OCTOBER 2020

INTERMOUNTAIN INITIATIVES

Intermountain, announce intent to merge

Merger expected to close in 2021 pending federal and state approvals

Intermountain Healthcare, a company at the forefront of value-based and digital healthcare, and Sanford Health, one of the nation’s leading systems in rural healthcare delivery and clinical research, have signed a letter of intent to develop a strategic partnership.

“Intermountain and Sanford have a shared vision of the future of healthcare and have the aligned values needed to better serve more communities across the nation,” says Marc Harrison, MD, president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare. “This merger enables our organizations to move more quickly to further implement value-based strategies and realize economies of scale. Through coordinated care, increased use of telehealth and digital health services, we will make healthcare more affordable for our communities.”

“For more than two decades, we’ve been focused on good growth, with the goal of driving innovation and bringing more affordable and accessible healthcare to the communities we serve,” says Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO of Sanford Health. “Today we’re marking another major milestone in our long history of working to change the course of healthcare across the globe. By coming together with Intermountain Healthcare, we will improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve and strengthen our impact in healthcare delivery and value.”

The boards of both not-for-profit organizations approved a resolution to support moving forward with the due diligence process. The organizations will enter this activity with the goal to sign a merger agreement that will bring both health systems together as a model for improving access to high-value healthcare across the U.S. The merger is expected to close in 2021 pending federal and state approvals.

The combined organization will employ more than 89,000 people, and operate 70 hospitals, many in rural communities. It will operate 435 clinics across seven states, provide senior care in 233 locations in 24 states, and insure 1.1 million people. The organization will have headquarters in and corporate offices in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Dr. Harrison will be president and CEO of the combined organization. Krabbenhoft will serve as president emeritus. Both organizations will continue to operate under their current names for the foreseeable future. Existing boards of trustees from both systems will join to form a combined board. A new executive committee of the board will be created with equal representation from members of the Intermountain and Sanford Health boards. Gail Miller, current chair of the Intermountain Board, will serve as board chair for the merged organization.

Sanford Health is dedicated to the integrated delivery of healthcare, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, the organization spans 24 states with 48,000 employees, 46 hospitals, 1,500 providers and 366 Good Samaritan Society senior care and living centers. Learn more about Sanford Health’s transformative work to improve the human condition at Sanford Health News.

Saltzer Health to join Intermountain Healthcare

Saltzer Health provides primary, specialty, and urgent care services

Nampa, -based Saltzer Health, a leading physician group in the Boise area, is joining Intermountain Healthcare. Saltzer Health has been owned by Ball Ventures Ahlquist (BVA), a commercial development and strategic capital investment joint venture, since early 2019.

Saltzer Health employs 39 physicians and 39 advanced practice providers serving 102,000 patients annually at eight locations in Idaho’s Canyon and Ada counties, and provides primary, specialty, and urgent care services. It has two clinics and a medical office complex under construction that are scheduled to open in the next few months. Intermountain employs about 2,500 physicians and advanced practice providers in Idaho, Utah, and Nevada at its 215 clinics and 24 hospitals.

In Idaho, Intermountain’s service area includes a hospital and clinics in the city of Burley. SelectHealth, the insurance arm of Intermountain, has been offering health insurance in the Boise area since 2012 and currently serves more than 104,000 Idaho residents across the state.

“We’re excited to join together with Saltzer Health,” said Marc Harrison, MD, Intermountain president and CEO. “Both organizations are like-minded and share a commitment to keeping people well and providing the communities we serve with high-quality, value-based care. We’ll bring together unique strengths to provide extraordinary health services to patients.”

“Intermountain and Saltzer Health desire the same thing—to provide great access to the highest quality care at an affordable cost,” said Ed Castledine, CEO of Saltzer Health.

“This association with Intermountain will enable Saltzer Health to better serve patients throughout our community,” said John Kaiser, MD, vice president and chief medical officer of Saltzer Health. “Intermountain has an excellent reputation for clinical excellence and health equity.”

“This is great news for Saltzer Health and the residents of the Treasure Valley,” said Tommy Ahlquist, MD, co-owner of BVA, the current owner of Saltzer Health. “The acquisition will enable Saltzer Health to align with an outstanding organization committed to value-based care and innovation.”

