For years, Bette Kidane did what many healthcare professionals recommend: She kept up with her annual mammograms. Since age 40, breast health screenings have been part of her regular routine, something she made time for year after year.

But last year, life became exceptionally busy. As Intermountain Health’s Revenue Cycle Learning and Development director, Kidane and her team were in the middle of the major, all-hands-on-deck medical record systems implementation. 

With so much happening at work, she did what many people do when schedules are full, and responsibilities feel urgent— she delayed her own care.

“I was just too busy to fit in my regular maintenance and self-care,” said Kidane. “I kind of put it off. Not completely, but I probably put it off longer than I should have.”

 By the time Kidane went in for her mammogram, she had felt a small lump. The screening detected something that required a closer look, leading to a diagnostic mammogram, then an ultrasound. What initially felt routine quickly became more urgent.

 At first, she wasn’t alarmed. She had been called back for additional imaging in the past. But after the ultrasound, the care team told her the finding looked highly suspicious and that she needed a biopsy immediately. When Kidane mentioned an upcoming work trip related to the implementation of the system, a nurse at the Breast Care Center made the seriousness clear.

 “She said I needed to do this immediately, and I asked her if she meant canceling my work trip,” Kidane said. “And she said, ‘Yes, we need you to come in on Monday.’ At that point, the whole room just kind of stopped.”

Kidane had a biopsy that Monday. The next day, her primary care provider called with the news that the tumor was malignant. She was diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer and referred to oncology.

The diagnosis brought a wave of uncertainty. She wondered how to tell her spouse, what to say to her children, and how to prepare for the months ahead. 

“The world kind of falls in on you,” she said. “Like, oh my God, what do I do next?”

Soon, Kidane was surrounded by a care team that helped her move from fear to action. 

She met with an oncologist, nurse practitioner, triage nurses, nurse navigator, financial advocate, genetic counselor, dietician and other support professionals. The number of calls and appointments was overwhelming at first, but it also reminded her she was not facing cancer alone. 

“I have felt so, so very grateful and fortunate,” Kidane said. “I have a wonderful, caring family. I have a great job. I have a supportive leader. I have a supportive team and coworkers. I have an amazing care team.”

Kidane began six rounds of chemotherapy in November, with treatments spaced three weeks apart through February. She later had a lumpectomy, and the results showed the treatment had been completely successful, with no residual cancer found. She still remembers where she was when she received that call.

“I was in the grocery store when my surgeon called me,” she said. “I was in the cereal aisle, and I just remember shouting, ‘Yes!’”

Although that moment was joyful, her treatment continued. After surgery, she went through radiation and additional targeted therapies designed for her specific type of cancer. Her final treatment was on Oct. 12, a milestone she celebrated by buying lunch for the team at the cancer center and ringing the iconic cancer bell.

Throughout her care, Kidane said the compassion and responsiveness of her team made a lasting impact. When appointments needed to move faster, her nurse navigator advocated for her. When she had questions, members of her care team helped her understand what to expect. During chemotherapy, the nurses brought warmth and encouragement to a difficult experience.

“I have been taken care of so well, and I am proud to say that I work for such a great organization,” Kidane said. “Everybody has been very supportive and provided me with all the resources I could need.”

She especially remembers the nurses who cared for her during chemotherapy. “The nurses are so great,” she said. “They made it fun for me to go in for my chemo. I never anticipated anything in this being fun, but they made it something to look forward to.”

Kidane’s experience also changed how she thinks about self-care. Before her diagnosis, she understood the importance of preventive care in theory. Now, she feels it personally. She knows how easily a busy schedule can become a reason to delay an appointment, and how important it is to resist that impulse.

“I have learned over the past year that if I see something unusual, I need to get it checked out right away,” she said. “I don’t want to wait again and put something off.”

Her message is simple but powerful: Early screening and detection matter. So does listening to your body, asking questions, following up when something does not feel right, and making your health a priority even when work, family and life feel demanding.

For Kidane, the journey also reinforced the value of family, support and choosing joy. She has prioritized travel, celebrated milestones and embraced meaningful moments with the people she loves. She recently took what she calls her “kicked cancer cruise,” visiting Greece, Crete, Malta and Sicily.

“Prioritize the things that you want to do and experience in your life because you never know what’s going to happen,” she said.

Kidane said she now feels great. Her appetite is back, she can taste food again and her hair has started to grow back. But the lessons from the past year remain close. Keep up with screenings, do not ignore symptoms, accept help and advocate for the care you need.

“My tumor grew from ‘undetectable’ to stage two in a little over one year,” she said. “If I had been earlier in this whole thing, I maybe would have just been stage one. I don’t know. But I do know now not to wait.”

Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital Breast Care Center in Wheat Ridge has been re-accredited under the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States after skin cancers. Programs accredited by the NAPBC follow a model for organizing and managing a breast center to give patients comprehensive, coordinated breast cancer services from a team of experts. Accredited programs focus on the spectrum of a patient’s journey with breast cancer or breast disease, including prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship. By setting high standards, NAPBC accreditation guides breast centers in providing comprehensive breast care based on scientific evidence.

“Earning NAPBC reaccreditation is a meaningful reflection of our commitment to patients and families throughout every stage of breast health and breast cancer care,” said Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital Chief Medical Officer Kathy Crabtree, MD. “Our multidisciplinary team works together to provide coordinated, evidence-based care from prevention and screening through diagnosis, treatment, recovery and survivorship.”

Dr. Crabtree said the recognition affirms the dedication of the caregivers and physicians to delivering high-quality, compassionate care and continually improving the experience and outcomes of the people Lutheran Hospital is privileged to serve.

