African Diaspora of Las Vegas (Las Vegas): Provides culturally responsive health education, mental health outreach, and language access services for immigrant and refugee families.
• Ability Center of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas): Offers adaptive fitness programs for individuals with special needs, including youth living with with autism and Down syndrome.
• Baby’s Bounty (Las Vegas): Supports at-risk families with infant care education and essential supplies through its Baby Bundle Program.
• CARE Chest (Las Vegas): Provides free medical equipment, supplies, and prescription assistance to low-income individuals.
• EyeCare4Kids (Las Vegas): Delivers mobile vision care to students in Title I schools, including screenings, exams and prescription eyeglasses.
• FDV Wellness Center (Las Vegas): Offers bilingual behavioral health services to uninsured Hispanic families, including therapy and case management.
• Freedom House Sober Living (Las Vegas): Provides transitional housing, recovery support, and workforce development for individuals overcoming substance use disorders.
• Goodie Two Shoes Foundation (Las Vegas): Distributes new shoes and socks to children in need through school-based mobile events.
• Roseman University GENESIS Program (Las Vegas): Connects high-risk households with wraparound medical and social services through community health workers and student-led outreach.
• S.A.F.E. House, Inc. (Henderson): Offers emergency shelter, meals, and support services to survivors of domestic violence and their children.

For more information, visit selecthealthawards.org.

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Intermountain Health y el distrito escolar de Alpine están trabajando con socios de la comunidad para realizar una capacitación “Stop the Bleed” (Detener el sangrado) en la mayoría de las 90 escuelas.

Bajo la legislación reciente, Utah exige que las escuelas modifiquen sus planes actuales de seguridad, y el distrito escolar de Alpine ha incorporado esta capacitación vital para responder durante una emergencia junto a Intermountain Health.

Los especialistas en traumatismos de Intermountain Health ven varios tipos de lesiones en la sala de emergencias y saben la diferencia que puede marcar esta capacitación con potencial de salvar vidas.

“Enseñar a las personas la técnica adecuada de reanimación cardiopulmonar (RCP) durante las últimas décadas ha marcado una gran diferencia para salvar vidas y, ahora, la capacitación ‘Stop the Bleed’, quiere lograr lo mismo”, afirmó Maranda Davis, RN, gerente de servicios de traumatismo de Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital en Provo. “Brindar a los docentes la oportunidad de tener una experiencia práctica con las herramientas es un componente esencial para esta capacitación. Permite eliminar la indecisión que alguien podría tener por lo que ha visto en el cine o la televisión”.

Alpine es el distrito escolar más grande del estado, y se necesitaron dos días para capacitar a miles de docentes y empleados. Voluntarios de los departamentos de bomberos locales y otros socorristas también ayudaron a completar la capacitación.

“El distrito escolar de Alpine aprecia y confía en su relación con los socios de la comunidad, y sin ella, una tarea de esta magnitud sería imposible de lograr”, dijo Joe Hayes, director de seguridad y operaciones del distrito escolar de Alpine. “Gracias a la experiencia aportada por estas sociedades, nuestros empleados pueden alcanzar las metas y expectativas de un panorama de seguridad en evolución”.

Este conocimiento no solo es vital en un evento de causalidad masiva, sino que también pueden salvar vidas durante otras emergencias en las que es necesario controlar el sangrado.

Para obtener más información sobre las clases de la capacitación “Stop the Bleed” en su zona, haga clic aquí.

In an effort to bring solace and warmth to Colorado children facing difficult circumstances, Intermountain Health caregivers shared 75 Care Kits with Westminster Police Department Victim Services unit on Wednesday. 

The kits, which include a hand-stuffed Teddy bear, sheep or donkey, the animal’s birth certificate, and handwritten card, will be given to children who are impacted by crime.  

“Being the victim of a crime can be a traumatic experience,” said Drew Hogan, Westminster Police Department victim services coordinator. “The Victim Services unit provides resources and support during those difficult times and having these care kits is invaluable, especially when children are involved. We are so grateful to receive these handmade kits for kids. Knowing they were made by other caregivers truly brings the support system together in a meaningful way.” 