“We are so proud of the hard work of the Saltzer Health team and foresee an extraordinary future in partnership with Intermountain,” said Cortney Liddiard, CEO of Ball Ventures and co-owner of BVA. “The goal remains to make a difference by providing access to affordable healthcare.”

Saltzer Health providers will continue serving patients as they do now, working collaboratively with Idaho hospitals, physicians, and health insurance plans. Founded by Dr. Joseph Saltzer in 1961, Saltzer Health provides quality healthcare in Idaho’s Treasure Valley with a focus on transparency and affordability with providers patients come to know and trust.

Researchers develop new tool for COVID-19 patients

Clinical tool identifies, diagnoses those at high risk of serious inflammatory condition

Researchers at Intermountain Healthcare have developed a new clinical tool to accurately identify and diagnose COVID-19 patients who are at high risk of developing a serious inflammatory condition that can damage the lungs and other organs.

The new tool is a diagnostic clinical score that is used to determine whether patients with the virus are at increased risk of developing the condition, known as hyperinflammatory syndrome. It’s also sometimes referred to as a “cytokine storm” and can cause the immune system to react in an inappropriate and excessive way, causing significant damage to organs.

Diagnosing hyperinflammatory syndrome is very important. With the new scoring diagnostic criteria, clinicians can now identify patients early, and ideally prescribe treatments before the condition progresses and causes patients to deteriorate to critical levels.

Intermountain researchers studied the accuracy of the diagnostic tool as part of a new study published in the British medical journal, The Lancet Rheumatology. Learn more about the study here.

Intermountain partners with Notable Health to expand My Health+

Notable Platform empowers health systems to identify, engage patients in need of care

Intermountain Healthcare is partnering with Notable Health to reimagine the manual, repetitive administrative aspects of patient intake and post-visit follow-up into a fully automated, intuitive digital experience.

Intermountain is harnessing Notable Health’s platform to digitally transform ambulatory check-ins through mobile registration and virtual clinical intake for both in-person and telemedicine appointments. Available within general internal medicine groups in the Salt Lake City region, over 55 percent of patients from these clinics are now completing their entire digital check-in before their office visit, decreasing check-in time by 25 percent. Intermountain reports an industry-leading 94 percent patient satisfaction rating for their digital check-in and registration experience, including 86 percent for patients 65 and older.

Notable extends the capabilities of My Health+, Intermountain’s health app, with digital assistants that automate administrative workflows for staff, streamline the check-in experience for patients, and simplify follow-up for providers. Following an initial deployment that went live in less than one month and results realized across over 100 providers, Intermountain will scale the Notable Platform to support thousands of providers within additional specialties and states across the clinically integrated network in the coming months. Read more here. Intermountain’s Castell helps save Medicare $10 million

Savings amount is four times the amount Castell saved Medicare in 2018

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) recently announced the 2019 results for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. In just its second year in the program, Castell Accountable Care (previously Intermountain Accountable Care) received a quality score of 98.88 percent, placing it among the top 5 percent of ACOs nationally for quality. Simultaneously, the Castell ACO generated $10 million in savings for Medicare.

The savings amount is four times the amount Castell saved Medicare in 2018. Nationally, only 20 percent of ACOs that started in 2018 earned savings in both 2018 and 2019. Intermountain Medical Group was the sole participant in the Castell ACO during these years.

ACOs are groups of healthcare providers that voluntarily agree to be held accountable for the quality, cost, and experience of care for a population of fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries. Reducing Medicare spending saves the government and taxpayers money. The Medicare Shared Savings Program provides incentives for healthcare providers to keep patients healthy, improve health quality and patient outcomes, and lower costs. CMS evaluates how well each ACO meets these goals every year.

The Castell ACO generated savings for Medicare by keeping cost growth slower than the national average. This comes primarily through helping patients stay healthy to eliminate avoidable hospitalizations and smoothly transition home following a hospitalization. Performance on quality measures is a reflection of Intermountain’s low readmission rate, strong management of chronic conditions, and high patient experience ratings. Intermountain continued to improve on these measures in 2019, particularly in diabetes management and completion of falls risk assessments.

High performing ACOs receive a portion of any savings that result from reducing costs and meeting quality requirements, which helps support improvements in patient care. Per program guidelines, the ACO will receive $4.95 million of the savings, which will be used to reinvest in resources aligned with the ACO’s mission, such as creating additional data tools to improve quality and outcomes, providing primary care in the home, and forming better partnerships with specialists to ensure high-value specialty care.