As an NAPBC-accredited program, Lutheran Breast Care Center also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies an institution’s dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches while maintaining a critical eye on process. The Surgical Quality Partner designation informs patients that Lutheran is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.

“ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience, and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, Lutheran Hospital has shown a commitment to providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement,” said ACS Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.

The Lutheran Hospital Breast Care Center is located at 12905 W. 40th Ave., Suite 210 in Wheat Ridge. The department offers 2D and 3D mammography, bone density scans, breast health care, breast MRI, diagnostic mammography, MRI-guided biopsies, ultrasound and stereotactic-guided biopsies and Savi Scout localization technology to benefit lumpectomy procedures.

For more information about women’s health and breast care services with Intermountain, please visit Breast health.

Vizient has recognized 14 Intermountain Health hospitals with its 2026 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award for excellence in high-quality clinical and patient care.

The award recognizes hospitals that excel in the Vizient Quality and Accountability Study, which measures performance in six categories: safety, mortality, effectiveness, efficiency, patient centeredness, and variation in care using 2025-2026 data.

"These awards recognize more than performance measures. They reflect thousands of everyday decisions made by caregivers who put patients first," said Cara Camiolo, MD, Intermountain Health Chief Quality and Safety Officer. "Maintaining this level of clinical quality and safety while navigating a major Epic implementation speaks to the skill, resilience, and commitment of teams across Intermountain Health. We are honored to see that commitment reflected in this national recognition."

The following 14 Intermountain Health hospitals were named as top performers in their respective categories. First-time honorees include Intermountain Health Delta Community Hospital and Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital.

Comprehensive Academic Medical Center

· Intermountain Health Intermountain Medical Center (Murray, Utah)

Large, Specialized Complex Care Medical Center

· Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital (Utah)
· Intermountain Health McKay-Dee Hospital (Ogden, Utah)
· Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital (Provo, Utah)
· Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital (Wheat Ridge, Colo.)

Complex Care Medical Center

· Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital (Denver)

Critical Access Hospital

· Intermountain Health Delta Community Hospital (Utah)
· Intermountain Health Heber Valley Hospital (Utah)

Community Hospital

· Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital (Utah)
· Intermountain Health LDS Hospital (Salt Lake City)

Small Community Hospital

· Intermountain Health Layton Hospital (Utah)
· Intermountain Health Park City Hospital (Utah)
· Intermountain Health Sevier Valley Hospital (Richfield, Utah)
· Intermountain Health Spanish Fork Hospital (Spanish Fork, Utah)

According to Vizient, top-performing hospitals demonstrate an exceptional commitment to safe, effective, and patient-centered care by delivering the right care, at the right time, without harm or waste in an Always Safe environment.

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For many people, heartburn is an occasional annoyance after a spicy meal or late-night snack. But for millions of Americans living with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the condition can become a daily struggle that affects sleep, comfort, and overall quality of life.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, about 1 in 5 people in the U.S. has GERD. The most common symptoms are heartburn and regurgitation, or a feeling of fluid, food or stomach acid coming up into the chest or throat.

One concern with ongoing, active acid reflux that is poorly controlled or untreated is the risk of developing Barrett’s esophagus, said Emily Speer, MD, an Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital surgeon who specializes in foregut and minimally invasive surgeries to treat reflux.

Barrett’s esophagus occurs when the normal lining of the esophagus is replaced with intestinal-like cells as a protection to ongoing acid in the esophagus. This change to Barrett’s esophagus is a risk factor for esophageal cancer.

While medications can help manage symptoms, Dr. Speer said many patients don’t realize that effective surgical options can address the underlying cause of reflux.

GERD occurs when the valve between the esophagus and the stomach doesn’t function properly, allowing stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus. This reflux can cause the familiar burning sensation known as heartburn, but symptoms often extend beyond that.

“Many people associate reflux with heartburn, but it can present in other ways,” Dr. Speer said. “Chronic cough, hoarseness, shortness of breath, and even chest pain that mimics a heart attack can sometimes be caused by reflux.”

Many GERD patients take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole or pantoprazole to reduce stomach acid. 

While these medications can relieve symptoms, they do not stop reflux from occurring. Instead, they reduce the acidity of the stomach contents that flow back into the esophagus.

“Medications can make reflux more comfortable, but they don’t fix the underlying problem,” Dr. Speer said. “When we’re thinking about long-term solutions, we want to focus on stopping the reflux itself.”

Patients may benefit from a surgical evaluation if medications no longer fully control symptoms, if they have a hiatal hernia, or if they want to reduce or eliminate their need for long-term medication.

Many people are familiar with fundoplication, a procedure that has been used for decades to treat reflux. During the surgery, part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus to strengthen the valve that prevents reflux.

Some patients may qualify for incision-free procedures performed through a scope that help reinforce the reflux barrier without traditional surgery.

Another option is a procedure that uses a small ring of magnetic titanium beads placed around the lower esophagus. The device helps recreate the function of the body’s natural reflux barrier while allowing patients to swallow normally and have excellent reflux control.

Dr. Speer said the key is to match the right procedure to the right patient.

This is something Kathleen, a 78-year-old Montrose woman, learned. 

She saw Dr. Speer after learning she had complications from a hiatal hernia, where the upper part of the stomach pushes through an opening in the diaphragm. In Kathleen’s case, it impacted her breathing and caused her to need supplemental oxygen. She also suffered from reflux.

Dr. Speer repaired the hernia and performed surgery to stop the reflux. Kathleen said she has not had any concerns with her oxygen levels or reflux since having surgery.

She connected with Dr. Speer over a common interest in their daily devotional readings and appreciated how easy it was to talk with the surgeon. “She was my angel.”

Before recommending treatment, Dr. Speer said patients undergo specialized testing designed to assess how the esophagus, stomach, and reflux valve are functioning.

