Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Ed Yeates ReportingCalling it the "Crown Jewel" of medicine, Intermountain Health Care this afternoon broke ground for it's monumental multi-million dollar medical campus.
When completed in 2007 the Intermountain Medical Center, as it will be called, will tout not just one, but five hospitals on a 100-acre campus. Some hated to see the old Murray smokestacks come down three years ago, but the medical development about take their place is a landmark itself.
Gary Pehrson, CEO, IHC Salt Lake Valley Hospitals: "Perhaps this site will experience the miracle of healing in changing it from a smelter site, which polluted the ground, to a very beautiful place."
When finished, the 362.5-million dollar Intermountain Medical Center will be one of the largest in the Western United States. Five separate specialty hospitals will sit on the campus, including a 15-story critical and trauma one care center, a seven-story heart and lung hospital, a five story women's and newborn hospital, a six-story outpatient center, and a three-story oncology and cancer center. The campus will also include buildings for education, research, clinics, and physician office space.
Gary Pehrson, CEO, IHC Salt Lake Valley Hospitals: "We'll have different corridors where patients will not cross traffic with the public so their privacy will be maintained. It will be all private rooms."
As part of that $362.5 million, billionaire and entrepreneur James L. Sorenson today announced a $13 million donation for the heart and lung center, which will be named after him. And then came a surprise announcement.
The Intermountain Medical Center will become IHC's flagship - taking the place of LDS Hospital, which will be converted into a smaller community hospital. Cottonwood Hospital will be no more. This will also become the new home for Lifeflight.
