Building the Future of Healthcare A report to the community on the Utah Valley Hospital Replacement Project
2019
Administrator’s Message Utah Valley Residents, First, let me introduce myself. My name is Kyle Hansen and I’m the new administrator of Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital. I’ve been with Intermountain Healthcare for eight years, first as an operations officer at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden and then as the administrator at Logan Regional Hospital. I’m proud to have helped with many successes at both of those facilities and look forward to contributing to the outstanding team here in Provo. What a privilege it is to take the helm of Utah County’s only designated Level II trauma center at such a pivotal moment in the hospital’s history. I heard brief updates about Utah Valley Hospital’s Replacement Project, but they didn’t do it justice. The view of the new hospital from the top of the Orem hill is nothing short of stunning. And that’s without even mentioning the outstanding features and caregivers inside the buildings.
Our major campus upgrade started almost four years ago with five primary goals. Those goals were: • Improve patient care using evidence-based design concepts that lead to better treatment outcomes. • Respond to the healthcare needs of one of the fastest growing counties in the country. Utah County is projected to grow from 500,000 residents in 2010 to 1.2 million in 2050. • Relocate complementary service lines within the hospital to be more closely aligned and, in some cases, combined. • Add another outpatient building on campus to further expand the comprehensive services offered at the hospital and more closely coordinate care. • Avoid a costly structural upgrade that would be needed to make some of the buildings on the current campus seismically sound. Four of these five goals have been checked off now that the Pedersen Tower is operational. These first four will undoubtedly aid in accomplishing the fifth goal – responding to the healthcare needs of our community. I applaud the vision, foresight and commitment of the Intermountain Healthcare and Utah Valley leaders who created a facility that will be able to support the community for decades to come. There’s no denying the Hospital Replacement Project has changed Utah County’s healthcare picture – and the Provo skyline – forever. But one of the most remarkable aspects of the journey has been the uncompromising level of care provided to patients throughout the years of construction.
At the same time as old buildings were coming down and new ones were going up, the caregivers at Utah Valley received several national awards for excellence in patient care. Those awards include: • LeapFrog A Grade: The LeapFrog Hospital Survey evaluates hospital performance on quality, safety and resource use, using national performance measures to evaluate individual facilities. • HealthInsight Quality Award: This award recognizes hospitals for demonstrating high-quality healthcare and excellence in performance on a combination of publicly reported process of care measures, patients’ perception of care measures and 30-day hospital-wide readmission rates.
Kyle Hansen Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital Administrator • Top 100 Hospitals: IBM Watson Health, formerly Truven Health Analytics 100 Top Hospitals, published its 100 Top Hospitals® annual study identifying top–performing hospitals in the U.S. This is the first time Utah Valley Hospital has made the list. This recognition is based on a scorecard that includes clinical, operational and patient perception-of-care metrics. • Everest Award: In addition to the Top 100 designation, Utah Valley has also been honored with the Everest Award from IBM Watson Health. The Everest Award is given to “a select few” of the Top 100 winners and recognizes how fast we’ve improved over the past five years. This year only 15 hospitals in the nation received this honor. • CMS 5-Star Hospital Rating: This is the second time Utah Valley has achieved a 5-star rating, something reached by fewer than 7 percent of all hospitals in the nation. The ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid summarize seven quality measures into a star rating for more than 4,500 hospitals.
My commitment as one of the leaders of Utah Valley Hospital is that we will continue to build on this outstanding foundation. The growth as we go forward won’t necessarily include bricks and mortar, but it will include even higher levels of excellence in patient care. Our community deserves nothing less. On behalf of the team at Utah Valley Hospital, thank you for your support and patience as we’ve made the future of healthcare a reality for us all. Kyle Hansen
“Our new rooms were designed with our patients in mind. The size of the rooms increased significantly, and we ensured there was plenty of natural light.” ~ Maria Black ~ Utah Valley Hospital Nurse Administrator
Patient rooms a highlight of the new Pedersen Tower The new patient rooms in Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital’s Pedersen Tower were designed to ensure a more spacious and comfortable setting for patients and their families. There are 236 identically built rooms that have more than doubled in size from 140 square feet to 300 square feet. “The previous rooms in our East Tower were too small to comfortably allow families to be together during some of the most vulnerable times in their lives,” said Maria Black, Utah Valley Hospital nurse administrator. “Our new rooms were designed with our patients in mind. The size of the rooms increased significantly, and we ensured there was plenty of natural light.” Each room was also designed to be an efficient space for caregivers to provide prompt and extraordinary care to patients. All rooms include built-in cabinets called nurse servers. The nurse servers store high-use supplies and items that nurses, technicians and physicians may need while caring for patients. “This keeps the caregivers at the bedside which provides a safer environment for the patients as well as less disruption in patient’s care due to the caregivers not having to leave the room as often,” said Courtney Cherrington, nurse manager on Floor 7 of the Pedersen Tower. Each room is meant to give patients the healing environment they need to have a safe and healthy recovery and accommodate each patients’ specific needs. For example, a designated percentage of rooms have built-in lifts that help transport patients from their bed to the bathroom, shower or into a chair. Along with the increased space, the rooms also include the fully integrated entertainment and patient education solution within their televisions, known as the Get Well Network. This network allows patients and families to take a more active role in their care while they’re in the hospital. “Patients and families have different needs throughout their stay. The Get Well Network helps educate our patients, so they’re more prepared, promoting more productive interactions with
SIZE COMPARISON
Old Patient Rooms
New Patient Rooms
caregivers,” said Bethany Southard, Utah Valley Hospital learning coordinator. The Get Well Network includes movies, video games and access to the Internet. It also allows patients to order meals and shop at the hospital’s Gift Shop through the TV. Southard explained that the network empowers patients and their families to proactively learn about their medications, diagnoses, the discharge process and even how to care for themselves when they return home. “The idea behind this network was to create more patient engagement. Caregivers want to create a better experience and improve outcomes when it comes to patients. The Get Well Network can help us do that by providing the right resources to meet the patients’ needs at the right time,” said Southard. Overall, the new patient rooms were designed with optimized space for patients to heal, families to stay together and caregivers to provide the best care possible. “The previous rooms versus the rooms we have now are a night-and-day difference. We’re so proud of our new patient tower and the care that is provided to our patients on each of the units at Utah Valley Hospital,” said Cherrington. For more information go to utahvalleyhospital. org/magazine.
