Utah’s St. George Regional Hospital to Expand Surgical Services with New Tower
By Fay Harvey
ST. GEORGE, Utah — On Feb. 3, Intermountain Health’s St. George Regional Hospital broke ground on a new three-story surgical tower that aims to meet the area’s growing healthcare needs.
St. George is Utah’s third-fastest-growing city, and the regional hospital is in an area with the highest percentage of senior-aged individuals. The 42,000-square-foot expansion will allow the hospital and its providers to better serve patients by adding more space, new surgical services and state-of-the-art operating rooms.
“As we strive to fulfill our mission to help people live the healthiest lives possible, we continuously work to address the changing needs of our community,” said Natalie Ashby, president of Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, in a statement. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in our area and are so pleased to begin this expansion of our surgical services to meet the needs of our increasing population.”
To keep up with the growing community and growing demand, the hospital has been adding seven new surgeons a year, according to Ashby in a statement, including surgeons specializing in cardiology, orthopedic services, neurosurgery, critical care and more. As a Level II trauma center, St. George Regional Hospital also provides on-site 24-hour trauma services. However, many procedures, such as transplants, are not currently offered at the regional hospital, requiring patients to travel hours to access treatment in major cities. In response, the new tower will provide additional space for incoming surgeons while opening doors for the expansion of essential surgical services, including transplants.
“We are excited to begin construction on this surgical expansion,” said Patrick Carroll, chief medical officer of Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, in a statement. “We have incredible surgeons, anesthesiologists and surgical staff. This expansion will allow us to care for more patients with shorter wait times. We are committed to the health and wellbeing of our community and always strive to provide access to world class care.”
Proceeds from the 2023 Jubilee of the Trees fundraiser, an annual philanthropic event hosted by Intermountain Health, will go towards the construction of the advanced surgical tower. Funds raised by the community will help secure necessary modern technology that assures procedures are less invasive, more precise and shorten healing time.
Construction on the new surgical tower, led by Salt Lake City-based Okland Construction, is slated for completion in late 2027.