Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, Montana, has been recognized as a Magnet facility with Distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the highest honor internationally for nursing excellence and recognition of its outstanding safety and innovative care for patients. 

This is the second Magnet recognition for Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital, which received the designation for the first time in 2021. 

In 2022, the ANCC introduced Magnet with Distinction to honor hospitals that go above and beyond the already rigorous standards of the Magnet Recognition Program. The distinction is reserved for hospitals that meet the highest levels of nursing excellence and quality patient care. 

The Magnet Recognition Program designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their strategic goals to improve patient outcomes. Magnet facilities meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence and are recognized for lower mortality rates, shorter lengths of stay and increased patient and staff satisfaction. 

Magnet facilities are also recognized for creating an exceptional environment for patient care, forward-thinking leadership and systems that empower staff at all levels to have a voice and grow professionally. These organizations actively seek to improve care using research, innovation and continuous improvement. 

With this recognition, Intermountain St. Vincent Hospital's nursing teams were specifically recognized for surpassing benchmarks in patient satisfaction, quality of care and nursing leadership certifications. 

“Achieving Magnet designation is the result of hard work and a relentless focus on high-quality, patient-centered care,” said Lee Boyles, president of Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital and Intermountain's Montana and Wyoming market. “I am thrilled our nurses at Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital have earned this prestigious designation once again. It is a testament to the exceptional care they provide to our community every day.” 

Magnet recognition means education and development through every career stage for nurses, which leads to greater autonomy at the bedside. For patients, it means the assurance of the best care, delivered by nurses who are supported to be their best. 

“This recognition reflects the exceptional standards and practices of our nursing team,” said Janet Harris, chief nursing officer at Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital . “I am honored to be part of this extraordinary nursing team. I am so proud that we have not only maintained a Magnet level of care but have exceeded the high bar we set for ourselves by receiving designation with distinction. At St. Vincent, we don’t just talk about excellence — we demonstrate it, showing proven results in quality, safety and patient experience.” 

With this recognition with distinction, Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital  is among the leaders in nursing care in the country and globally. 

Intermountain St. Vincent Regional Hospital is among fewer than 100 hospitals in the United States that have received Magnet with Distinction – and the first hospital in Montana to receive that honor.

Caregivers at Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital in Grand Junction, Colo., recently came together to create a wedding ceremony for patient Muranda “Mandy” Lambert — a moment of love and dignity shared shortly before she passed away from stage four kidney cancer with bone metastases. 

Mandy and her husband Damon Lambert had married at a courthouse, but their plans for a formal ceremony were cut short when she was admitted to the hospital in December. When caregivers Berenice Aguirre‑Acosta and Ailis Yanez, a mother–daughter team on floor 10, learned this, they immediately offered to help.  

Word spread quickly, and caregivers across the unit united to plan a wedding that would give the couple a meaningful memory during a difficult time. 

“One nurse wasn’t even working that day — he came in with his wife just to be part of it,” said Daniell Lovett, nurse manager. “Everyone was excited. People were saying, ‘We’re having a wedding?!’” 

On the day of the wedding, the hospital’s family waiting room transformed into a warm, intimate space filled with decorations, music, and emotion. Mandy and Damon were surrounded by friends, family, caregivers, and even a group of student nurses experiencing their first week in the hospital. 

“There were definitely tears,” Lovett said. “It was beautiful.” 

Amid the celebration, Mandy reflected quietly on the steadfast support she received from Damon throughout her illness. “Since I got sick, he’s been right there by my side — hasn’t even left it,” she said. “I don’t know anybody else that would sit in a hospital for a month and not end up leaving.” 

The heartfelt ceremony wasn’t something Mandy expected, but the “I dos” shared in a room full of love became possible through the collective effort of her care team. 

For the team, the wedding reminded them of the heart behind their work. 

“These are the things we got into healthcare for,” Lovett said. “To take care of the person — not just the diagnosis. It’s an honor to be part of moments like this.” 

Remembering Mandy 

Mandy passed away shortly after the ceremony, leaving behind memories of resilience, humor, and a remarkable ability to find joy despite hardship. Even in her final weeks, she spoke openly about choosing gratitude and embracing moments of happiness whenever they appeared. 

“The way I look at it, I’m still here, so you’ve gotta go one day at a time,” she once said. “Life’s too short not to... you’ve gotta have fun.” 