Nurses now closer to patients on all floors in new tower One of the more noticeable changes patients and visitors will see in the Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital’s new Pedersen Tower is patient-centered nurse stations. Instead of one central location where all caregivers gather to fill out charts or pick up supplies, patient-centered nursing stations are spread out along the north and south hallways on each floor. Maria Black, Utah Valley nurse administrator, said the decision to move to a patient-centered model was made based on exhaustive research conducted by hospital leaders and the hospital architect’s healthcare consultants. Resources included assessments from national experts in patient care featured in journals such as Health Environments Research & Design Journal, Health Facilities Management, and The Hastings Center Report. The Center for Health Design and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation were also consulted, as well as various healthcare organizations that had already made the transition to patient-centered care models. “The replacement project gave us the opportunity to improve our patient care environment. Studies show patient-centered nursing stations allow nurses to promptly respond to patient needs and spend more time in direct patient care,” said Black. “Patient-centered care is not only about modifying the physical environment, it is also about adjusting the way we provide nursing care. In addition to modifying our nursing stations, we also trained our caregivers to adjust their nursing care according to the needs of the patient,” added Black. In the past, Utah Valley had a Progressive Care Unit that treated patients who were too sick for a regular floor, but still did not meet the criteria for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Historically, this unit ran at 85 percent capacity or more, which often caused challenges for moving patient outs of the ICU. This same patient population can now be treated on any floor of the Pedersen Tower. Nurses received additional training before the new tower opened to be able to care for these higher acuity patients. “Our new nursing model improves the continuity of care for our patients. It also means patients will likely stay on the same unit (outside the ICU) throughout their hospital stay, with nursing adjusts patient care based on patient needs,” said Black. For more information go to utahvalleyhospital.org/magazine.
Five reasons the hospital has implemented patient-centered care: 1. Increased time at the bedside: Patient-centered stations position nurses at several locations closer to patient rooms instead of at a central hub. This new model allows caregivers to be more readily available to respond to the requests and needs of patients. The Multicare Health System in Washington adopted a similar approach and reported nurse time in the patient’s room went from 31 percent to 76 percent.
2. Improved patient safety: The number of patient falls goes down when nurses can spend more time with patients. The Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis implemented a similar model and saw a 66 percent decrease in the number of falls as well as a decrease in medication errors. 3. Higher satisfaction scores: Hospitals implementing this model have also seen patient satisfaction go up significantly because of faster response times and more nurse time spent at the bedside. 4. Less disruption for patients: With nurse servers outside each room and off-stage collaboration rooms on each floor, disruption to patients is minimized, resulting in more rest and improved healing.
5. Greater productivity: Because nurse stations and supply servers are located throughout a unit, caregivers have shorter walking distances to access patient rooms and patient supplies. Collaborative work spaces are available on each unit for teamwork and socializing.
