COMMUNITY IMPACT

Utah’s hospitals are more than healthcare providers—they’re essential partners in building strong communities. Explore stories and initiatives highlighting how hospitals support public health, economic development, and the well-being of Utah’s residents.

Legislative Update: Final Week Ahead

Legislative Update: Final Week Ahead

Why it matters: With just a week left in Utah's 2026 legislative session, hospitals face significant funding challenges and operational policy changes that will shape care delivery across the state. By the numbers: 62 hospital-related bills are being actively tracked...

The Future of Transplant Medicine Is Here

The Future of Transplant Medicine Is Here

Why it matters: New preservation technology is rewriting what's possible in organ transplantation, expanding options for patients across the region. The big picture: For decades, transplant medicine operated on a strict timeline. Once an organ was recovered, teams had...

Nation’s Largest Pediatric Telestroke Network Launches in Utah

Nation’s Largest Pediatric Telestroke Network Launches in Utah

Why it matters: When a child has a stroke, every second counts, but stroke symptoms in kids look different than in adults, leading to delayed treatment and worse outcomes. The big picture: Intermountain Children's Health, in partnership with University of Utah...

VA’s Mobile Medical Unit Brings Healthcare to Homeless Veterans

THE BIG PICTURE: The VA Salt Lake City's Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT) delivers flexible, coordinated care to veterans experiencing homelessness through their...

Mobile Medical Units Bring VA Care to Veterans Where They Are

Why it matters: VA Salt Lake City Health Care System’s mobile medical unit (MMU) delivers healthcare directly to veterans, regardless of their housing situation, breaking...

Utah’s First Pediatric Paired Liver Exchange Unites Two Families

The big picture: Utah families met face-to-face for the first time after being connected through the state's first pediatric paired liver exchange – a rare procedure that...

AHA President Rick Pollack Outlines Congressional Healthcare Priorities at UHA Conference

Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA), recently addressed attendees at the Utah Hospital Association's Annual Fall Learning Conference,...

Allen Barry Honored with Rural Hospital Trustee Service Award

Why it matters: Allen's nearly 20-year commitment to San Juan Hospital exemplifies the dedication needed to sustain rural healthcare facilities through challenges and...

Lakeview Hospital Trustee Kate Bradshaw Honored with UHA Service Award

Why it matters: Kate Bradshaw represents the deep community connections that make Utah's healthcare system exceptional, combining her professional expertise in government...

Dan Lundergan Honored with Distinguished Hospital Executive Award

Why it matters: Dan Lundergan's remarkable 50-year journey from laundry aide to CEO of University of Utah Health exemplifies exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment...

Katy Welkie Receives UHA’s Distinguished Service Award

Why it matters: Last week at the Utah Hospital Association’s Annual Awards ceremony in Midway, Katy Welkie, recently retired Vice President of Intermountain Children’s...

UHA Conference Brings Healthcare Leaders Together in Midway

1 BIG THING: Historic AHA Leadership Visit The Utah Hospital Association's Annual Fall Learning Conference in Midway welcomed Rick Pollack, President and CEO of the American...

UHA Annual Awards Ceremony Honors Healthcare Leaders

Key takeaway: The Utah Hospital Association recognized four outstanding healthcare leaders during the Annual Awards Ceremony in Midway, celebrating their significant...

Critical Access Hospitals: Rural Utah’s Healthcare Lifeline

Rural communities across Utah depend on critical access hospitals for essential healthcare services. These specialized hospitals provide care that rural residents rely on,...

Making Communities Healthier: How Ashley Regional Medical Center Connects with Vernal

At Ashley Regional Medical Center in Vernal, "making communities healthier" goes far beyond healthcare delivery — it's a comprehensive approach to community wellbeing. The...

Rural Healthcare Makes a Difference: Intermountain Health’s Approach

In an era when rural hospitals across the country are closing their doors, Intermountain Health has taken the opposite approach - and the results are transforming patient...

Why Utah Rural Hospitals Defy National Closure Trends

The big picture: While rural hospitals nationwide face closure at alarming rates, Utah stands out as a success story with none currently at risk of shutting down. By the...

Rural Hospitals: Lifelines for Utah Communities

When a rural hospital closes, it's not just healthcare that's lost – the entire community's future is at risk. Why it matters Rural hospitals like Ashley Regional Medical...

New Behavioral Health Center Expands Care for Utah’s Youth

Why it matters: One in six children ages 6-17 nationwide has at least one treatable mental health disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In...

Cancer Care and Infusion Center Brings Critical Care to Rural Utah

At the Cancer Care and Infusion Center at Uintah Basin Medical Center in Roosevelt, Melissa Argyle, LPN, coordinates services that are transforming cancer care access for...

New Primary Children’s Behavioral Health Center Expands Critical Services

Intermountain Children's Health dedicated the new Primary Children's Hospital Behavioral Health Center–Taylorsville Campus last Friday, marking a significant advancement in...

Hospital Pharmacy Transforms Access to Cancer Medicine in Rural Roosevelt

At Uintah Basin Medical Center, Steve Hansen, Director of Inpatient Pharmacy Services, sees something special in every medication he prepares: possibility. "There's magic in...

Tele-Oncology: Bringing Cancer Care Home to Utah’s Rural Communities

In the vast expanses of rural Utah, a 300-mile round trip for medical treatment isn't just inconvenient—it can be an insurmountable barrier to cancer care. For cancer...

“Cancer [care] sometimes isn’t about curing—it’s about caring.”

The big picture: The Cancer Care & Infusion Center at the Uintah Basin Medical Center is transforming cancer care in rural Utah. Patients in Roosevelt now receive expert...

Utah’s Nonprofit Hospitals: Preparing Now for Tomorrow’s Challenges

Utah healthcare leaders are strategizing to ensure long-term sustainability amid increasing pressures. Three key challenges Financial sustainability: "Rising costs is one...

After the Big Beautiful Bill: Preparing Utah’s Rural Hospitals for What’s Next

WHY IT MATTERS: According to Matt McCullough, Ph.D., Director of Rural Hospital Improvement at the Utah Hospital Association, the Big Beautiful Bill's rural healthcare...

Beyond Hospital Walls: Intermountain Health’s Community Care Initiatives

Intermountain Health is making a real impact through its focus on community needs. Why it matters Healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to...

Beyond Medical Treatment: How Utah’s Nonprofit Hospitals Serve Communities

Utah's nonprofit hospitals are becoming increasingly integrated into the state's health and social services systems, offering vital community services that extend far beyond...