“We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach,” she said. “Our goal is to understand what’s happening anatomically and functionally so we can restore the system to normal as much as possible.”

The program also follows patients after surgery and measures outcomes to ensure long-term success. Patients undergo repeat testing about a year after surgery to confirm the repair is working as intended.

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When a Colorado woman in her 70s first noticed blood in her urine, she knew something wasn’t right. She brought it up with her doctor, and a urine test confirmed there was blood. 

She was referred to a urologist, beginning a years-long journey with bladder cancer and help from Shandra Wilson, MD, a urologist at Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital. 

For this Colorado woman, who asked that her name be withheld to protect her privacy, the cancer was caught and contained within the bladder. 

That mattered. When bladder cancer is found early, there are often more treatment options. Still, early-stage bladder cancer can come back, which is why follow-up care remains important.

Over the years, she tried several treatments, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and gene therapy. 

The cancer either returned after treatment or did not fully go away. 

When it came back again, Dr. Wilson talked with her about the next option: removing her bladder and creating a new one, called a neobladder.

A neobladder is a new pouch made inside the body to store urine after the bladder is removed. Surgeons use about 18 inches of the small intestine to create the pouch, place it where the original bladder was, and connect it to the ureters to carry urine from the kidneys, and the urethra, to out of the body.

It was not an easy surgery. She spent time recovering in the hospital and continued rebuilding her strength at home.

A neobladder does not work exactly like a human bladder. People often need to learn a new way to empty it, using abdominal muscles and certain body movements. 

Some people may also need to use a catheter if the neobladder does not empty fully. Loss of bladder control can happen after surgery, especially early in recovery, and follow-up care is needed.

For her, there was one point of reassurance: because the neobladder was made from her own tissue, she understood that rejection was not a concern.

Today, she is focused on getting stronger and returning to the activities she enjoys with her family.

Staying active in ways that felt manageable, she believes, helped her through recovery. Her doctor encouraged her to keep moving and keep doing what she could.

Bladder cancer often starts in the cells that line the inside of the bladder.

One of the most common signs is blood in the urine. It may look red, pink, rust-colored, or cola-colored. Sometimes the urine looks normal, and blood shows up only on a lab test. Other symptoms can include frequent urination, painful urination, burning with urination, urgency to urinate without having an infection or back pain.

Blood in the urine does not always mean cancer. It can also happen with an infection, kidney stone, or other conditions. But it should not be ignored. If you see blood in your urine or have urinary changes that worry you, make an appointment with a doctor.

Some people have a higher risk of bladder cancer. Risk factors include smoking, age over 55, being male, exposure to certain chemicals, previous cancer treatment, chronic bladder inflammation, and a personal or family history of cancer. 

But bladder cancer can also affect people who do not have obvious risk factors.

That is a key reason the woman wants people to pay attention.

Her first sign was simple: blood in her urine. She spoke up. Her doctor checked it. And that one conversation helped start the care she needed. She also connected with a care team that stayed with her.

“She was with me the whole bit,” the woman said of Dr. Wilson.

Now, as she continues rebuilding her strength, she is focused on what comes next.

Don’t ignore blood in your urine

Dr. Wilson recommends that you talk with a doctor if you notice:

• Blood in your urine, even once
• Pain or burning when you urinate
• Urinating more often than usual
• New urgency to urinate
• Back pain or other symptoms that worry you

These symptoms can have many causes. A doctor can help find out what is going on and recommend next steps.

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When Stephen Cote woke up for work two years ago, it felt like an ordinary morning, until it wasn’t. 

“All of a sudden, things didn’t work right,” Cote said. “My arm, my speech, everything was off.” 

Cote was having a stroke. 

His wife, who has experience in emergency medical services, recognized the warning signs and called 911 immediately. 

“I don’t remember everything clearly,” Cote said. “But she knew right away something was wrong.” 

Jessica Telesco, stroke coordinator and nurse practitioner at Intermountain Health, said that quick response likely saved his life and helped limit the stroke’s long-term effects. 

During Stroke Awareness Month in May, Intermountain Health stroke experts say every minute without treatment can increase the risk of permanent brain injury. 

“Time is brain,” Telesco said. “The faster we identify a stroke and get a patient to the hospital, the more brain function we can preserve and the better the chance of recovery.” 

An ambulance took Cote to Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, where he was treated before beginning intensive rehabilitation. 

After returning home, he continued therapy to rebuild strength, mobility, and independence. 

“It was definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever been through,” he said. 

Cote, who previously served in the military, said recovery required persistence, patience and consistency. 

He said every stroke is different, but progress comes through steady effort, support and continued care. 

“Your stroke might not be the same as someone else’s,” Cote said. “But overcoming the deficits is about the work you put into it.” 

Telesco said recognizing the warning signs of a stroke is just as important as recovery. Sudden face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, vision problems and loss of balance can all be signs.  

The acronym BE FAST — Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, and Time, is commonly used to help people identify symptoms and respond quickly. 

“If you notice any of those signs, don’t wait to see if they go away,” Telesco said. “Calling 911 right away can save a life.” 

Today, Cote spends time supporting other stroke survivors, using his own experience to encourage people as they navigate recovery. 

“I know some people slip through the cracks,” he said. “They weren’t always getting the care they needed.”

As a volunteer, Cote checks in with patients after they have gone home from the hospital to ask about their recovery and whether they have returned to their daily activities. 

He also helps connect them with therapy services and community resources when needed. 

The work is personal for Cote. He understands the long road to recovery and the challenges that can come with it. 

One of his proudest milestones has been returning to the mountains. An avid skier before his stroke, Cote recently made it back onto the slopes. 

“That was huge,” he said. “Getting back out there meant everything.” 