“The Interventional Platform offers our community bigger, state-of-the-art integrated procedural rooms while providing the same great service all together for the first time.” ~ Mandie Allred ~ Nurse Manager for the Operating Rooms
New Interventional Platform brings increased efficiency, advanced technology The new Interventional Platform located on the second floor of Utah Valley Hospital’s Pedersen Tower is the first of its kind throughout the Intermountain Healthcare system and the state of Utah with 19 operating rooms, 71 private prep and recovery rooms, two catheterization labs, two electrophysiology labs, two interventional labs and six endoscopy suites. “This combination of specialties brings the highest safety, with the most flexibility regarding the type of procedure being done,” said Mandie Allred, nurse manager for the Operating Rooms. “The platform offers our community bigger, state-ofthe-art integrated procedural rooms while providing the same great service all together for the first time.” While designing the new platform, the team saw the potential for a seamless patient experience as well as physician and caregiver synergy and collaboration. This collaboration improves the efficiency and stewardship of resources and the ability to optimize staffing across departments. Within the 19 operating rooms, there’s one dedicated trauma room and one hybrid suite. The hybrid suite is a combination of three traditional surgical suites and makes it possible to simultaneously reach a diagnosis while providing treatment during a minimally invasive surgery or immediately switch over to an open surgery case, if necessary. The additional departments throughout the floor have been upgraded and improved to some of the best technology in the healthcare industry. Each new piece of technology was thoughtfully placed to help Utah Valley caregivers provide the best care to patients. The Interventional Radiology area uses a high resolution digital fluoroscopic x-ray to guide the interventional doctors as they perform a variety of complex procedures. Physicians also conduct other noninvasive procedures and deploy radioactive seeds for cancer treatment and embolization in various hemorrhage cases. The fully integrated system in the new catheterization labs
enables a physician to study the circulatory system of the heart using a minimally invasive technique to determine narrowing or blockages that can lead to a heart attack. When blockages or narrowing have occurred, this state-of-the-art lab with multidimensional screens help guide the physician in placing a heart stent to help restore blood flow. The electrophysiology labs have the latest imaging technology that provides less radiation to staff and patients. In the labs, life-saving measures are taken to restore irregular heart rhythms using radio frequency to ablate the heart and restore rhythm. The 71 prep and recovery rooms are larger and more patient and family friendly, including upgraded patient monitors and charging stations in each room for patient or family devices, such as phones or tablets. “Each room also has an upgraded entertainment and education system that includes movies, television, video games and shopping. It also has a library of patient education videos to educate patients and families on their procedure, medications and home care instructions,” said Paul Brown, nurse manager of Same-Day Surgery. The combined registration and waiting area was designed for comfort and privacy. Check-in kiosks speed up the registration process and keep the flow of patients to the procedural areas smooth and seamless. “This platform allows us to deliver on Intermountain Healthcare fundamentals of care — quality, safety, patient experience, access and stewardship at the highest level,” said Karen Dominguez, Utah valley Hospital operations officer. “There is synergy in bringing physicians and caregivers from all these specialties together while focusing their efforts on a seamless patient, physician and caregiver experience across the continuum of care.”
Philanthropists at the heart of Hospital Replacement Project The people of Provo have always been generous when it comes to supporting projects important to the community. What began as a vision to bring a stateof-the-art medical facility to Utah County in the 1930s became a reality in 1939 through the generosity of many residents who came together for the cause. Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital has been an integral part of the health and well-being of many communities in Utah County and beyond. In 2015, the hospital began construction on a $430 million Hospital Replacement Project. The project represented the largest investment ever made in the delivery of healthcare services in Utah County. The new buildings would provide spacious patient rooms, enhanced and expanded surgical and emergency services, consolidated cancer services, new patient care technologies and state-of-the-art equipment and clinical services. Accordingly, Intermountain Foundation at Utah Valley embarked on its Ascent Campaign, an unprecedented capital campaign with a goal of raising $30 million to help make the project a reality. A number of donors stepped forward to provide leadership gifts, including Todd and Andie Pedersen, The Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Blake and Nancy Roney Family, The Kahlert Foundation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Revere Health, Steve and Kalleen Lund, The Ashton Family Foundation, Jacobsen Construction, Alex and Debbie Dunn, Nu Skin and Fraser and Jennifer Bullock. Additionally, board members, physicians, retired physicians, employees, other caregivers and many additional community members
gave generously, boosting the total raised to nearly $38 million. “I continue to be amazed at the generosity of our community and community leaders, with many making transformative gifts. So many truly understand the value to having world-class healthcare in our community. Because of them, it happened! On behalf of every member of our community who will need our services, I express a sincere thank you for your vision and support,” said Joey Hansen, Foundation development executive director. Every donor has a personal story behind the generosity of their gift. One of those stories is of a woman who had many experiences at Utah Valley Hospital. When she had a wound that would not heal, the Hyperbaric Department made healing possible. When she had a problem with her heart, the Electrophysiology Lab placed the pacemaker that helps her heart continue in rhythm. When she awoke in pain in the middle of the night, the Emergency Department identified the issue and provided the solution to alleviate her pain. Because she was grateful for every time the hospital and staff touched her life, she gave generously to the Ascent Campaign to ensure that these and other services continue to help others. While more than 850 donors have already given to the Ascent Campaign, there is still opportunity for others in the community to come together, just as they did back in 1939. Giving and named recognition opportunities are still available and needed to help complete Utah Valley Hospital in the way that was envisioned and will serve the needs of the community for decades to come. Each gift makes a great difference for the hospital and for
Todd & Andie Pedersen
Blake & Nancy Roney the community. A family member cared for, a personal crisis overcome, a life saved, health and well-being restored—all threads that weave together to create the story of gratitude and generosity that have made the Ascent Campaign such a success so far. We invite you to add your thread to our story. If you’re interested in joining with those who have already given to help make world-class care available to everyone in our county, please call the Foundation at (801) 357-7600.
