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ST. GEORGE — Dixie Regional Medical Center is getting a new name.
The center's administration announced Thursday that the hospital located in St. George will be renamed Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital at the beginning of 2021. Other services and entities the hospital provides will also be rebranded to reflect the name change.
Mitch Cloward, the hospital’s administrator, said timeline regulations for renaming a hospital would have delayed the name change until at least November, so officials felt it was easier to wait until the start of a new year to begin the rebrand.
The announcement comes amid a nationwide discussion of names with racial overtones that was rekindled following the death of George Floyd on May 25 but isn't exactly tied to that debate. In fact, hospital leaders say the name change was in discussion prior to global protests of systemic racism.
The name "Dixie” is associated with the southern states of the United States that fought for slavery, but it has also been tied with the southern part of Utah since settlers — some from the American South — settled there in the 19th century.
Some companies and even musical groups have distanced themselves from the name because of its southern history. It’s also ignited decisions in southern Utah. Dixie State University officials confirmed on July 1 they are considering a name change amid concerns, including from the Utah chapter of the NAACP. "Dixie" has been associated with the school since 1913.
Cloward insists that Dixie Regional Medical Center leaders have considered changing the hospital name for "years" but he also said it could make the hospital more inclusive for the community it serves.
“This change doesn’t come lightly. We have considered the impact and meaning surrounding this change for a long time,” he said, adding that he’s aware the word ‘Dixie’ “still has a beautiful meaning for many who live here.”
“The meaning of Dixie is not clear for everyone. For some, it only requires explanation; for others, who are not from this area, it has offensive connotations,” he continued. “Our hospital name should be strong, clear and make everyone we serve feel safe and welcome.”
There are other factors that inspired the name change. Dr. Patrick Carroll, medical director for Dixie Regional Medical Center, said conversation about best practices in renaming hospitals began nearly a decade ago in the communication department. From those talks, Intermountain Healthcare began recommending that hospitals use the city the building is located for the hospital name “whenever possible.”
It should be noted that Dixie Regional Medical Center isn’t the only hospital to receive a name change to fit this pattern in recent history. For example, officials renamed Intermountain Valley View Medical Center in Cedar City to Intermountain Cedar City Hospital in 2015.
Cloward said St. George and the hospital are both expanding and taking in a growing number of patients who live in Arizona or Nevada, or travel to the St. George area for tourism. At the same time, the hospital has gained clout in the global medical community and — outside of people from the region and Utah — “Dixie” does not provide a clear geographic location of the hospital quite like the name St. George does.
“Dixie” has been associated with hospitals in the St. George area since 1952, according to Dixie Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees Chair Brian Chadaz. The first hospital built in the area was named the Washington County Hospital in 1913. It was renamed McGregor Hospital shortly after that. In 1952, a new hospital was constructed on the west side of the 400 East block in St. George. It was named Dixie Pioneer Memorial Hospital.
Hospital administration said they met with St. George leaders about the name change and believe that the change will be beneficial for both sides. Cloward said he couldn’t speak for other organizations when he was asked if the hospital would support other regional institutions dropping the "Dixie" name.
Chadaz added that he expects the name change will be "received in different ways."
"I think some people will welcome it; some people will be disappointed. I think (for) the rest, it will sink in,” Chadaz added. “We want to provide clarification, to provide simplification and to position us for the future. We’re hoping this change will be understood and provide clarity not only locally but nationwide and worldwide as to who we are, where we are and what we do.”
