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Updates from Utah Gov - Organizations

Thursday, February 9, 2017 - 10:45am
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New Senior Vice President for Intermountain Medical Group and Medical Staff

Dr. Mark Briesacher takes on new role at Intermountain Healthcare

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, USA, February 8, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Mark Briesacher, MD, has officially started as the new Senior Vice President for Intermountain Medical Group and Medical Staff.

In this role, Dr. Briesacher will lead and work with all Medical Group and Medical Staff physicians and advanced practice clinicians, continuing to advance Intermountain’s strategies to be a national and international leader in providing safe, high-quality care with industry-leading patient and customer experience and access. He succeeds Linda C. Leckman, MD, who retired as Vice President of Intermountain Healthcare and Chief Executive Officer of the Intermountain Medical Group on February 3, 2017.

Dr. Briesacher has had a distinguished career in pediatrics and as a health system physician leader. He most recently served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration on the Management Committee of Intermountain Healthcare, to which he was promoted in 2016.

In earlier roles, Dr. Briesacher was Chief Resident for the Department of Pediatrics at Primary Children’s Hospital. He then practiced general pediatrics for 15 years for the Medical Group, where he served in several leadership positions, including Senior Administrative Medical Director from 2010-2013. He served on the Intermountain Board of Trustees from 2005 through 2008, and is currently a member of the SelectHealth Board of Trustees and the Intermountain Medical Group Board. Most recently, Dr. Briesacher led the process to evaluate supplier options for Intermountain’s clinical and business information systems, and after the selection of Cerner, led the configuration, implementation, and adoption of the new software system.

“This is a great time to be in healthcare and to be part of Intermountain. Our physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and caregivers have a unique opportunity to make great strides in patient safety, quality, experience, and access, and to continue to transition to clinical practice models that our communities can afford,” says Dr. Briesacher. “Our patients always come first. Our caregivers, with their incredible clinical skills, compassion, and commitment, move us forward in our mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible.”

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Briesacher received his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry at Central Methodist College and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He then moved to Salt Lake City and completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics at the University of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare's Primary Children’s Hospital.

Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based not-for-profit system of 22 hospitals, 185 clinics, a Medical Group with about 1,500 employed physicians and advanced practitioners, a health plans group called SelectHealth, and other medical services. Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through high quality and sustainable costs. For more information about Intermountain, visit www.intermountainhealthcare.org.

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AFP-UT Calls on Congressional Delegation to Oppose Border Adjustment Tax

 

Coalition to host press conference

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – On Thursday, February 9, 2017, Americans for Prosperity-Utah will join the other members of the Americans for Affordable Products (AAP), a coalition of well over 150 businesses and trade associations united to stop the Border Adjustment Tax (BAT), and its resulting higher prices on everyday necessities. The group will host a press conference at 9:00 am MT in the Hall of Governors at the Utah State Capitol to thank Senator Mike Lee for his opposition, and to encourage Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch to do the same.

Evelyn Everton, State Director for Americans for Prosperity-Utah released the following statement:

"Utahns expect their elected officials in Washington to work on meaningful tax reform now. However, the inclusion of a Border-Adjusted Tax would seriously threaten the possibility for real reform. We commend Senator Lee for his commitment to oppose this policy that would increase consumer prices and distort markets. We hope that Senator Hatch joins us in opposing this policy and will instead focus on tax reform which produces strong economic growth." 

View AFP letter of opposition to BAT

If enacted, BAT could increase prices on a wide range of basic, everyday items like food, medicine, gas and clothing.

 

Who: Dave Davis, President, Utah Retail Merchants Association and Utah Food Industry Association, Evelyn Everton, State Director, Americans for Prosperity-Utah Chapter, Terry Veenendaal, Division Manager of Southwind Foods, Salt Lake City, Utah

What: Press Conference on opposition to Border Adjustment Tax

When: 9 a.m. MT | February 9, 2017

Where: Utah State Capitol Building, Hall of Governors, 350 State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

 

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) exists to recruit, educate, and mobilize citizens in support of the policies and goals of a free society at the local, state, and federal level, helping every American live their dream – especially the least fortunate. AFP has more than 3.2 million activists across the nation, a local infrastructure that includes 35 state chapters, and has received financial support from more than 100,000 Americans in all 50 states. For more information, visit www.AmericansForProsperity.org

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Addiction, defined as a biological, psychological, social, and spiritual illness by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, has become a public health crisis of monumental proportions.

 

Utah, more than most of the nation, is suffering from what has been until recently, a silent epidemic. From 2000 to 2014, Utah has experienced a nearly 400% increase in deaths from the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. Every month 24 individuals die from prescription drug overdoses. Utah ranked 4th in the U.S. for drug poisoning deaths from 2012-2014, which have outpaced deaths due to firearms, falls, and motor vehicle crashes.  Alcohol sales in Utah have also been increasing yearly adding to the dangerous effects of addiction. Moreover, this upward trend shows no sign of slowing down.  

 

Constant education of the public is a key element to help to prevent drug and alcohol abuse. While the overall trend has been an increase in overdose deaths, Utah still saw significant decreases in prescription opioid deaths from 2007 to 2010, when the Utah Department of Health received state funding to address this issue, which resulted in a 28% decrease in the number of prescription opioid deaths in the state. However, in the time since that funding expired, there has been a nearly 27% increase in these deaths. Sentinel News can help Utahns realize the danger that legal prescription medications and illicit drugs pose to health.