New buildings designed to be environmentally responsible As planning for the new Pedersen Tower and Sorenson Tower on the Utah Valley campus began some 10 years ago, Intermountain Healthcare officials knew the environmental effects of the buildings on the community would be considerable. They also knew they wanted to mitigate those effects as much as possible. For that reason, achieving LEED certification was always a priority for the project. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. Now, with the Sorensen tower - also known as the Utah Valley Clinic - operational for more than a year and the new Pedersen tower open since January, the final paperwork is being submitted and formal LEED certification is expected to be received soon for both structures. “If you think about all the utilities and everything being used in the hospital, that’s a big footprint in the community,” said Josh Rohatinsky, project manager for the Utah Valley Hospital Replacement Project. “Our goal from the beginning was to get LEED certification.” Buildings obtain certification through a point system, with points earned through utilizing environmentally responsible construction materials and methods. For hospitals, 40 points are needed to receive general LEED certification. Intermountain decided to go one step further, however, and achieve LEED Silver certification, which requires 50 points. Rohatinsky said it takes a lot of work in the planning stages of a building to ensure the structure will earn points. For the two towers at Utah Valley Hospital, that planning was underway as long as five to six years ago. “It’s a really cool to know Utah Valley Hospital, and Intermountain in general, were willing to go to that effort and jump through those hoops as we were making this a priority all those years ago,” Rohatinsky said.
There are seven different areas where points can be earned, with the Utah Valley Hospital projects obtaining points in each area, Rohatinsky said. They are: - Sustainable sites. Among other sustainability metrics, this area addresses the availability of alternative transportation such as public transport. For example, the Utah Valley Hospital projects earned a point for bicycle storage, which encourages employees to ride to work. - Water efficiency. One of the ways points were earned in this area was the use of xeriscaping, which is a landscaping method that reduces the need for irrigation water. “Obviously we want beautiful campuses that are welcoming and nice and inviting to everyone coming, but at the same time, if we can plan our landscaping and everything else in a way that uses the least amount of water possible … that’s a significant impact,” Rohatinsky said. - Energy and atmosphere. These points are achieved through designing the building to use as little energy as possible whether through conservation or efficiency. One example utilized in the Utah Valley Hospital projects was the installation of motion-sensitive lights in offices that turn off when there’s no activity, which saves power. - Materials and resources. Intermountain worked with its contractor to source certain materials that are more sustainable and environmentally friendly for use in the buildings’ construction. - Indoor environmental quality. Points were earned in this category for the utilization of “low-emitting materials,” which reduce the amount of chemical contaminants in the air, as well as the quality of the HVAC system installed in the buildings. - Innovation and design process. A point was earned by having a LEED-qualified professional on the buildings’ design team. - Regional priority credit. This category recognizes efforts to comply with local codes and local environmental priorities on both a city and state level. Rohatinsky said it costs more to construct a LEED-certified building, but it’s a way to give back to the community. “It’s pretty cool that we basically said that we’re willing to invest this amount of money to get this LEED certification because we know long term it’s the right thing for the community and the right thing for the environment,” he said. For more information go to utahvalleyhospital.org/magazine.
Hospital Replacement Project T • JUNE 17, 2015
Official Groundbreaking Ceremony
• JULY 2015
Demolition of Hyperbarics, Wound Care and Rehabilitation buildings
• OCTOBER 2015
Temporary helipad constructed on Fox Field
• NOVEMBER 2015
New South Parking lots open for caregiver use
• DECEMBER 2015
Sorenson Tower sitework begins
• JANUARY 2016
Steelwork begins on Pedersen Tower
• MAY 2016
Steelwork begins on Sorenson Tower
• JUNE 2016
Steelwork complete on Pedersen Tower
• OCTOBER 2016
Steelwork complete on Sorenson Tower
• NOVEMBER 2016
New Main Entrance canopy constructed on Pedersen Tower
• DECEMBER 2016
Drywall installation starts in Pedersen Tower
• MARCH 2017
Interim department phasing moves begin
• FEBRUARY 1, 2018
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for new Sorenson Tower