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, but many cases can be prevented by managing blood pressure, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and getting regular medical care. 

When a stroke does happen, early recognition and fast treatment can make a meaningful difference in recovery. 

For Cote and his family, that quick decision made all the difference. 

“If we had waited,” he said, “I don’t know where I’d be today.” 

The visit starts the way many of Matt Jensen’s appointments do with a quick check-in, a blood draw, and a conversation about snow. 

Jensen, 47, comes to the Intermountain Health Cancer Centers of Colorado in Golden every three weeks. After lab work, a review with his care team, and a few hours of IV hydration, he heads home with a two-week course of oral chemotherapy, followed by one week off before starting the cycle again. 

This type of routine began after a sudden health crisis in early 2021, when Jensen was 42 and focused on running his vinyl decal installation business and raising two kids as a single dad. 

“One morning I woke up really sick, I couldn't go to work, and they hauled me off to the emergency room,” Jensen said. 

Doctors found a mass in his lower intestine and removed it. Tests confirmed colorectal cancer that had spread to his lungs, liver and lymph nodes — an advanced diagnosis that can be difficult to treat and was unlikely to be cured. 

Looking back, Jensen said there were warning signs that he brushed aside. “Being busy, I ignored the signs,” he said, noting how easy it was to delay care while working long hours and parenting teenagers. 

Today, Jensen’s children are in their 20s and live nearby. He hopes to be there for their milestones — and he’s planning his own wedding next year. 

“Living with advanced stage cancer is a day-to-day thing,” he said. “I really try to stay active and not think about it.” These days, he spends time with friends on the disc golf course, travels with his fiancé and keeps tabs on a group text to see who’s heading out to snowboard each Thursday. 

Snowboarding has been part of Jensen’s life since he was 18, and he still finds time for mountain days when he’s feeling well and snow permits. He and his fiancé also take road trips and explore local trails in an older off-road vehicle — adventures, he said, that help keep life feeling normal. 

Jensen said he had symptoms before his diagnosis, but he didn’t want to slow down long enough to get them checked. That experience now shapes what he tells others: Pay attention to your body and don’t delay care. 

Jeff Owsley, MD, a medical oncologist with Intermountain Health, said that for patients with advanced colorectal cancer, treatment often focuses on extending life while protecting what matters most day to day. 

“It’s very important with any patient that we do our best to keep them alive as long as possible while trying to marry their quality-of-life aspects,” Owsley said. “He’s a very active individual, and we keep that in mind.” 

Dr. Owsley said cancer care continues to evolve, bringing new options and better ways to manage side effects that can otherwise be debilitating. “New treatments emerge,” he said, and teams keep looking for what might help each patient next. 

For Dr. Owsley, Jensen’s approach has been a reminder that a diagnosis doesn’t erase a person’s identity. “It’s just his continuation of his life,” he said. “His ability to try to live his life has been awesome to watch.” 

Dr. Owsley also sees a troubling pattern nationwide as more younger adults are being diagnosed with colorectal cancer, sometimes at later stages. The American Cancer Society has reported rising incidence in people under 55, increasing about 1% to 2% each year since the mid-1990s. 

Researchers are still working to understand what’s driving the shift, Dr. Owsley said, and the answers may involve multiple factors. In the meantime, he emphasized awareness, prevention, and timely screening. 

Medical experts recommend that people at average risk begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45. Anyone with a family history or other risk factors should ask their clinician whether screening should start earlier. 

Common symptoms of colorectal cancer can include abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits, blood in the stool, unexplained weight loss, or persistent fatigue. Symptoms can have many causes, but Dr. Owsley said they should prompt a conversation with a clinician — especially if they don’t go away. 

For Jensen, the goal is simple: To keep showing up for the people he loves and the mountains he calls home. “I really try to stay active,” he said — a focus his care team supports, one three-week cycle at a time.

Intermountain Health will host four Heart Health Fairs on Friday, Feb. 6 across Colorado to kick off National Heart Month, reminding the community that good heart health can be a team sport.

The events in Denver, Grand Junction, Lafayette and Wheat Ridge, will give community members education and tools to help them improve heart health.

Abbie Donaldson, RN, is the chest pain coordinator at Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital and spent several years working in the cardiac intensive care unit and cardiac cath lab. She said knowing that individuals can make a difference in heart health has inspired her work.   

“With risk factor modification and educating the community on heart attack care and CPR, we can come together, and we can take actionable measures to help people save lives,” she said.  

At the health fair, people can practice hands-only CPR. Donaldson said accurate, aggressive CPR started on someone who has suffered a cardiac event outside the hospital increases that person’s chance of survival by 85-90%. They also can see a demonstration of an automated external defibrillator (AED) that can be lifesaving when used with someone who has lethal heart arrythmia.   

“The best thing to do when someone suffers from a cardiac event is to start CPR, call for help and have someone go find an AED nearby,” Donaldson said.   

Other topics covered at the health fairs will include:  

• Smoking cessation
• Symptoms of heart attack or stroke
• Stroke education and prevention
• Heart-healthy exercise
• Mindfulness and stress reduction
• Blood pressure screening
• Hands-only CPR and AED demonstrations
• Nutrition and healthy snacks
• American Heart Association information and more. 

Health fairs will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6 at Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital, 200 Exempla Circle, Lafayette; Lutheran Hospital, 12911 W. 40th Ave., Wheat Ridge; and Saint Joseph Hospital, 1375 E. 19th Ave., Denver. In Grand Junction at Intermountain Health St. Mary's Regional Hospital, 2635 N. 7th St., the event is 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 6.

Organizers encourage everyone to Wear Red for the day to celebrate the kickoff of National Heart Month.

Note: If members of the media want to attend, please contact Sara Quale, sara.quale@imail.org or call 970-310-3749, to coordinate.    