More information is available here.

UPDATES AND FEATURES

Dr. Marc Harrison discusses our strategy, growth

Presentation the first in a series of quarterly updates to caregivers

Our strength comes from being bold and focusing on serving people. Because of that, we’re in a strong position to continue to evolve and grow, even in the face of the challenges we’ve experienced. That’s the message Intermountain CEO Marc Harrison, MD, delivered in the first in a series of quarterly updates to all Intermountain caregivers. Dr. Harrison shared where we stand as an organization (financially and clinically), our strategy for the future, and a look at what’s Intermountain Healthcare CEO Marc Harrison, MD, recently ahead. delivered the first in a series of quarterly updates to caregivers. In the presentation recorded earlier this month, Dr. Harrison talked with a small group of Intermountain caregivers from across the system and answered live, unscripted questions on subjects including managing supply chain costs, our move to value-based care, children’s health, achieving greater caregiver equity, and more.

Three ways COVID-19 will likely change healthcare

Dr. Harrison shares his perspective in Wall Street Journal article

Intermountain CEO Marc Harrison, MD, was one of six experts interviewed for a recent report in the Wall Street Journal about COVID-19’s lasting effects on healthcare. Three changes Dr. Harrison predicts:

• Increased use of technology • More preventive medicine • Making care more convenient and accessible. “[Healthcare delivery a decade from now will be] where you want it, when you want it, how you want it—probably for 90 or 95 percent of what’s delivered ... COVID-19 has accelerated the trend of care outside the hospital, including at home ... One thing I know is it’s going to be higher value—lower cost and higher quality.”

Dr. Harrison also said the pandemic has highlighted the need to remove racial disparities in care and to improve mental health care. Here’s a link to the full article, which is behind a paywall.

Intermountain joins Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact

More than 100 community, civic, and business leaders sign compact

Intermountain Healthcare is projected to save nearly $1 million by the end of 2020 thanks to LED lighting upgrades at all of their facilities—one of many sustainability steps the health system is taking to reduce its environmental footprint and make care more affordable for patients.

These savings come as Intermountain, Utah’s largest health system, joins more than 100 community, civic, and businesses leaders as an inaugural signer of the Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact, which focuses on broad initiatives statewide to solve these problems.

The Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact encourages pioneering leadership and collaboration to find practical climate and clean air solutions. It emphasizes a nonpartisan approach to solve a wide range of issues like health and wellbeing, the economy, and re-energizing rural communities.

“It’s incredible how small changes in efficiency can mean big steps toward a sustainable and resilient future,” said Glen Garrick, sustainability manager for Intermountain. “Every dollar we save on energy is money we can focus on the health of our patients.”

Three years ago, Intermountain began upgrading interior and exterior lighting to LEDs which use considerably less electricity than regular light bulbs. Thanks to partnerships and grants from utilities like Rocky Mountain Power, Intermountain was able to do more upgrades at all of its hospitals and facilities. New projections show these upgrades will save more than $952,000 by the end of this year. When retrofits are finished in 2021, those energy savings will top $1 million annually, enough electricity savings alone to power more than 1,470 homes.

“We see the impacts of poor air quality on our patients firsthand and we know bold steps and a steady, long-term commitment will make a difference,” said Mikelle Moore, senior vice president and chief community health officer for Intermountain Healthcare. “As both the largest employer and a major healthcare provider in the state, we have an opportunity to change our practices, influence others, and raise awareness. Together we can improve the health of our community.”

These lighting upgrades are just one of many sustainability projects Intermountain is undertaking. A key goal of Intermountain’s sustainability efforts is to help improve air quality across the state because of its negative impact on the health of Utah residents.

The largest contributor to the state’s air quality problems comes from vehicle exhaust. To combat this, Intermountain is in the process of converting 80 percent of its fleet to hybrid and electric vehicles by 2025.

In addition, Intermountain is exploring ways for some employees to work from home more often. In 2019, a work from home pilot program reduced caregiver driving miles by 3.2 million. That is expected to increase after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, since more caregivers have adjusted workflows allowing them to work remotely.

“We’re fully committed to working with community partners to reach the goals set in the climate compact. We know from experience our communities can step up to these major challenges when we work together,” said Moore.