• FEBRUARY 12, 2018
Sorenson Tower opens
• MARCH 2018
Northwest Plaza demolition
• JULY 2018
Northwest parking lot completed
• OCTOBER 2018
Floors 4-11 of Pedersen Tower completed, caregiver training begins
• DECEMBER 2018
Floors 1-2 of Pedersen Tower completed
• JANUARY 10, 2019
Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for new Pedersen Tower
• JANUARY 27, 2019
Patient move day, Pedersen Tower
• FEBRUARY 18, 2019
Interventional Platform opens in Pedersen Tower
QUICK TOWER FACTS • Sorenson Legacy Tower Height – 159 feet tall Nine stories Size – 264,000 square feet • Ashton Auditorium 5274 square feet Divides into six rooms Seats 700 chairs only
• Simulation Center 1 simulation operation room 2 simulation patient rooms ‘
• LiVe Well Center 6000 square f
• Pedersen Patien Height – 209 f 12 stories Size – 597,000
• Rooms 234 patient ro 46 ED exam ro 20 ED observa 19 operating r 71 pre/post o
Timeline • 2015-2019
r feet
nt Tower feet tall
0 square feet
ooms ooms ation rooms rooms operation bays
• 30,280 pieces of equipment Non-IT: 19,456 IT: 10,824 New: 17,175 Existing: 13,105 Computers: 2,463 Trash cans: 2,712
• Construction details 4,000 tons of steel 1,936 new interior doors 410 interior windows 15,500 gallons of paint 6,374 exterior glass panels One lap around a corridor is 660 feet, so eight laps = 1 mile
• $50 million equipment cost Most expensive: MRI - $2.3 million Least expensive: Toilet seat cover dispenser - $4.78
Clinic’s unique design improves patient experience A wide variety of specialty and primary care clinics are now housed in the new Sorenson Legacy Tower on the Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital campus, creating a more convenient experience for patients in a more relaxed atmosphere. “We designed it after literally hundreds of hours of research interviewing patients, interviewing physicians and their staff, and actually going into different clinic designs and observing how things flow,” said Marshal Wilde, assistant operations officer for the Utah Valley Region of the Intermountain Medical Group. Construction of the nine-story building, which opened in February of 2018, allowed Intermountain Medical Group clinics operating in a variety of locations on the hospital’s campus to be brought together under one roof. Some were located in the Physicians Plaza while others were operating in the Northwest Plaza which has since been torn down - and the Utah Valley Outpatient Center. Collectively, they are now known as the Utah Valley Clinic. Its medical services range from pediatrics to senior medicine and nearly everything in between. It also is home to the Provo InstaCare, the only InstaCare in the county open until midnight. Gathering the clinics into one location has made receiving care much more convenient for patients. “A patient who has some chronic medical conditions may have had to see three different specialists in three different buildings across town from each other, but now they can come to one building,” Wilde said. This isn’t the only benefit patients enjoy at the Utah Valley Clinic. The building’s unique design was carefully crafted for patient comfort and staff efficiency. As patients arrive for their appointments, they are greeted at a reception desk. Waiting areas in the building are naturally lit and large windows provide picturesque views. The patients are then led by a medical assistant down a hallway and into an exam or procedure room. However, unlike most traditional doctor’s offices, these rooms have a second doorway leading into the clinic’s central working or “off-stage” area. Positioned in the center of the surrounding patient rooms, this area has work spaces for doctors and other staff members as well as storage for medications, supplies and equipment. Doctors and staff enter the exam rooms from their work space through these second doors. This design prevents patients from being exposed to the inner workings of the office, providing a more relaxed and private experience. All the taking of vital signs and even blood draws are done in the patient rooms. “Patients that we’ve talked to since moving
into the building have mentioned that it’s more calm, it’s less stressful, it’s quieter,” Wilde said. The design also benefits doctors and staff. Having their work spaces in the same area allows easier communication about patients, and the doctors can see every room from their work area. Care was also taken to provide storage in the area for medications, diagnostic tests, equipment and anything else doctors or staff might need. “We’ve designed it so everything is in their reach without having to spend extra time running to find things,” Wilde said, adding that the efficiencies built into the clinics have resulted in less waiting time for patients. Reaction to the Utah Valley Clinic since its opening has been positive from both patients and staff. “Everyone is overwhelmingly pleased with the overall design and the features of the building,” Wilde said.
