Two unsung San Juan County healthcare heroes honored for increasing access to care

Renee Johnson is the outpatient services coordinator at San Juan Health in Monticello, Utah. Renee realized that patients in San Juan County often struggled to access specialty care because of their distance from  large cities. To address this issue, she created telehealth programs focused on  heart disease and cancer treatments.  These programs enable patients to consult with specialists in urban areas, allowing them to receive necessary care without the burden of long travel. 

“Facing a cancer diagnosis may be the hardest time in someone’s life. That is why Renee goes above and beyond to support our patients and their families,” said Farley Crofts, chief financial officer at San Juan Hospital.  “Renee makes sure our patients can explore options, understand their treatment, and plan their next steps. She takes time to understand her patients’ family situations so they have the support they need even outside of treatment.”

Cari Spillman is the compliance director at Blue Mountain Hospital in Blanding, Utah. Cari recently worked on a data analytics platform at the hospital. This allowed Blue Mountain to better recognize areas for improvement and act on them. Cari’s project has already made it easier to track surgical site infections in the hospital’s patients. 

“Cari has demonstrated commitment to our organization, our employees, and our patients,” said the CEO of Blue Mountain Hospital, Jeremy Lyman. “She has taught me the importance of hard work, dedication, and commitment, even when you are not in the spotlight.”