Hogan said that the victim advocates respond to crime scenes which may be in someone’s home, meeting at the police department, or at the hospital.  

About 80 caregivers who work in communications across Intermountain Health participated in a public service project this month. They competed in teams of two to see who could assemble the most care kits.  

Laurel Whitaker, Good Samaritan Hospital communications manager, said that caregivers had shared some of the reasons each chose to work in healthcare.  

“Then we transitioned into working on these kits,” she said. “We’ll never meet these children, but it was just really important that we tried to make the kits as personal and loving as possible.”  

Westminster Police Chief Norm Haubert said the contribution shows Intermountain Health’s dedication to the community and partnership with the police.  

“It is a great opportunity for Intermountain to do this with us and to be watching out for those kids,” Chief Haubert said. 

“This is a great example of how all of our caregivers truly do care for the community and how they want to help people live their healthiest lives possible,” said Ann Gantzer, chief nursing officer of Intermountain Good Samaritan Hospital. 

Esta contribución tan significativa nace del programa “Step for a Cause” de Intermountain Health por parte de profesionales de la salud, el cual es una iniciativa designada a promover el bienestar interno y, al mismo tiempo, fomentar la participación de la comunidad.

A través del mes de marzo, los profesionales de la salud de Intermountain Medical Center participaron con entusiasmo en un reto de pasos en todo el campus, acumulando millas para beneficiar a una causa vital para la comunidad. Como parte de su compromiso al bienestar de los empleados y a dar a la comunidad, Intermountain Medical Center se comprometió a comprar un par de zapatos por cada 50 millas que los profesionales de la salud registraron en el mes de marzo.

La gran participación y la dedicación de los profesionales de la salud de Intermountain Medical Center tuvo un resultado extraordinario: cientos de profesionales de la salud registraron casi 53,700,000 pasos (aproximadamente más de 26,500 millas), lo cual superó con creces las expectativas iniciales.

“Estamos muy agradecidos por la generosidad de Intermountain Health y sus empleados”, dijo Jennifer Covington, superintendente de Murray School District. “Esta donación de más de 475 pares de zapatos marcará una diferencia tangible en las vidas de nuestros estudiantes. Tener calzado adecuado es esencial para su comodidad, confianza y habilidad en participar por completo en las actividades escolares. Esta colaboración ciertamente ejemplifica como la colaboración comunitaria puede impactar positivamente a nuestros estudiantes”.

Esta iniciativa no solo promovió la actividad física entre los profesionales de la salud de Intermountain Medical Center, sino que también proporcionó una oportunidad significativa de conexión directa con la comunidad local. Intermountain Health da mucha importancia a la creación de una cultura de salud y a beneficiar a las comunidades a las que sirve.

“Creemos en apoyar el bienestar tanto de los profesionales de la salud como de las comunidades a las que servimos”, dijo Brian Pendleton, jefe de enfermería de Intermountain Medical Center. “Nuestro desafío 'Step for a Cause' fue una manera fantástica de animar a nuestros empleados a tener hábitos saludables y al mismo tiempo abordar una necesidad crítica para los estudiantes en Murray. Estamos encantados con los resultados y nos enorgullece colaborar con Murray Education Foundation y Murray City School District para garantizar que más niños tengan acceso a artículos fundamentales que les ayudarán a progresar”.

Murray Education Found también ha jugado un papel clave en la coordinación del esfuerzo y se encargará de la distribución de los zapatos a los estudiantes en Murray City School District.

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. 

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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.  

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Intermountain Health marcó un récord en 2024 por la distribución de kits de naloxona mediante su programa de educación sobre opioides y distribución de naloxona en Utah. Este programa colabora con la organización Utah Naloxone, que ofrece kits de naloxona que se distribuyen en nuestras comunidades con un fin educativo.

Intermountain está trabajando para reducir las muertes por opioides, además de afrontar el estigma y los obstáculos que, a menudo, no permiten que las personas busquen ayuda. Reconocer esto es un problema fundamental al que se enfrentan nuestras comunidades; forma parte de las Evaluaciones de necesidades médicas comunitarias de Intermountain Health.