Intermountain Medical Group Services housed within the Utah Valley Clinic are: • Allergy & ENT • Dermatology • Heart & Lung Surgical • Infectious Disease • InstaCare • Internal Medicine • Maternal-Fetal Medicine • Neurology • Palliative Care • Pediatrics • Pulmonary
• Physical Medicine & Rehab • Rock Canyon Pediatric Specialists • Psychiatry & Counseling • Senior Medicine • Summit Women’s Center • Stroke • Urology • Vascular Surgery • Vein Clinic
LiVe Well Center aims to help people live a healthier life Hospitals and medical clinics are set up to treat those who are ill. One center at Utah Valley Hospital, however, has the mission to help people avoid getting sick in the first place. “Our whole motto is we help people get well, stay well and live well for the rest of their lives” said Michelle Best, health and wellness operations manager of the LiVe Well Center at Utah Valley Hospital. As part of the Utah Valley Clinic in the new Sorensen Legacy Tower on the hospital’s campus, the LiVe Well Center offers personal assessments, fitness classes and one-on-one counseling to help clients eat well, move well, feel well and be well. Its staff members include nutritionists, a family practice physician, exercise specialists and a licensed clinical social worker who evaluate clients in areas such as physical activity, stress, sleep, relationships and emotional health. Based on the results, recommendations are made to help clients make and achieve goals and live a healthier life. “We really provide a wide range of health and wellness services,” Best said. “We’re really trying to be on the upstream edge of health care.” There is a lot of data showing that up to 50 percent of medical conditions can be prevented through lifestyle change, Best said. For example, from one-third to one-half of all Americans are thought to have prediabetes, but that can be corrected if a person changes some of their lifestyle decisions. The LiVe Well Center is open to the public; anyone can make an appointment for one of its wide variety of assessments or classes. Those interested in improving their physical health can sign up for assessments such as determining their body fat or resting metabolic rates. The center’s Functional Fitness Assessment tests flexibility, balance, muscular strength and cardiovascular fitness; the client then sits down with an exercise therapist and receives a customized exercise plan. The center has a large gym facility that houses cardio machines, free weights, strength training machines and men’s and women’s locker rooms. Next door to the gym area is a fitness studio where classes such as yoga and spinning are offered. “We have different options depending on whether someone is looking for more of a one-on-one experience or more of a group experience,” Best said. Specialty classes for those with limited physical ability are offered such as the Fallproof Balance & Mobility Class, which has proven effective in reducing the risk of falling, and the Build Me Up Class, which builds strength and endurance through exercises done while seated. For those looking to change their diet or learn more about healthy cooking techniques, the center has a teaching kitchen attached to a classroom where it holds a variety of classes. These include Healthy Meals in Minutes, which is led by trained chefs and a registered dietician, and Kids in the Kitchen, a five-week course geared toward kids ages 10 to 14. The center is not all about physical health, however. “The other kind of category of services that we offer is focused on mindfulness,” Best said. “Mindfulness is really just being present. It’s not thinking about what you did yesterday or what you’re
“Our whole motto is we help people get well, stay well and live well for the rest of their lives.” ~ Michelle Best ~ Health & Wellness Operations Manager LiVe Well Center, Utah Valley Hospital
going to do tomorrow. It’s just kind of fully immersing yourself in what’s happening around you in a given moment.” An eight-week class called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is offered at the center that has been shown to reduce mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety while also having benefits such as better pain management and glycemic control. An ongoing mindfulness class called Inner Wellness is offered once a week for those may not want to commit to an eight-week course. One of the more popular offerings is the Healthy Lifestyle Program. This six-month program addresses everything from diet to building healthy relationships and getting adequate sleep. In addition to classroom time, participants receive two one-hour personal training sessions in the gym and assessments at the beginning and end of the six months. “That’s actually been one of our most successful programs,” Best said, which was surprising considering the program has a $740 price tag. “I think people are realizing that they can kind of get the whole package in one …. It kind of makes sense,” she said. For more information about the LiVe Well Center and for a schedule of classes, visit https://intermountainhealthcare.org and search for “LiVe Well Center” or call the center at 801-357-4141.
Utah Valley Clinic adds internal medicine to be a one-stop shop for primay care In early 2018, Intermountain Utah Valley Clinic in the Sorenson Tower opened its doors to the community adding various primary care and specialty care services in one convenient location. The Intermountain clinics in the building had previously been spread across the Utah Valley Hospital campus and throughout the community. The new Sorenson Tower unified the various specialty and primary care clinics. “What we were going for is to make it easier for our patients to come to one single location to access any services a patient could want and need,” said David Prince, Communications Manager for Utah Valley Intermountain Medical Group. Internal medicine directs the care of adult patients Internal medicine is a vital service to adults in their journey to health. Internal medicine provides primary care to ages 17 and up. Although internists may be thought of as treating people with a myriad of diseases and conditions, they’re happy to treat and care for any individual looking for a provider to help navigate all healthcare. The Utah Valley Clinic Internal Medicine providers also work alongside specialists who can help tackle most any health condition from dermatology to cardiology and more. “A patient can work with one of our internal medicine doctors and if specialty care is required in most cases our internists can refer the patient to a specialist in the same building,” Prince said. Our internal medicine providers “Our goal is to help adult patients live the healthiest lives possible,” says Michael Doermann, DO. “We treat all kinds of conditions, including heart failure, A-fib, COPD, diabetes, anxiety and depression, obesity, high cholesterol and insomnia.” Dr. Doermann, DO, is a graduate of Touro University Nevada Medical School. He trained in
internal medicine at the Bingham Memorial Internal Residency Program in Blackfoot, Idaho. He is grateful to return to Utah County to establish his practice as part of Intermountain’s internal medicine team in Provo. He provides a listening ear and an understandable plan from the latest medical recommendations. His appointments are often 30-40 minutes to address each patient’s concerns. Dr. Doermann’s interests also include preventive medicine, specifically with diabetes due to 30 years of personal experience with type 1 diabetes. He enjoys learning new things, spending time with family, and being active outdoors. Dr. Doermann is joined at the clinic by Justin Jones, MD. Dr. Jones completed medical school at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, in Dallas and did his residency training in internal medicine in Denver, Colorado. Coming back home to practice medicine has been an exciting opportunity. He practices full-spectrum general internal medicine and enjoys being a primary care doctor for his patients whose ages range from 18-95. His areas of special interest include mental health and substance abuse. He also enjoys preventive medicine and figuring out how to get his patients off their medications, when possible. Both physicians aim to provide care to patients when they need it. Patients can count on being able to see either of the providers for instance if they’re dealing with a sudden illness. A patient can usually get a same-day appointment. This help them avoid waiting in line at an InstaCare or an emergency room. If a patient is dealing with something more serious, then the patient is already on the hospital campus and can be easily admitted to the hospital for more advanced treatment. If you’d like to learn more about Utah Valley Clinic Internal Medicine or make an appointment, please call 801-357-0570. Both Dr. Doermann and Dr. Jones are accepting new patients.