 

Addictionologist Sean Ponce M.D at Salt Lake Behavioral Health Hospital is an advocate of prevention and clinical expert in the treatment of the disease of addiction. He can share what he has learned being on the front line in the fight against the opioid epidemic for the past 11 years.  Some of the issues he is available to discuss and write about are: 

 

  • What is addiction? Is addiction a disease? 
  • Available and effective treatments of the disease of addiction: Diagnosis and Social stigma
  • Addiction’s spread throughout all areas of society and socioeconomic classes
  • How to prevent further overdose deaths in our communities
  • Relationship between the disease of addiction and a history of mental illness and/or trauma. What is dual diagnosis?
  • Medication available to treat opioid dependence addiction: Suboxone, Zubsolv, Bunvail, Methadone, Vivitrol 

About Dr. Ponce

Dr. Sean Ponce is one of only 34 board-certified addictionologists in the state of Utah.  Specializing in addiction medicine for the past 11 years, he has borne witness to the devastation wreaked by the opioid epidemic.  Dr. Ponce is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Addiction Medicine and is a past President of the Utah State Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

 

About Salt Lake Behavioral Health Hospital’s Courage to Change Addiction Medicine Program

Salt Lake Behavioral Health (SLBH) is a private freestanding psychiatric hospital specializing in mental health and substance abuse treatment. Courage to Change is designed to help patients stabilize from addictive substances and learn effective coping strategies for successful recovery. We offer a variety of treatment modalities to ensure a safe and comfortable detoxification. Our multidisciplinary treatment team includes physicians, nurses and therapists to help patients through withdrawal and hospital-based rehabilitation.

The invisible epidemic https://www.facebook.com/saltlakebehavioral/videos/889447864511531/

What is addiction? https://youtu.be/TLUoEti4mh4

Is addiction a disease? https://youtu.be/2Gu6o4Xsiv8

 

Americans for Affordable Products

Thanks Senator Lee for His Opposition to Border Adjustment Tax and Calls On Finance Chairman Hatch To Do The Same 

Press Event Set for 9:00 a.m. MT on February 9, 2017

 

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – On Thursday, February 9, 2017, Americans for Affordable Products (AAP), a coalition of well over 150 businesses and trade associations united to stop the Border Adjustment Tax (BAT), and its resulting higher prices on everyday necessities, will host a press conference at 9:00 am MT in the Hall of Governors at the Utah State Capitol to thank Senator Mike Lee for his opposition, and to encourage Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch to do the same.

 

If enacted, BAT could increase prices on a wide range of basic, everyday items like food, medicine, gas and clothing.

 

WHO:  

Dave Davis, President, Utah Retail Merchants Association and Utah Food Industry Association

Evelyn Everton, State Director, Americans for Prosperity Utah Chapter 

Terry Veenendaal, Division Manager of Southwind Foods, Salt Lake City, Utah

 

WHAT:       Press Conference on opposition to Border Adjustment Tax 

 

WHEN:      9 a.m. MT | February 9, 2017 (Thursday)

 

WHERE:    Utah State Capitol Building, Hall of Governors, 350 State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

 

 

Americans for Affordable Products is a coalition of job creators, entrepreneurs, business leaders and consumers united against higher prices on everyday necessities. To learn more, please visit: www.KeepAmericaAffordable.com.

 

Additional Information:

 

To schedule an interview with an Americans for Affordable Products representative, please email press@KeepAmericaAffordable.com.

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 To Write Love on Her Arms

Announces HEAVY AND LIGHT 2017

Line Up and Presale

Melbourne, FL - February 8, 2017 - To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) has announced the line up and presale for their annual HEAVY AND LIGHT event, which will take place on Saturday, April 1st, 2017 at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL. The organization invites everyone to join them for an inspiring evening of songs, conversation, and hope, including performances from Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), The Rocket Summer, spoken word poet Propaganda, Zach Williams (The Lone Bellow), and spoken word poet Tonya Ingram.

 

Exclusive presale bundles are available now in the TWLOHA online store and include a limited edition HEAVY AND LIGHT shirt. General on-sale for the event begins on Friday, February 10th. For more information, please visit: www.twloha.com/blog/heavyandlight2017.

 

To Write Love on Her Arms is a nonprofit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated over $1.8 million directly into treatment and recovery and answered over 200,000 emails from over 100 countries. For more information, please visit: www.twloha.com.

 

Over the past decade, TWLOHA has been heralded by press and seen on NBC Nightly News, CBS Sunday Morning, MSNBC, Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, Relix, US Magazine, Glamour, Yahoo!, The Huffington Post, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, NYLON Guys, MTV, Elle, NPR, and so many more. The organization has seen support from numerous celebrities including actress Jessica Chastain, actor Jared Padalecki, Miley Cyrus, Liv Tyler, Joaquin Phoenix, actress Sophia Bush, singer/songwriter Mat Kearney, USA soccer stars Alex Morgan, Ashlyn Harris and Ali Krieger, singer/songwriter Christina Perri, rock band Switchfoot, pop rock act The Summer Set, Hayley Williams (Paramore), among others.

 

Last September, TWLOHA wrapped its 5th annual campaign to honor National Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention Day. The organization was overwhelmed by the amount of love and support shown during this year's campaign, titled "And So I Kept Living,"which, thanks to the help of supporters all over the world, raised more than $99K for treatment and counseling.

 

In December, TWLOHA launched its "Bring Hope #into17" month-long giving campaign, which raised more than $122K of an initial $100K goal. This money will be used to help TWLOHA bring its message of hope to more people than ever before by enabling them to attend 150 events and festivals across the country, grow their University Chapters program, and more. 

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