Quoteworthy
It’s important as health care providers to not assume what someone’s journey might look like but to be aware of the services offered to patients."
Ariel Malan and Andy Rivera

Most Recent
Webside Manner: Three Core Competencies to Master

Just because we use technology every day doesn’t necessarily make us excellent virtual care providers. Melissa Briley, physician assistant at Redstone Health Center, shares three core competencies needed to master the delivery of high quality virtual care.

Small Goals Can Help You Get to Great Heights

Setting goals is part of human nature, and the beginning of a new year always seems to accelerate it. Senior Value Engineer Cindy Spangler provides a framework for breaking down larger goals into smaller, more manageable steps so you’re set up for success.

Three Lessons from Training Llamas

A weekend adventure with his son to hike with llamas at Capitol Reef National park reminded Senior Value Engineer Luca Boi about the value of good training. Here he describes three llama-derived, human-centered principles for providing a more reliable patient experience.

How To Plan a SMART Thanksgiving

Large gatherings are out for the holidays this year. Thankfully, Senior Value Engineer and Thanksgiving enthusiast Cindy Spangler is prepared. She’s drawing from her improvement toolbox to rethink both what and how to celebrate safely this year.

How Utah’s Cardiovascular Center Made (and Sustains) the Transition to Virtual Care

Director Lora Stratton details how Utah’s Cardiovascular Center leveraged team creativity and rapid problem solving to make—and sustain—the shift to virtual care. Cardiologist Anu Abraham shares what it looks like in practice.

Find the Root of the Problem to Achieve Long Term Solutions

Anesthesiology techs are essential to the care team, but they are challenged by high turnover. Anesthesia resident Michael Van Tienderen, who was a tech for seven years before going to medical school, worked with fellow resident Matt O’Neal, anesthesiologist Emily Drennan, and senior value engineer Cindy Spangler to develop a lasting solution focused on culture change and career growth for these crucial care team members.

Respect the Disease Process—Don’t Fear It

Kim Orton, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Coordinator for Epilepsy within the Division of Neurology, shares some insights on what it's like returning to the workplace and how we can keep each other safe.

Safety Is Central To Our "New Normal"

In this new miniseries director of patient safety Iona Thraen examines our safety and quality improvement efforts through the clarifying lens of our coronavirus response. Part 1 focuses on patient-centered care and patient safety and proves just how much patient safety is embedded in our culture.

Utah Advanced Communication Training (UACT)

“This is why I went into medicine—to talk to my patients and show them humanity.” In the rapid day-to-day clinical setting, that’s harder to find. Utah Advanced Communication Training (UACT) provides practical tools to enhance patient and peer interactions.

Thank You For Being Human

Patient care starts and ends with connection, whether it's in-person or virtual. Chief Medical Information Officer Maia Hightower, Medical Assistant Eileen Prats, and Physician Assistant Christin Van Dine share how a five element virtual visit is built on person-to-person human connection.

SPIKES: A Strategy for Delivering Bad News

No one likes to be the bearer of bad news—but in health care, it’s part of the job. Fortunately, there’s a simple framework to help us get through it. Hospitalist and UACT co-director Claire Ciarkowski introduces SPIKES: a simple mnemonic for delivering bad news.

Draw on a Wide Range of Evidence to Jump Start Your Improvement Project

Finding evidence to change the status quo isn’t easy; thinking about evidence in terms of how it persuades—whether subjective or objective—can make it easier. Plastic surgery resident Dino Maglić and his colleagues followed their guts and saved money by improving the laceration trays used to treat patients in the emergency department.