Las muertes por opioides aún representan una crisis de salud pública importante con consecuencias devastadoras en todo el país. Es por esto que Intermountain Health implementó estrategias comunitarias, y colaboró con organizaciones externas y equipos clínicos en un intento por reducir el uso indebido de los opioides y reducir las muertes por sobredosis. 

“Sabemos que los sistemas de salud pueden tener un papel importante en la prevención de las muertes por sobredosis de opioides”, afirma Lisa Nichols, vicepresidenta de Salud Comunitaria en Intermountain Health. “El trabajo que llevamos a cabo es crucial: campañas educativas para la comunidad, reducción del estigma, distribución de naloxona y modificaciones en las prescripciones”.  

Desde 2015, Utah Naloxone suministra kits de rescate de naloxona de forma generalizada en espacios comunitarios, y estamos orgullosos del trabajo realizado para disminuir las muertes por sobredosis de opioides en todo el estado”, afirma Nichols.

Gracias al incansable trabajo de muchas personas, Utah pasó del puesto nro. 4 (2014) al 42 (2021) respecto a las tasas de muerte por sobredosis en el país.

“Desde hace más de una década, Intermountain Health se compromete y está dispuesto a abordar activamente la crisis de muertes por sobredosis de opioides en Utah. Pocos meses después de que se aprobaran las leyes de acceso a la naloxona, Intermountain unió sus esfuerzos con Utah Naloxone para educar, concientizar y aumentar el acceso a esta herramienta que salva vidas”, indicó Jennifer Plumb, MD, MPH, directora médica de Utah Naloxone. “Desde ese momento, se informaron más de 12,500 (doce mil quinientos) casos en los que se pudo prevenir la muerte.  Miles de personas están vivas gracias a estos esfuerzos, y estamos muy agradecidos por esta importante colaboración”.

La Dra. Plumb mencionó que Intermountain Health trabajó para convertirse en un socio fundamental desde el comienzo cuando apenas se legalizó la naloxona en Utah: el objetivo era convertirse en una pieza fundamental del cambio cultural que modificó la forma en la que Utah ve y trata a las personas que lidian con trastornos por abuso de sustancias.

El programa de naloxona de Intermountain Health también incluye una red de oradores en Utah y Idaho, conformada por cuidadores de Intermountain, quienes se ofrecen como voluntarios para asistir a los eventos comunitarios y proporcionar capacitaciones sobre cómo reconocer una sobredosis por opioides y responder ante ella, además de informar sobre el uso de la naloxona.  

Intermountain incluyó la distribución de naloxona en sus servicios a pedido. Para obtener más información sobre la distribución de naloxona en Utah, Idaho, Montana y Nevada, visite el sitio de naloxona a pedido.  

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Donations of medical equipment and supplies from Intermountain Health to Jeffco Public Schools will help build tomorrow’s healthcare workforce enabling students to learn in real-life settings.  

About four months ago, Intermountain’s Lutheran Medical Center moved from its campus on 38^th Avenue in Wheat Ridge to the new Lutheran Hospital on 44^th Avenue and Interstate 70. After everyone moved out, some equipment and supplies remained.  

At that same time, Tia Nemitz, assistant principal from Jeffco Public Schools Bear Creek High School, had a fortuitous hike with an Intermountain Health caregiver.  

The caregiver, associate vice president of community benefit, Katie Tiernan Johnson, shared how caregivers were training at the new hospital, not yet opened, in fully equipped rooms. That gave Nemitz an idea.  

Fast forward to this month and the delivery of multiple donated beds, mannequins, wheelchairs, stethoscopes, gloves, and more to Bear Creek and Arvada High School.  

Nemitz explained that Bear Creek participates in Alternative Cooperative Education, a program that aims to train students in career paths.  

“What we want to do is get more students with an industry certification so they can leave high school and get into a job with a livable wage,” Nemitz said. She added that some students use the certification to work while they continue their college education in healthcare. 

Bear Creek students were training to become certified nursing assistants (CNAs), but they had to travel off campus for classes. With the donation from Lutheran, the school will open a CNA lab on campus. They will also hire a CNA teacher and offer classes in fall 2025. 