Fit and fabric can make or break a bra. Just ask anyone who wears one. But who would have thought that could influence the medical outcome of open-heart surgery?

Medical professionals have long known the weight of larger breasts can strain the surgical incisions after open heart surgery and sometimes cause it to open. That’s why hospitals give patients a post-surgical bra designed to give support and avoid complications. Common practice is to dress the patients in this bra right after surgery and instruct them to wear it 20 hours a day for six weeks.   

It is not uncommon for women after open heart surgery to be vulnerable to bra-related complications such as pressure injuries and wounds at the incision site if the fit and fabric is not right.   

Cardiac nurses at Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital became curious when they cared for several women with larger breasts who were readmitted to the hospital after heart surgery. The women had wounds at their incisions or pressure injuries on their sides when the bras were too small.   

Ultimately, a patient mentioned the unmentionables, letting her caregivers know that the bra she was given was itchy and too small.    

This inspired Saint Joe’s cardiac nurses Lauren Zobec, RN, and Sarah Duart, RN, to learn more and look for a solution.   

“As long as I have been a cardiovascular nurse, we have used the same product. The fabric is scratchy and doesn’t breathe. There is a big elastic band that cut into people’s sides, and the biggest size we had just wasn’t big enough,” Zobec said. Patients get hot and sweaty thanks to hormone imbalances after surgery, and that post-operative bra just didn’t breathe.

“No wonder patients were not wearing them at home and came back in with wounds,” Zobec said. “We found lots of research about wound infections after open heart surgery.”   

That research showed patients indeed reported ill-fitting bras and ditching the bras once they got home because of the fabric.   

Zobec and Duart went bra shopping. They wanted a product that would reduce tension on the wound and have soft, stretchable material to manage swelling and moisture. The bra also needed to be available in larger sizes.   

They found that the right bra does exist. It was designed by a woman for patients after breast surgery.    

“It’s buttery soft, comfortable and supportive,” Zobec said. This new bra has openings on the sides, and it comes in sizes from small to 6XL.   

While no bras were burned, all the former “1970s-style” post-surgical bras were set aside in September 2023 in favor of the new, pink bra, Zobec said. The results: Saint Joe’s has had no post-operative wounds among the 71 female open heart surgery patients since then.    

Zobec said she’s been a cardiac nurse for 18 years and had always used the former product for patients after surgery. Duart, who has worked in other health systems agreed that that bra was the only one offered.    

When they began asking questions, the nurses had support from their leaders and the financial team that monitors supplies costs. The new bra does cost $5 more but will result in better outcomes and savings for the patient if it helps to prevent complications. By significantly reducing the chance for these complications, patients not only are more comfortable, but less prone to readmissions and complications.  

“We’re here to help patients, and I want to get this bra everywhere because it’s important and the right thing to do for these women,” Zobec said. Plus, it’s painful for the patient undergoing treatment to then have wounds and pressure injuries, she added.    

“Open heart surgery is a major thing to go through and to come back (to the hospital) because you didn’t have the right product. ... We just want to help,” Duart said.   

Zobec and Duart have submitted applications to speak at national nursing conferences to share what they have learned in hopes of bringing comfort to other heart patients throughout the country. Ingenuity, innovation, inspiration – two nurses who cared enough to search for solutions for improved patient care.  

April Vialpando, RN, believes victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, should be able to access care from a forensic nurse as soon as is possible. It should not take days, extensive travel, or a grueling wait for the victim.

Better access is now possible at Intermountain Health Platte Valley Hospital in Brighton thanks to a $438,000 grant from Adams County.

Platte Valley will use the funds to expand the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. The program provides critical, compassionate service for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. 

“By expanding the SANE program, we are ensuring that victims of these horrific crimes receive the care and support they need without unnecessary delays or obstacles,” said Adams County Commissioner and Chair Emma Pinter. “This grant is a significant step in our commitment to improving public health and safety in our community.”

Vialpando, the program’s coordinator, explained that victims get emergency medical treatment for physical injuries, but a forensic exam must be performed by a certified caregiver. Not all hospitals offer that, and some might not have a trained clinician available.

“If you have to wait multiple nights in a row for hours (to see a forensic nurse), you probably give up or you don’t want to pursue getting any kind of help,” she said.

