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MURRAY — Technology is definitely changing healthcare as we know it. But staying on top requires innovation, leaders and research. That's exactly what Intermountain hopes to do with its new Kem Gardner Transformation Center.
Earlier this year, Intermountain Healthcare hosted a high-tech video groundbreaking for a building that represents the company's future.
The four-story, $55 million building located next to the Intermountain Medical Center Campus in Murray will house Intermountain's leadership training and data collection center as well as 10 different clinical research programs.
"Not just for the people that we serve directly here at Intermountain Healthcare in the intermountain west but for people around the country and around the world," said Intermountain President Emeritus Dr. Chales Sorenson.
Sorsenson, who retired last year as CEO of Intermountain Healthcare, will lead the center. Philanthropist and real estate developer Kem Gardner donated $20 million, funding more than a third of the project.
"For 35 years I’ve been fortunate to sit in the front seat and witness the many evolutions and changes that have made Intermountain one of the leading healthcare organizations in the country," Gardner said.
The center will also house training sessions.
Since 1992, 5,000 people from around the world have come to Utah to study theory, quality of care and quality improvement theory.
"If care is not affordable, quality has no meaning," said Intermountain Chief Quality Officer Dr. Brent James. "So we emphasize both sides — how do you get the best possible medical result, medical experience at the lowest necessary cost?"
At one session last month, 30 doctors, nurses and hospital administrators from Sweden attended.
"I think we have really great health care system in Sweden," said Katarin Planhammar Horberg, a registered nurse at Sweden Oncology Clinic. "It's really good, but we need new tools to improve and here at Intermountain they use some really great tools,” Horberg said.
Intermountain hopes the Transformation Center will become another tool in its effort to drive change in the future of health care.