Nemitz said they hope to increase the number of spots available for students. They also plan to extend the opportunity to students at Dakota Ridge, Columbine and Chatfield high schools. 

Word of Intermountain Lutheran Hospital's  donation spread and piqued the interest of Arvada High School social studies and health sciences teacher David Feeney. He recently walked the halls of the closed hospital with Intermountain associate project manager Tyler Shields to find items for his students.   

Feeney is building the healthcare career pathway at Arvada with hopes of adding emergency medical technician certifications to his current class for patient care technicians. The donation of equipment has helped speed up his timeline, said Arvada principal Caroline Frazee. 

Shields is responsible for decommissioning the former Lutheran hospital, and said the Jeffco Public Schools donation is one of several he helped coordinate. Intermountain is proud to make the donations and help build programs in the community that will educate the future healthcare workforce, he said. 

As part of Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital commitment to helping people live the healthiest lives possible, the hospital have provided “Doing Good" grants totaling $65,000 to local nonprofit organizations that serve the community.

A committee from Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital,  including members of the leadership team and hospital caregiver,  reviewed applications.  2024 recipients of the Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital “Doing Good" grants are:  

• A Precious Child, Broomfield  
• Broomfield FISH, Broomfield 
• Coal Creek Meals on Wheels, Lafayette  
• Mental Health Partners, Lafayette 
• Rise Against Suicide, Boulder County 
• St. Louis Parish and School, Louisville 
• Sister Carmen Community Center, Lafayette 
• Via Mobility, Boulder County.  

“We join with local health officials and community members to identify the greatest needs of our neighbors,” said Dawn Anuszkiewicz of Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital . 

This year,  Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital awarded eight not-profit organization and agencies that support families in one or more of these areas: food, education, healthcare, safe environments and economic stability.

Anuszkiewicz said that Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital is grateful for these committed organizations' efforts to address the physical, mental and social needs of the communities we serve with valuable resources and hands-on support

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Information gathered will help Intermountain Health do two things: provide information about each hospital’s community benefit investments in 2022 and 2023 and current plans for 2024, in accordance with Colorado’s Hospital Community Benefit Accountability laws. 

Input will also help Intermountain complete a 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment to identify priority health needs that will influence the hospitals’ future community benefit investments. 

"In 2024, all five of our hospitals in Colorado are conducting Community Health Needs Assessments. The assessment process includes a lot of public health data and other quantitative information, and we really look to members of our communities across the state to help us make sense of what we see in the data,” said Katie Tiernan Johnson, associate vice president of Community Health for Intermountain Health. “We hope to use information gathered in these and future meetings to help us be more effective in addressing priority health needs across the state.” 

Based on previous community health needs assessments and public meetings, hospitals have invested in programs to address behavioral health and substance use disorders, improved access to healthcare, social determinants of health like food and housing insecurity, and more. 

This year’s meetings will be held in-person at each Intermountain Health Colorado location. They will include reports from the hospitals’ senior leadership and opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback to hospital leaders. 

A report from the meeting, including a list of attendees, will be submitted as required to the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance. 

For more information, please contact Katie Koblenz, director of Community Health, Front Range, at katie.koblenz@imail.org. You can learn more about the Community Health Needs Assessments online. 

Community members who want to attend any of the meetings can register online. 

Caring for our Communities meetings are scheduled as follows: 

Good Samaritan Hospital 
Conference Rooms A, B, and C 
2-4 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, 2024 
200 Exempla Circle, Lafayette 

Lutheran Medical Center LC-1 
1-3 p.m., Thursday, April 18, 2024 
8300 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge 

Platte Valley Hospital 

Conference Rooms A and B 
1-3 p.m., Wednesday, April 17, 2024 
1600 Prairie Center Parkway, Brighton 


Saint Joseph Hospital 

7th Floor Conference Room, Main Hospital
1-3 p.m., Thursday, April 11, 2024 
1375 E. 19th Ave., Denver 
 

St. Mary’s Regional Hospital 

Saccomanno Education Center Rooms 2 and 3
5-7 p.m., Monday, April 29, 2024 
2635 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction