Intermountain West Valley Clinic

It's HOT outside! If you're spending time outdoors, you may be wondering if water is enough to keep you hydrated.

Here's what you need to know from Intermountain Health dieticians.

Water is all you need if you are going to be exercising less than an hour.
You'll want to add in a sports drink with electrolytes if you're exercising longer than an hour or sweating a lot. The sports drink has minerals like sodium, potassium, and sugar to help keep you hydrated. But if your body isn't losing all those nutrients through sweat, you end up with empty calories and extra sodium.

WEEK 7 Mental Health Exercise

I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.
—ANNE FRANK

Mind Dump Exercise
Take 5 to 10 minutes and dump out all the thoughts lingering in your mind. Use a pen and a piece of paper to write down all of the thoughts that are bothering you.

In the words of Celine, "Near, Far, Wherever you are..." take pride in your health! (We added that last part but we're sure our Canadian Queen would agree.)

We know not everyone lives close to a healthcare provider, especially if you need a more specialized provider. That is why we offer telehealth and virtual visits for most providers in the state of Utah. All of the LGBTQIA+ clinically competent providers at our Salt Lake Clinic are available for virtual videos across the state.

Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital celebrated Zafiro Portillo Primera, a high school intern, Arrupe Jesuit High School graduate and recipient of the prestigious Daniels Scholarship. She has been accepted into the nursing program at Regis University.

Zafiro is one of many students from Arrupe and Denver Public Schools who participate in an internship, mentorship, or job training program at the hospital each year.

The internship at Saint Joseph influenced Portillo Primera's decision to pursue nursing in college, she said.

She spent this past school year working at Saint Joe’s Education and Simulation Lab, creating materials for caregiver education including models for practicing medical procedures. She was nominated for a special employee recognition during the internship because of her passion and curiosity for learning. She shared that she hopes to come back to work at Saint Joe’s when she finishes her studies.

Zafiro also interned at a corporate office but knew that her future career plans were in healthcare. She had heart surgery at the age of 10 and remembered how kind the nurses were and how the caregivers educated her about her condition.

We can't wait to see what the future holds for you, Zafiro!

WEEK 6 Mental Health Exercise

1-Minute Meditation with Breath Focus
Close your eyes and pay attention to your breath as you inhale and exhale for one full minute. Experience the breath coming in and the breath going out. Notice the path your breath takes through your body as you inhale and exhale.

Take pride in your health! Your care should be with those who understand, affirm, and celebrate you. Find clinically competent providers who support and respect your health journey. 🏳️‍🌈💪👩‍⚕️

Intermountain Health has been ranked the top large health system in the nation by Fortune magazine and PINC AI, as a part of their annual evaluation and rankings of the nation’s best health systems for 2024.

The Fortune/PINC AI ranking is based off publicly available health data from 355 health systems across the country. The study looked at eight performance indicators including clinical outcomes, inpatient mortality, average length of hospital stays, and overall patient experience.

This is Intermountain Health’s second consecutive year on the prestigious list – and the first time the health system has been being ranked number one.

Intermountain continues to be a national leader in healthcare thanks to its outstanding clinical outcomes, cutting-edge medical research to enhance patient care, telehealth capabilities to enhance access, and focus on preventive care and overall wellness.

Intermountain’s efforts have also brought a streamlined approach to ensure patients have access to the best medical care possible. By adopting best practices at all their hospitals and clinics it’s helping standardize high level of care in all the communities they serve.

Come see us at the Pride festival in downtown Salt Lake City on June 1-2. We will have fun gifts for the entire family, wellness screenings, resources for affordable health coverage and experts from Intermountain’s LGBTQ Care clinic.

And we will see you at the Pride parade on Sunday.

TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR HEALTH with us.

Parenting is often romanticized and therefore struggling with parenthood and/or a new baby can make a parent reluctant to ask for help. This is a major life adjustment and some struggle is normal. Don’t be embarrassed to talk to your provider about anxiety or depression. At Intermountain, mental health screenings are part of primary care. It’s ok to ask questions. The world has gone through significant changes in the last year. Help is everywhere. Just open your mouth and ask.

WEEK 5 Mental Health Exercise

You are what you believe yourself to be.
—PAULO COELHO

Celebrate YOU
Write down three positive things about yourself. What are your strengths? What are physical characteristics that you like about yourself? What personal characteristics are you most proud of?

Anxiety is like a virus and runs around and attaches to whatever it wants. Under normal conditions, women are somewhat socially isolated when they have a baby. They’ve taken time off work or quit their job and are spending more time at home. Isolation is different right now, because everyone has felt some isolation during the pandemic.

While this is maternal mental health month, let’s not forget that adjustment can be hard for the partners, too.

The month of May means a lot of focus on mental health as May is Mental health Month. There is also a focus on moms and the issues that affect them, and it’s also Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month worldwide.

“Being pregnant or being a new mom means a woman and those around her (whether her partner, other kids, family, etc) will be making a lot of changes. Even planned, sought-after changes bring stress. By nature, moms have another person’s needs to care for and think about, besides managing their own personal needs,” said Kim Myers, social worker at Intermountain Health. "Not to mention the psyiological changes such as hormonal changes and significant changes to sleep patterns."

As an EMS helicopter pilot on the night shift in Moab, Utah, Dave Ballard likes the challenge of getting places that are hard to get. He’s flown on a lot of search-and-rescue missions since he started at Classic Air in 2013, but the most impactful was perhaps the one he didn’t fly – when, after an accident in a Moab canyon, his team came to rescue him.

Here's his story:
"I was working nights, so during the day in Moab there’s plenty to explore and do. About two years ago I went out with my friend and coworker, who’s a medic at Classic and also works with Grand County Search and Rescue. We were just doing some canyoneering and he was teaching me some rope work in an area called Moon Flower, where we would rappel down into the canyon and then walk back out to his truck.

We had finished the rappel and were walking out, and there was an area where there was a little steeper incline, and I misstepped and slipped, and I kept on sliding and went off about a 30-foot cliff. I broke many bones, but mostly both my feet and ankles. Plus my back and some ribs.

I got pretty tore up, but I was with the exact person you want to be with when something goes wrong. Jake got to me and stabilized me. It was surreal, because, you know, how many times have we gone into that situation to pick up somebody who’d fallen. Now being in that situation, what helped me stay calm and present was running through the flight planning: Okay, we gotta get a call out, we gotta activate everybody. And then my team that I flew with the night before, and obviously the day pilot, came in and picked me up and took care of me. And that was really comforting, knowing your own people are taking care of you.

My work family and all of Classic were there through and through. There was a time where I didn’t think I would be able to get back to flying, and Classic was always very supportive and would tell me I’d always have a place to work at Classic. They took care of me."

Dave recovered and while he isn't able to do all the things he could before his accident, he continues to fly rescue flights for Classic Air!

WEEK 4 Mental Health Exercise

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky.
Conscious breathing is my anchor.
—THICH NHAT HANH

Take 10 Breaths for Relaxation
Take a moment to pause and simply pay attention to the sensation of 10 breaths for relaxation. Notice where you feel your breath. Is it through the rise and fall of your chest? Is it in the expanding and contracting of your belly? You can place your hand on your chest as you pay attention to your breath. Do this at your own pace and don’t worry if the mind wanders. Feel your body and your mind start to relax with each breath.

At Intermountain Healthcare we offer behavioral health services through your primary care provider. We use a team-based approach to your healthcare. We do this though programs such as Mental Health Integration, Collaborative Care, and Personalized Primary Care. These work together to address your unique healthcare needs. Mental Health Integration is a program that focuses on quickly identifying mental health concerns and connecting you to the best resources. Our focus is on helping you return to enjoying life and the relationships that make it meaningful.

It's that time of year we are spending more time outside and might take a few more bumps to the head. While you should ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET while doing anything that makes you go faster than a run, sometimes an injury is unavoidable.

Concussions happen when a sudden blow or bump to the head interrupts normal brain activity and disturbs the way your brain works; they can often occur following car accidents, falls, or other contact sports.

Concussions can leave you feeling confused, dazed, and may make it difficult to remember the events surrounding your injury. Additional symptoms may appear within the first few days after the injury occurs. Many symptoms may go away on their own, however others may indicate more serious complications. Make sure to treat your concussion like the injury it is so that you can get back to feeling and acting like yourself!

It’s not too late to make sure you and your family are protected from the flu this holiday season! Get your flu vaccine today to make sure you’re protected for all your upcoming gatherings.

Getting a yearly flu shot is the most effective way to protect yourself from the flu virus. It is covered by Medicare and most health plans. Go to IntermountaHealth.org/flu for more information.

THIS SATURDAY! FREE ACTIVITY! EVERYONE WELCOME😎
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Have fun and join us for a healthy walk on Saturday, Nov 24 at 9am at Liberty Park (rain or shine). You’ll take a few minutes to learn about a current health topic; then spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and conversation with a doc. It’s a great way to get out, get active, and enjoy good conversation. Walk your own pace and distance.
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LIBERTY PARK, 600 E 900 S, in Salt Lake City at the Rice Pavilion (North east corner)

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Kelly Howard lost her son to opioid addiction and now uses his story to help others dealing with addiction in their family http://Intr.mn/jrEF30lreaz

Intermountain Caregiver Uses Her Loss to Help Others Battling Opioid Addiction Kelly decided to share her personal story after years of suffering as her son, Billy Perkins, became addicted to opioids and other drugs – an addiction that resulted in his death. Now she is trying to help others – even if it is just one person or family.

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Make sure your child is ready for back-to-school with these tips! http://Intr.mn/FBJ430lohUJ

Childrens Health Back to School Immunizations Pencils and binders are not the only thing students need as they prepare to return to school. Children entering kindergarten or seventh grade are required by Utah law to receive standard immunizations before classes begin again.

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Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten? Each child is different. With some children, it’s easy to tell when they’re ready for school. Watch for these signs to know when your child is ready for Kindergarten.

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Strengthening Your Immune System Before You Get Sick It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re sick, but a strong immune system can help you avoid getting sick or take the edge off your symptoms.