EMS for Children Colorado has recognized Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital as a Colorado Pediatric Preparedness for the Emergency Room (COPPER) as a Pediatric Advanced facility—confirming the hospital’s emergency department is equipped, trained, and organized to deliver high-quality care for infants, children, and adolescents. 

Lutheran Hospital, located in Wheat Ridge, achieved a 99/100 pediatric readiness score. 

The COPPER designation reflects a comprehensive, onsite review of preparedness standards specific to pediatric emergency care, including the presence of nurse and physician Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators (PECCs), regular pediatric education and competencies for emergency staff, and robust, ongoing quality improvement processes that review cases and share targeted guidance with clinicians. 

“The COPPER process helps elevate our standard level of care to a level of expert pediatric care,” said Daniel Cheek, MD, emergency physician and Lutheran Hospital’s trauma and EMS liaison. “Data shows that following COPPER guidelines can save young lives. Studies have shown that hospitals with a pediatric readiness score of 88 or higher can reduce mortality risk by up to 76% for ill children and 60% for pediatric trauma patients.” 

Preparedness—and continuous improvement in everyday practice—has been a major focus for Lutheran’s emergency team. For example, staff now weigh all pediatric patients in kilograms to ensure accurate, weight-based dosing; bed scales are used appropriately and supplemented for younger children; and teams obtain a full set of vital signs, including blood pressure, on every baby or child to help identify serious illness sooner. They also stock pediatric-sized patient gowns and blood pressure cuffs. 

“It’s been a big culture change for us—and it’s been really good,” said Ali Young, RN, pediatric emergency care coordinator at Lutheran. “As a parent, it means there’s an emergency department closer to home that’s equipped to take care of my sick kid.” 

Young added that the team is expanding education to sustain readiness. “We’re putting together a three- to four-hour pediatric specific class for emergency care for all of our staff members.” 

Lutheran Hospital’s emergency department treats approximately 350–400 pediatric patients each month, with seasonal peaks (e.g., 455 pediatric visits in October/November). Teams also respond to 5–10 pediatric trauma activations per month, mirroring broader community trends. 

The COPPER designation assures local EMS partners and families that Lutheran is prepared for children of all ages—from newborns to teens—with the specialized equipment, training, and protocols to recognize and treat serious illness or injury rapidly and effectively.

Intermountain Health has once again earned recognition as one of the nation’s safest health systems for patients, according to  the Leapfrog Group, a national healthcare safety and quality measurement organization that recently  unveiled its 2025 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. 

This national recognition highlights Intermountain Health’s commitment to the safety of its patients and caregivers by prioritizing processes to prevent patient harm and medical errors.  

Of the 20 Intermountain hospitals evaluated by Leapfrog, 14 received an “A” while six Intermountain hospitals earned a “B” rating, underscoring Intermountain’s consistent safety performance across all communities and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

The Leapfrog survey considered anything that could bring possible harm to patients, such as infections, medical errors, accidents, or injuries. The Leapfrog survey also examines processes and tools that hospitals have in place to prevent harm in the first place. 

It then assigns an “A” through “F” grade, based on the hospital’s performance. 

2025 "A" Safety Grade hospitals include:

• Intermountain Health American Fork Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Cedar City Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Good Samaritan Hospital (Lafayette, Colo.)
• Intermountain Medical Center (Murray, Utah)
• Intermountain Health LDS Hospital (Salt Lake City)
• Intermountain Health Logan Regional Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital (Wheat Ridge, Colo.)
• Intermountain Health McKay-Dee Hospital (Ogden, Utah)
• Intermountain Health Park City Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Riverton Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health Spanish Fork Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital (Utah)
• Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital (Billings, Mont.)
• Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital (Provo, Utah)

 “These results speak to the dedication of every caregiver and leader at Intermountain, and to our shared commitment to being national leaders in clinical excellence,” said Cara Camiolo, MD, chief quality & safety officer for Intermountain Health. “Whether a hospital achieved an ‘A’ or made meaningful gains this cycle, each story points to the same aspiration: progress happens when every person, in every role, owns their part in advancing safety, reliability, and better outcomes for our patients.” 

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 22 national measures of patient safety from CMS, NHSN, and the Leapfrog Hospital Survey to assess how well hospitals protect patients from preventable harm and medical errors. The survey methodology has been peer reviewed and published in the Journal of Patient Safety. Intermountain Health caregivers are continually training for all aspects of patient safety in healthcare. 

There are also protocols in place that encourage caregivers to speak up and raise concerns if they see something which could put someone at risk, noted Dr. Camilio. 

To see the full Leapfrog list of hospitals and their grades, go to https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/. 

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Work outside Intermountain Health Lutheran Medical Office Building in Wheat Ridge recently resembled an episode from Star Trek. The reality will bring down-to-earth medical care for people suffering from hard-to-heal wounds. 

Crews from Saunders Construction Inc. used a crane to hoist two hyperbaric oxygen chambers to the medical office building’s fifth floor. 

Each chamber measures 8 feet 8 inches by 3 feet 7 inches and weighs approximately 2,200 pounds. They were installed in the new Intermountain Health Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine Clinic. The clinic is set to open in November and will treat patients with hyperbaric therapy this winter.  

About 8 million people in the U.S. live with chronic wounds. Conditions requiring advanced wound care include diabetic foot ulcers, pressure sores, leg wounds caused from poor veins, and other non-healing wounds. 

Hyperbaric medicine can help patients with a range of problems including certain non-healing wounds, long term effects from cancer radiation treatment, and carbon monoxide poisoning. It can help speed up the wound healing process and help treat infection. 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy works by placing the patient in a clear chamber that contains 100% oxygen (compared to normal room air that has 21% oxygen). This helps the body heal by growing new skin, blood vessels, and tissue. The duration of the treatment and number of visits will depend on the patient’s health condition. 

Providing outpatient wound care and hyperbaric therapy is a new service for Intermountain Health patients in Wheat Ridge, Golden, Arvada, Lakewood, and surrounding communities. Intermountain Lutheran Hospital provides wound care for hospitalized patients. Outpatient wound and hyperbaric medicine also is available at Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton.  

“Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital is incredibly excited to be able to provide a high quality of wound care and hyperbaric services coming in fall 2025,” said Matthew Ethington, Intermountain Health director of wound and hyperbaric services. “Bringing these services to our community has the potential of making a huge impact for many years to come to those in need.”  

Ethington said the arrival of the hyperbaric chambers is one milestone among many that Lutheran Hospital has marked to achieve a goal of healing complex wounds for community members. 

El sábado por la mañana, Intermountain Health Lutheran Medical Center abrió sus puertas con 159 pacientes.

Al término de la jornada, las habitaciones quedaron vacías, los pasillos, en silencio, y la sala de conferencias a aproximadamente 3.5 millas, en el nuevo Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, se colmó de aplausos de los cuidadores en la celebración oficial del primer día de operación del nuevo hospital.

El sábado 3 de agosto fue el histórico día de la mudanza, que los cuidadores planificaron minuciosamente durante más de dos años.

Intermountain Health Lutheran Medical Center, el cual funcionó en Wheat Ridge por más de un siglo, cerró sus puertas de manera oficial a las 6 de la mañana. Durante las siguientes ocho horas y quince minutos, se dio de alta a los pacientes o se los trasladó en ambulancia de manera segura al nuevo Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, que abrió en el mismo horario.

El sábado a las 3 a. m., los equipos de planificación del hospital se reunieron en las salas de conferencias de ambos hospitales para hacer un recuento de la cantidad de pacientes hospitalizados, analizar el estado de salud de los pacientes y controlar el traslado al nuevo hospital o el alta a sus hogares.

Luego, comenzaron a trabajar en la coordinación de las salidas de los pacientes. Durante todo el día, aproximadamente 20 ambulancias con equipos de servicios médicos de emergencia circularon de un hospital a otro.

Kathy Crabtree, directora médica de Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, mencionó que, como se esperaba, el día fue agitado, pero que, en general, el traslado seguro de los pacientes fue todo un éxito.

“Nuestros cuidadores fueron increíbles y trabajaron mucho para coordinar el traslado seguro de los pacientes desde el anterior campus hacia el nuevo hospital”, mencionó. “No lo hubiéramos logrado sin este esfuerzo colaborativo. Sentimos mucho orgullo por todo nuestro equipo y les agradecemos enormemente”.

Durante los días previos al traslado, Heidi Boyd, enfermera a cargo de la unidad de cuidados progresivos, dedicó muchas horas a hablar con los pacientes y sus familias sobre este cambio. Pasó el sábado en el hospital anterior y ayudó a trasladar a 19 pacientes.

“Todos estamos muy emocionados de tener un hospital completamente nuevo, y los pacientes también lo están. Pero siempre hay un poco de nervios. Este edificio siempre ha estado aquí. Muchos de nosotros trabajamos aquí desde hace varios años, así que es un sentimiento agridulce”, dijo Boyd, que trabaja en Lutheran Medical Center hace 10 años.

La médica hospitalaria y directora médica de Lutheran Hospital, Ritika Patel, fue una de las líderes que trabajó en el centro de comandos en la coordinación del flujo de tráfico y fue quien informó a los médicos cuándo se trasladaría a sus pacientes.

Parte de ese trabajo implicaba garantizar que cada equipo de atención de los pacientes se trasladara al nuevo hospital con el paciente correspondiente.

“Si esos equipos atendían a sus pacientes en el hospital anterior, también lo harían en el nuevo”.

Llegado el mediodía, como la cantidad de cuidadores en cada hospital era la misma, en ese momento planificaron trasladar a los pacientes que estaban más graves.

“Es un momento de nostalgia y emoción”, mencionó la Dra. Patel, quien trabaja en Lutheran Medical Center desde su residencia. “Aquí me he desarrollado como médica. Se vienen recuerdos al caminar por los pisos del hospital y al hablar con las enfermeras que trabajaron aquí tanto tiempo como yo. Todos conocemos esa habitación. Algunas unidades me marcaron profundamente”.

La Dra. Crabtree comenzó su jornada en el centro de comandos en el nuevo hospital, y fue allí cuando los cuidadores anunciaron que se había completado el traslado del último paciente.

“Hoy tengo muchas emociones encontradas. Tengo muchos recuerdos en nuestro hospital anterior. Pasé gran parte de mi carrera allí y el edificio fue una parte muy importante de la historia de nuestra comunidad, así que me entristece dejarlo. Sin embargo, estoy muy emocionada por nuestro nuevo hospital, que se diseñó para que podamos brindar la mejor atención posible y que representa una promesa para nuestra comunidad como lugar de sanación”, mencionó.

De esta forma comienza el próximo capítulo de la historia de la atención médica para la comunidad.

Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital caregivers delivered the first baby at the new facility on Sunday, Aug. 4, and he was quickly followed by 13 more babies over the next two days. 

Betsy De Leon, manager of women’s services for the hospital, said parents Joseph and Ashley Giron welcomed Joseph Giron on Sunday. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20 ¾ inches long.  

For the hospital to have that many babies in two days is a little unusual, De Leon said. In the former hospital, they averaged 4-5 babies a day for about 1,600 deliveries in a year. 

The increase is something De Leon expects to continue thanks to the hospital’s new location. “It’s so convenient right off Highway 58 and Interstate 70.” 

About 190 families who are scheduled to have their babies at Lutheran or who are expecting and wanted a tour attended two events at the hospital before the opening Aug. 3. De Leon said families who are interested in scheduling future tours can do so online.  

The new hospital offers 11 labor and delivery rooms, 19 mom and baby rooms for postpartum and two operating rooms. It also has a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit with 12 private rooms where caregivers can take care of babies born at 28 weeks or later.  

“We can provide care for women wanting minimal interventions up to offering anesthesia support for epidurals 24/7,” De Leon said. Each of the labor and delivery rooms has a bathtub as well, and the team offers lactation support daily.  

To learn more about the department, classes or register for a tour, please visit: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/intermountain-health-lutheran-hospital/pregnancy-and-baby. 

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Intermountain Health Lutheran Medical Center began Saturday morning with 159 patients. 

When the day ended, the rooms were empty, hallways quiet, and a conference room about 3.5 miles away at the new Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital filled with caregivers erupted in cheers as the new hospital officially celebrated its first day of operation.  

Saturday, Aug. 3, was the historic Move Day caregivers carefully planned for more than two years.  

Intermountain Health Lutheran Medical Center, which has operated in Wheat Ridge for over a century, officially closed its doors at 6 am. For the next eight hours and 15 minutes, patients were safely discharged home or transported by ambulance to the new Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital that also opened at 6 am. 

Hospital planning teams gathered on Saturday at 3 am in conference rooms at both hospitals to count the number of inpatients and review the health status of patients and monitor their transfer to the new hospital or discharge home.  

Then they got to work coordinating patient departures. Throughout the day, about 20 ambulances with EMS crews circulated back and forth between the hospitals.  

Kathy Crabtree, MD, chief medical officer for Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital, said the day was hectic, as expected, but overall, very successful in safely moving patients.  

“Our caregivers were amazing and worked so hard to coordinate a safe transfer of patients from the old campus to the new hospital,” she said. “We couldn’t have done it without this collaborative effort. We’re really proud and grateful to our entire team.” 

Heidi Boyd, RN, charge nurse for the progressive care unit, worked long hours during the days leading up to the move talking with patients and their families about the move. She spent Saturday at the existing hospital and helped move 19 patients.  

“I think we’re all super excited to have a brand-new hospital, and the patients are, as well. But there's those nerves. This building has been here forever. A lot of us have worked here for several years so, it’s bittersweet,” said Boyd who has worked at Lutheran Medical Center for 10 years.  

Lutheran Hospital hospitalist and site medical director Ritika Patel, MD, was one of the leaders working in the command center, coordinating the flow of traffic and informing physicians when their patients would be transported.  

Part of that work involved making sure each patient’s care team transferred over to the new hospital with that patient.  

“If they cared for them in the existing hospital, they will care for them in the new hospital,” she said.  

Because the number of caregivers at each hospital was balanced at midday, that’s when they planned to transfer the patients who were most critically ill. 

“It feels pretty nostalgic, emotional,” said Dr. Patel, who came to work at Lutheran Medical Center after her residency training. “I feel like I have grown up here as a physician. Walking through or past the floors and talking to some of the nurses who’ve been here as long as I have, and we all remember that room. Some units hit home hard.” 

Dr. Crabtree began her day at the command center in the new hospital, and it was there when caregivers announced the final patient transport was complete.  

“Lots of mixed emotions today. Our old hospital has had so many memories for me. I’ve spent much of my career there and it has been such an important part of our community’s history, that I’m sad to see it go. However, I’m really excited for our new hospital, which has been designed to enable us to provide the best care possible, and the promise it holds for our community as a place of healing,” she said. 

With that, begins the next chapter of the history of healthcare for the community.   

El Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital en Wheat Ridge, Colorado, les dio la bienvenida a casi 7500 invitados durante las celebraciones previas a la inauguración, les agradeció a los líderes y donantes y les dio un vistazo al interior del nuevo hospital de 620,000 pies cuadrados (188,976 metros cuadrados).

Intermountain Health llevó a cabo una recepción el jueves 18 de julio para los dignatarios, los donantes, los líderes del sistema de salud y los cuidadores del hospital. El sábado 20 de julio, la presidente del Lutheran, Andrea Burch, se unió al alcalde de Wheat Ridge, Bud Starker, y a las cámaras de comercio para realizar una ceremonia de corte de cinta en la entrada del hospital. Luego, se abrieron las puertas para realizar visitas guiadas de la unidad de partos y cuidados, la unidad de cuidados intensivos, la sala de emergencias y el vestíbulo principal. Los invitados disfrutaron de entretenimiento en el parque de estacionamiento y de casillas educativas sobre distintos departamentos de salud y el grupo médico de Intermountain Health.

El nuevo campus reemplazará al centro médico Lutheran ubicado casi 3.5 millas (6.5 km) hacia el este. Ese campus se fundó en 1905 como un sanatorio para tratar la tuberculosis. Al mismo tiempo que la comunidad de Wheat Ridge creció, se construyó un nuevo hospital en 1961, con nuevos edificios que se agregaron a lo largo de los años.

“La realidad es que ni siquiera una renovación nos hubiera dado los mismos beneficios que comenzar desde cero y construir un edificio completamente nuevo”, dijo Burch en el evento del día sábado. La nueva construcción contará con tecnología avanzada hoy y en el futuro.

Burch también resaltó el acceso mejorado al Lutheran, el cual en la actualidad tiene una de las salas de emergencias más concurridas de Colorado, dijo ella. El campus original se construyó en el medio de un campo. Ahora, está rodeado de casas y comercios, y el tráfico ha aumentado. El nuevo hospital está a la salida de la Interestatal 70 y la 40^th Avenue y ayudará a los servicios de emergencias médicas cuando necesiten trasladar pacientes. El nuevo hospital también cuenta con un helipuerto en el techo, con acceso directo a las salas de trauma, de partos y nacimientos y de atención a accidentes cerebrovasculares.

El diseño del nuevo hospital es más eficiente, las áreas de procedimientos están más cerca entre sí y el laboratorio de cateterismos cardíacos se encuentra cerca de la sala de emergencias.

“Esto es mejor para los pacientes y el personal”, dijo Burch.

El nuevo hospital tendrá 226 camas con licencia, que es igual al número actual de camas. Lutheran mantendrá la designación de trauma nivel 2 y continuará siendo el único hospital en el condado de Jefferson que asista partos.

Burch dijo que estaba especialmente orgullosa del proyecto de arte del nuevo hospital. Un comité seleccionó más de 600 piezas de arte para que se coloquen. Casi todas son obras de residentes de Wheat Ridge o Colorado.

La inauguración del nuevo hospital está programada para el 3 de agosto, día en el que a las 6 a. m. cerrará la sala de emergencias anterior y abrirá la nueva. A las 8 a. m., los cuidadores usarán cerca de 20 ambulancias para trasladar a alrededor de 180 pacientes desde el hospital anterior hasta la nueva ubicación.

Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital in Wheat Ridge, CO., welcomed nearly 7,500 guests during pre-opening celebrations thanking leaders and donors and giving them a look inside the new 620,000-square-foot hospital.  

Intermountain Health held a reception on Thursday, July 18, for dignitaries, donors, health system leaders, and hospital caregivers. On Saturday, July 20, Intermountain Lutheran President Hospital Andrea Burch joined Wheat Ridge Mayor Bud Starker and local chambers of commerce for a ribbon cutting at the hospital entrance. 

Then, doors opened for guided tours of the labor and delivery unit, neonatal intensive care unit, emergency room and main lobby. Guests enjoyed entertainment in the parking lot along with educational booths from different hospital departments and the Intermountain Health Medical Group.  

The new hospital campus replaces the current Intermountain Lutheran Medical Center, located about three miles to the east. That hospital campus was originally founded in 1905 as a tuberculosis sanitorium. As the community of Wheat Ridge grew, a new hospital was built in 1961, with buildings added over the years.  

“The truth is that even a renovation would not have brought us the same benefits as starting from scratch and building the hospital over,” Burch said at the Saturday event. 

New construction will accommodate advanced technology today and into the future.  

Burch also highlighted the improved access to Lutheran, which currently has one of Colorado’s busiest emergency department, she said. 

The original campus was built amid farmland. Now, it is surrounded by homes and businesses, and traffic has increased. The new hospital is off Interstate 70 and 40^th Avenue and will aid emergency medical services when they transport patients. 

The new hospital also has a helipad on its roof with direct access to the trauma rooms, labor and delivery, and stroke care.  The new hospital design is also more efficient with procedural areas close together and the heart catheter lab close to the emergency department. 

“This is better for patients and staff,” Burch said.  

The new hospital will have 226 licensed beds, which is like the current number of beds. Lutheran will maintain its Level II trauma designation and will continue to be the only hospital in Jefferson County to deliver babies.  

Burch said she was especially proud of the art project at the new hospital. A committee chose more than 600 pieces of art to be installed. Nearly all were created by residents of Wheat Ridge or from throughout Colorado. 

The new hospital is scheduled to open Aug. 3, when the former emergency department will close at 6 am and the new one will open. At 8 am, caregivers, with the help of more than 20 ambulances, will move an estimated 180 patients from the former hospital to the new hospital. 

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Los miembros de la comunidad podrán conocer el interior del nuevo Lutheran Hospital de Intermountain Health de 9 a. m. a 1 p. m. el sábado 20 de julio. El hospital lo celebra con un acto de preinaguración gratuito y abierto al público en el nuevo centro, que se encuentra en 12911 W. 40^th Ave., Wheat Ridge.

El acto contará con las siguientes actividades:

·       Recorridas por el nuevo hospital, que incluyen el departamento de urgencias, la unidad de partos y nacimientos, la unidad neonatal de cuidados intensivos y mucho más.

·       Visitas con los cuidadores del hospital para aprender sobre los servicios que prestan.

·       Actividad colectiva de pintar por números.

·       Búsqueda del tesoro con premios.

·       Tapiz en telar colectivo.

·       Maquillaje artístico, juegos infantiles, puestos de comida y entretenimiento.

La construcción del nuevo hospital de 620,000 (seiscientos veinte mil) pies cuadrados comenzó en 2021 en la urbanización Clear Creek Crossing. El nuevo Lutheran Hospital abrirá sus puertas a los pacientes el 3 de agosto y sustituirá al actual Lutheran Medical Center situado junto a la 38^th Avenue, en Wheat Ridge.

WHAT:

Community members can get their first look inside the new Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 20. The hospital is celebrating with a pre-opening event free and open to the public at the new site at 12911 W. 40th Ave., Wheat Ridge. 

The event will feature: 

- Tours of the new hospital including the emergency department, labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care unit and more. 
- Visits with hospital caregivers to learn about the services they provide. 
- A community paint-by-number. 
- Scavenger hunt with prizes. 
- A collective tapestry loom. 
- Face painters, children’s games, food trucks and entertainment! 

Construction of the new 620,000-square-foot hospital began in 2021 in the Clear Creek Crossing development. The new Lutheran Hospital opens for patients Aug. 3 and will replace the existing Lutheran Medical Center off 38th Avenue in Wheat Ridge.

WHEN:

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, July 20, 2024

WHERE: 

New Intermountain Health Lutheran Hospital 

12911 W. 40th Ave.

Wheat Ridge, CO

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