Platte Valley introduced its SANE program in January. Six specially trained nurses, dedicated equipment, and rooms designed for the care of sexual assault victims make up the program. It was created to treat patients and collect forensic evidence from victims who have experienced sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Since the program began, Vialpando said she has been surprised by the amount of violence against women. They have treated about 45 patients, which also includes a few men, since the program began. Only a quarter stem from sexual assault with the rest being victims of domestic violence. Both acts are “much more prevalent than anyone wants to think about,” Vialpando said.

While she sees so much violence, there are rewards as well.

“The most rewarding...is taking care of victims who think no one will believe them, and I care for them. I believe them and I reassure them,” she said.

Law enforcement officers appreciate taking victims to the local hospital rather than driving farther away from their service area.

In addition to doing the forensic exam, the nurses work closely with Adams County and the 17th Judicial District to act as expert witnesses and testify in court.

Vialpando has worked as a nurse for 20 years and said she has known from the start she wanted to care for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. 

“When the opportunity arose, I took full advantage and did the training so I could meet one of my own personal goals,” she said.

The Platte Valley team will evaluate patients 18 years and older affected by violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and strangulation.

If a patient chooses to report a crime, forensic evidence collected by the Platte Valley SANE program team will provide a valuable resource for police investigation and prosecution.   
 

Vegas Inc announced Intermountain Health Desert Region Chief Nursing Officer Keyona Cole and Care Management Manager in Ambulatory Care LaTeisha Morgan as 2024 Health Care Headliners. Cole received the recognition in the Nursing category and Morgan in the Community Outreach category.

Vegas Inc published the 2024 Health Care Headliners in the Healthcare Quarterly special section released today. Health Care Headliner categories also included Dentistry, Education, Emergency Services, Innovation, Physician, Research/Science, and Lifetime Achievement. Vegas Inc accepted nominations from the public and a panel comprised of independent judges reviewed and selected the winners. A full list of this year’s recipients can be found here.

“Intermountain Health is proud to serve the Las Vegas Valley to ensure patients have access to affordable, high-quality health care,” said Mandy Richards, Chief Nursing Executive for Intermountain Health. “The recognition by Vegas Inc for our caregivers Keyona Cole and LaTeisha Morgan underscores their commitment to providing leadership for our teams for providing compassionate care our patients and strengthening opportunities to improve and sustain the overall health of our communities.”

Since 2021, Cole, FNP, has served as Chief Nursing Officer for Intermountain Health’s Desert Region, which is comprised of southern Nevada and southwest Utah. In addition to supporting clinical operations, she serves as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee leaders and has initiated and overseen innovative solutions to Nevada’s medical assistant shortage. She is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Association and currently serves on the Goodwill of Southern Nevada Board of Directors. Earlier this month, Cole received national recognition from Becker’s Hospital Review when she was named to the 231+ Black healthcare leaders to know - 2024 list.

“I am grateful that these honors bring additional recognition to our mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible,” said Keyona Cole. “Achieving health equity is a marathon not a sprint. Intermountain is well-positioned to continue to make significant impact in the Nevada and Southwest Utah communities.”

Morgan, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been significantly involved in advocacy work in the Las Vegas area for nearly two decades. Her diverse career includes roles such as a family service specialist, case manager supervisor, and director of operations within prominent social work organizations in Las Vegas. Morgan’s commitment to the elderly community is evident through her work with the State of Nevada Elder Protective Services. Additionally, her role as a specialty court specialist with Clark County 8th Judicial District showcased her dedication to justice and rehabilitation. Morgan also is committed to providing awareness to suicide prevention to the community through supporting the HOPE Squad, a high school peer lead suicide prevention group which aims to spread suicide awareness and connectivity.

“These roles give me the opportunity to fulfill my purpose and support my community on a macro and micro level,” said Morgan. “I am honored to assist individuals as they work through challenging times, help our community heal and thrive, and foster the growth of the next generation of mental health clinicians and social workers through my work as a clinical supervisor.”

Vegas Inc established the Health Care Headliners awards in 2006 to highlight the phenomenal talent of the finest medical professionals who are leading the way. Vegas Inc’s Health Care Quarterly is mailed to every M.D., D.O., medical office in Clark County, all area hospitals, and is distributed to every local Albertson’s location.

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