Intermountain donates to suicide prevention campaign

Donation will help promote positive social norms, provide resources

Intermountain recently announced a $1.2 million contribution to further support Live On, a first-of-its- kind campaign to improve mental health and prevent suicide across Utah. Campaign partners will use mini-grants—made possible by Intermountain’s donation—to promote positive social norms, provide resources, and change the culture around suicide and mental health among the communities they serve. Utah has lost roughly 3,200 residents to suicide in the past five years. That’s why during Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Intermountain joined many community partners to support Live On.

Community rallies to support model health system for children

Gifts now top $100 million

Intermountain’s historic plan to build the nation’s model health system for children has received more than $100 million in gifts from community leaders so far, accelerating efforts to expand the clinical expertise of Primary Children’s Hospital to address the critical needs of kids throughout the Sarah and Nellie Mainor with Intermountain West. This includes a $50 million gift from Utah businesswoman, civic leader, philan- Gail Miller at Primary Children's thropist, and Intermountain Board Chair Gail Miller and the Miller family, which was announced in Hospital. January. Read more here and watch a video highlighting the model healthcare system here. Doctor’s ‘miracle boy’ fights late-stage cancer through TheraMap testing

TheraMap analyzes, interprets gene mutations in a patient’s tumor DNA

Having lived a relatively healthy life, Robert Chisum wasn’t concerned when he went in for a scheduled surgery to remove a small lump from his neck. But to his surprise, the results of the biopsy came back positive for gastroesophageal cancer. Physicians soon delivered additional bad news: the After receiving immunotherapy cancer was Stage IV and had spread to his abdomen, liver, and kidneys; Chisum was told that he treatment, Robert Chisum is likely wouldn’t live to see his next birthday. disease and pain free, living an active lifestyle on the golf course, going to the gym, and Chisum immediately started on numerous rounds of chemotherapy that produced no positive results. playing cards. “It was heartbreaking to see him deteriorate so quickly,” said Chisum’s wife. “He was at his worst.”

Chisum’s oncologist, Lincoln Nadauld, MD, PhD, vice president and chief of Precision Health and Genomics at Intermountain, recommended TheraMap, a test for late-stage cancer patients. Using state-of-the-art genomic technology, TheraMap analyzes and interprets gene mutations in a patient’s tumor DNA—with the ability to detect mutation types across more than 500 genes relevant to cancer treatment.

TheraMap results are then reviewed by Intermountain Precision Genomics’ molecular tumor board that provides recommendations for treatments and therapies, giving oncologists the information and support they need to prepare a customized, targeted treatment plan for each patient.

Based on the TheraMap test results, Dr. Nadauld threw what Chisum called a “Hail Mary,” and started Chisum on immunotherapy treatment, a personalized infusion that boosts the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. Chisum started the first dose of his targeted immunotherapy in May 2016 and had a complete response to the medication. By November of the same year, his scans showed that he was cancer free.

“Dr. Nadauld calls me his miracle boy,” Chisum proudly said. “He’s never had anyone that close to the edge and come back.”

Chisum, too, was astonished at how great he felt throughout his immunotherapy and how effective the treatments were.

Today, he remains disease and pain free, living an active lifestyle on the golf course, going to the gym, and playing cards with friends. Watch Chisum’s story here.

“We are pleased with the advances in TheraMap that will continue to help our late-stage cancer patients see better results: a longer, improved quality of life,” said Dr. Nadauld.

New CMO for Community-Based Care, president of Medical Group selected

Shannon Phillips, MD, MPH, to lead more than 2,500 employed physicians, advanced practice providers

Shannon Phillips, MD, MPH, has been named Intermountain Healthcare’s chief medical officer for Community-Based Care and president of the Intermountain Medical Group, which includes more than 2,500 employed physicians and advanced practice providers. Dr. Phillips joined Intermountain from the Cleveland Clinic in 2017 as chief patient experience officer. She serves on the board of directors of the National Quality Forum.

She has practiced as a pediatric hospitalist for 25 years (currently at Primary Children’s Hospital) and serves on the executive committee of the Council on Quality Improvement and Patient Safety of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a senior fellow in Hospital Medicine.

Dr. Phillips earned her undergraduate degree from Emory University, medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Shannon Phillips, MD, MPH, National Medical Center. She earned a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. has been named chief medical officer for Community-Based In 2018 and 2020, Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Dr. Phillips as one of the 25 Hospital and Care and president of the Health System CXOs to Know. In 2020, Becker’s Hospital Review also recognized her as a 50 Hospital Intermountain Medical Group. and Health System Patient Safety Experts to Know.

“Dr. Phillips brings proven leadership, a strong commitment to physicians and caregivers, and deep understanding of improving clinical care,” said Mark Briesacher, MD, senior vice president and chief physician executive at Intermountain Healthcare.

“She is a strategic thinker who has transformed the industry with new approaches to caring in every moment that patients and consumers experience, while reinforcing the importance of the experience for physicians, advanced practice providers, and their teams as they deliver and continually improve care,” Dr. Briesacher added “She is a positive and collaborative leader who advocates for physicians and all providers as we continue to come together as One Intermountain.”

ACCESS

Connect Care Behavioral Health now available

Appointments for adults available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Connect Care Behavioral Health recently launched to provide virtual psychiatric care from anywhere in Utah or Idaho. Treatment is provided for mild-to-moderate conditions of anxiety, depression, addiction, and more—including medication prescribing and management. Appointments for adults are available daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including same-day appointments, by calling 833-442- 2670. And beginning November 1, appointments can be scheduled on the MyHealth+ app.

Intermountain, community partners distribute free gun locks

Effort designed to help Utah families and loved ones increase safety in their homes

Intermountain Healthcare is collaborating with the Utah Shooting Sports Council and key community partners to develop and distribute educational materials and more than 20,000 free gun locks to gun owners throughout Utah.

This collaborative effort is designed to help Utah families and loved ones increase safety in their homes—values that are aligned with Intermountain’s suicide prevention goals. This initiative is especially important right now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when firearm sales in Utah have increased and psychological stresses have been heightened.

Gun locks and safe gun storage are an important safety measure especially when someone is at risk for suicide. Intermountain and the Utah Shooting Sports Council have come together on this issue, recognizing that firearms are the leading method of suicide in the state and putting time and distance between a gun and a person in crisis can save a life.

The Utah Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health has also partnered with Intermountain for the purchase of 20,000 additional gun locks to go to medical facilities.

The free gun locks are available at hospitals and clinics, and other organizations have also stepped up to provide them. They include MountainStar Healthcare, Health, Uintah Basin Healthcare, Hill Air Force Base, and others.

Intermountain has more suicide prevention resources and trainings available at intermountainhealthcare.org/zerosuicide.

More information about this collaboration is available here.

Telehealth growth during COVID-19 reaches 1.4 million virtual connections

Intermountain using virtual care, remote technologies to reach patients

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Intermountain’s telehealth program was in an ideal position to respond. The team was ready with an established infrastructure and partnerships to ramp up virtual care. And the pandemic put telehealth services on warp speed to meet exploding needs as caregivers, providers, and patients have navigated the health crisis. Some things we’ve done: Connect Care increased by 300 percent, with total patient video visits growing from 100 visits in February to 200,000 total visits in July.

Before COVID-19, about 250 physicians were trained for scheduled video visits with patients, doing about 80 visits a week. Now there are 3,000 physicians doing 6,000 remote video visits a week. A new remote patient monitoring platform has been established for COVID-19 patients who don't need to be admitted to the hospital but who need their vital signs monitored. Read more here.

EVENTS AND RECOGNITION

Intermountain leader recognized by Modern Healthcare

Community health director included in Top 25 Emerging Leaders

Morissa Henn, DrPH, community health director at Intermountain Healthcare, is among Modern Healthcare’s 2020 class of Top 25 Emerging Leaders. Modern Healthcare, the leader in healthcare business news, research and data, annually honors emerging leaders, all 40 or younger, who have made significant contributions in the areas of innovation and financial, operational, and clinical excellence early in their careers. Morissa Henn, DrPH, community health director at Intermountain Dr. Henn joined Intermountain in 2017 and worked to build collaboration with many community partners to address the urgent issue of suicide. In national recognition of her efforts, particularly in engaging gun owners and advocates, Rep. John Lewis invited Dr. Henn to provide expert testimony at a 2019 U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing on preventing gun violence. In her expanded role leading community mental well-being, Dr. Henn recently has overseen the development of the Emotional Health Relief Hotline, a free call-in service offering comprehensive mental health resources and connection to telehealth services to thousands of Utahns since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more about Dr. Henn here.