Healing Garden part of remaining work in Hospital Replacement Project Now that the Pedersen Tower is officially open at Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital, demolition work can begin on the old East Tower. Taking down the structure will create space for some unique features the hospital has never had before on campus. One of those features will be a spacious Healing Garden. The 2.3-acre (100,000 square feet) space will include a pond with a small waterfall, walking paths, benches and seating areas and plenty of green space. This natural healing environment will be visible from the new Pedersen Tower as well as from the Cancer Center and the Education Center, both located in the Sorenson Tower Adjacent to the Healing Garden will be an outdoor seating area for the new River Rock Café, located on the first floor of the hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Building. This area will give patients, visitors and hospital caregivers a chance to escape the sometimes-stressful world of medicine and rejuvenate in the sun. On the opposite side of campus from the Healing Garden will be a new pedestrian bridge crossing 500 West. Utah Valley Hospital, Revere Health, Provo City and the Utah Department of Transportation have worked together on the plans for the bridge that will connect into the 2nd Floor of the hospital’s Women’s and Children’s Building. Entry into the Women’s and Children’s Building at this location will provide easy access into the Interventional Platform, which includes the Operating Rooms, Catheterization Labs, Endoscopy, and Interventional Radiology. Many of the physicians who work in these areas have offices at Revere Health on the west side of 500 West, so the pedestrian bridge will create a safe route between the two locations. The bridge will be built off-site and delivered to the hospital once the second floor of the Women’s and Children’s Building is remodeled. This work is expected to be completed sometime in the middle of this year. Infrastructure for the bridge on both sides of the street will be built in the meantime. This will allow the bridge to go up overnight once it arrives onsite. On the south side of the hospital’s campus, the Laboratory building and hospital receiving dock will also be demolished. The Lab will relocate to the second floor of the Women’s and Children’s Building and the receiving dock will move to the east side of the hospital. “The Replacement Project has totally transformed Utah Valley’s campus. These last aspects of the project will benefit our patients, visitors, caregivers and physicians, and will improve the aesthetics of our campus to create an outdoor healing environment we have not previously had,” said Josh Rohatinsky, Project Manager for the Replacement Project. “We appreciate the cooperation and patience our community has shown throughout this entire process.” For more information go to utahvalleyhospital.org/magazine.
“The Replacement Project has totally transformed Utah Valley’s campus. These last aspects of the project will benefit our patients, visitors, caregivers and physicians, and will improve the aesthetics of our campus to create an outdoor healing environment we have not previously had. We appreciate the cooperation and patience our community has shown throughout this entire process.” ~ Josh Rohatinsky ~ Project Manager for the Hospital Replacement Project
HOSPITAL 1939
HOSPITAL 1950
Hospital provides 80 years of service to community • 1939-2019 Seeing a Need Utah Valley Hospital came to Provo in the fall of 1939 because of the commitment and foresight of medical, business, community, and ecclesiastical leaders. In a story that resonates today, the population of Utah County was growing rapidly, and a modern healthcare facility was needed close to home. The 1933 Provo Chamber of Commerce Annual Report stated, “Utah County’s need of a modern hospital is unquestioned.” The Chamber formed a hospital committee to lead planning and fundraising efforts that year. It was established that half of the doctors in Utah County were already practicing in Provo, so it was the natural location to build the hospital. Physicians were among the first to see the need and threw support behind the project. The hospital committee was chaired by local ophthalmologist Dr. L. Weston Oaks, who knew there were many people going north to hospitals in Salt Lake and generally, “our population is not properly educated to the normal function of hospitals in the saving of life and health” (Provo Chamber of Commerce Annual Report, 1933). It became the monumental task of the hospital committee to educate the community and raise money for the facility.
The Commonwealth Fund
The biggest problem faced by the committee was raising enough money to build the hospital and have extra funds to cover operations while the hospital was getting established. They knew it would be too much to ask the community for full financial support, so they looked to the Commonwealth Fund of New York. The Fund was a philanthropic foundation with the mission to improve education, research and healthcare in rural America. The Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically filled out detailed applications for a Commonwealth Fund grant in 1935 and 1936 – but was passed over each year.
