Utah Models and Innovations

These stories feature model programs and successful rural projects that can serve as a source of ideas. Some of the projects or programs may no longer be active. Read about the criteria and evidence-base for programs included.

Effective Examples

New Mexico Mobile Screening Program for Miners
Updated/reviewed December 2019

• Need: To increase access to medical screening for miners in New Mexico.
• Intervention: A mobile screening clinic with telemedicine capability screens miners for respiratory and other conditions.
• Results: In a survey, 92% of miners reported their care as very good, while the other 8% reported it as good. The program has expanded to three other states.

Other Project Examples

Canyon Creek Services
Updated/reviewed January 2020

• Need: To reduce and prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in Utah's rural Beaver, Garfield, and Iron counties.
• Intervention: Canyon Creek Services provides a 24/7 emergency hotline, emergency shelter, hospital response, crisis intervention, housing advocacy, and community education.
• Results: From July 2018 to June 2019, CCS served over 750 survivors, 193 of them seeking emergency shelter. CCS held 22 different awareness events and presented within the community 70 different times with over 14,000 participants.

Utah Rural Independent Hospital Network
Updated/reviewed April 2019

• Need: To help ensure the viability of and improve quality at 9 rural, independent hospitals serving 11 Utah counties.
• Intervention: A network organization was created to allow member hospitals to communicate, network, and undertake projects together.
• Results: Members take advantage of cost savings, education, and networking opportunities through group projects and programs.

Hope Squad
Updated/reviewed March 2019

• Need: To reduce youth suicide rates.
• Intervention: Hope Squad is a nationwide program that trains youth to look after their classmates and refer those with suicidal thoughts or other mental health concerns to adult advisors.
• Results: Surveys reveal higher help-seeking behavior in schools with Hope Squads than schools without. They also indicate that Hope Squad members increase and retain their knowledge of suicide and increase help-seeking behaviors after completing training.

Western Healthcare Alliance Laboratory Services Network
Updated/reviewed December 2018

• Need: Increased efficiency for medical laboratory testing in rural western Colorado and Utah hospitals.
• Intervention: Creation of a network for education, operational consulting, best practice development, and group contracting with discounted services for hospital laboratories.
• Results: Lower laboratory testing costs with improved quality, efficiency, and turnaround times leading to increased healthcare quality.

Intermountain Healthcare Connect Care Pro®
Updated/reviewed October 2018

• Need: An aging population, shortage of medical providers, and reforms in reimbursement systems were just some of the challenges for rural areas recognized by Intermountain Healthcare.
• Intervention: In response, they've developed an Intermountain TeleHealth Services strategy to provide consultation and emergency medical help electronically for patients and clinicians in both urban and remote areas.
• Results: Intermountain has installed video and audio conferencing platforms in over 1,200 locations. To date, mortality rates and length of hospital stays have decreased, and patient retention has increased.

Wholesome Rx
Updated/reviewed June 2018

• Need: A tangible way for providers to increase patients' access to affordable healthy food.
• Intervention: With Wholesome Rx, a fruit and vegetable prescription program, providers prescribe vouchers for patients to redeem for fruits and vegetables at local healthy food retailers.
• Results: Over 10,000 people have received Wholesome Rx prescriptions in rural and urban areas across 10 states.