Why it matters: University of Utah Health is bringing specialty care to communities that don’t always have easy access through new facilities, telehealth programs, and home-based care.
The big picture: U of U Health is in a major growth phase, with new sites and innovative care delivery models extending their reach beyond Salt Lake City.
What’s new:
- Crisis Care Center: A unique facility that welcomes people in mental health crises and helps stabilize them quickly so they can return to their communities.
- West Valley campus: An ambulatory site plus hospital coming online to serve more patients.
- Vineyard location: A new Huntsman Cancer Hospital site expanding cancer care access.
- Regional clinical sites: Locations across the Mountain West bringing U of U Health providers to surrounding communities.
How they’re doing it: Dr. Kencee Graves, Chief Medical Quality Officer, says the health system is finding creative solutions to deliver care where it’s needed most.
- Telestroke program: Connects rural hospitals with specialty physicians remotely for time-critical stroke care.
- Home-based care: Providers and nurses visit patients in their homes, bringing care directly to the community.
- Telehealth expansion: Specialty care delivered virtually to areas without local access to certain specialists.
The bottom line: “Promoting health in the community is our mission, and I think it takes all of us,” says Dr. Graves.