Dr. Lloyd Cullimore, a member of the hospital committee, traveled to New York to find out what it would take to receive support for a hospital in Provo. The Fund executives said they understood the pressing need for the hospital but needed to see an endorsement of the project from the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were certain the hospital wouldn’t succeed without Church support. A special committee, which included Dr. Cullimore and local Church leader, T.N. Taylor, met with David O. McKay, counselor to Church President, Heber J. Grant. After hearing the endorsement request, the First Presidency of the Church wrote a check for $15,000 to the hospital committee and a letter of support was sent to the Commonwealth Fund. The grant was almost immediately approved. The Fund continued to be a great partner as it later helped with hiring, training and other operational support to ensure the success of the new hospital.
Community Responds
With the grant secured there was now the task of raising $90,000 locally. The country was still suffering through the Depression, but the community was energized by the grant.
HOSPITAL 1959 Volunteers rallied, going door-to-door asking for contributions, companies organized employee giving campaigns – even children got involved. The students at Wasatch Elementary collected glass bottles for cash and donated the proceeds. And, just as it has been for the last 80 years, some of the most generous contributions came from local physicians. A “Giant Thermometer Committee” worked to keep the progress top-of-mind by building a 14-foot high thermometer in downtown Provo. It was illuminated and “designed to show the people, night and day how contributions to the Utah Valley Hospital were mounting toward the $90,000 goal” (Clayton Jenkins. “Utah Valley Hospital: Brief Sketch of the Early Years.”) In just a few months, the goal was met with contributions from 4,000 individuals. This led to the design of “a people’s hospital” that would “give the nest of service to rich and poor, regardless of ability to pay.” (Provo Journal, July 10, 1937). This mission lives on today within the walls of the hospital and throughout the community.
Utah Valley Hospital Opens
After two years of planning and construction, the headline in the Daily Herald on Monday, September 11, 1939 announced, “Utah Valley Hospital Dedicated Sunday at Opening Ceremonies.” The same article reported that the $334,000 facility was dedicated by Heber J. Grant and more than 1,000 visitors attended the open house. The 55-bed hospital opened with 38 physicians, 22 nurses and, just as today, a volunteer governing board. In the first year, care was provided to 1,320 patients and 372 babies were delivered. Utah Valley Hospital’s role as the hub of healthcare for central Utah had begun.
The Changing Face of Hospital and Healthcare
Throughout the next 80 years, Utah Valley Hospital managed many changes. These changes started in 1951 with the first major expansion, which added 60 beds. Soon after, the board requested the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assume ownership of the hospital. This started a period of growth that saw the construction of the iconic X-building in 1958 and carried through the next 20 years. Intermountain Healthcare was established in 1975 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated its then
HOSPITAL 1998 15-hospital system to the communities they served. Inermountain was formed as a secular nonprofit organization to administer those hospitals. In 1970, four years after the introduction of Medicare in the United States, Utah Valley became the first hospital south of Salt Lake to offer a 24-hour emergency center. This, along with advances in modern technology, further secured Utah Valley as a regional center and increased the need for beds and specialty care. The seven-story East Tower was completed in 1978 with its 398 beds and in 1984 the hospital was renamed Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. The new name reflected its place as a major referral center caring for the needs of central and southern Utah. Construction of the West Building, Outpatient Center and South Building in the 1990s and early 2000s expanded surgical services, women’s and children’s, behavioral health, hyperbaric medicine and more. Modern advances in healthcare technology and the desire to give patients, families and caregivers the very best environment for healing, led to the 2014 announcement of the Hospital Replacement Project. This included the addition of education space, which is necessary as changing technology and best practices keep caregivers in a learning mode. Technology also had its impact on the name of the hospital. In 2015, it was announced that the medical center would change its name. The world of online search engines showed people in need of care, search the word hospital and not medical center. So, to help improve access and in a return to its roots, the center was renamed Utah Valley Hospital. The new name is now placed high atop the12-story Pedersen Patient Tower, the landmark of compassion, healing and innovation in Utah Valley. The significant completion of the Hospital Replacement Project during the 80- year anniversary is exciting for the community and those who work there. Zina Johnson, a nurse working at Utah Valley, remembers, “When I started working as a student nurse in May of 1977…the (East) Tower wasn’t completed and so we had the old X-building… where we only had two floors for patient care. One of the exciting things about moving in to the Pedersen Tower is the state-of-the art equipment that we have, the rooms we have, how they’ve been designed to be able to provide the very best patient care.” In its 80th year, Utah Valley Hospital is positioned to continue as the “people’s hospital” and provide the highest level of care throughout Utah County and central Utah for decades to come.
100 Top Hospitals® is a registered trademark of IBM Watson Health™ .
Nationally recognized for excellent care Utah Valley Hospital has been named to the IBM Watson Health Top 100 Hospitals list for 2019. The list spotlights top-performing hospitals in the U.S. based on publicly available data. Hospitals on the list had fewer complications, better survival rates, and higher patient satisfaction. No matter your healthcare needs, you can be confident you’ll receive excellent care at Utah Valley Hospital. For more information, visit utahvalleyhospital.org