The facility will be built within the planned community of Desert Color, less than a mile east of the Exit 2 Interstate 15 and State Route 9 interchange, according to a statement from Intermountain. The 24/7 emergency room, primary care and other services would be available for the immediate and long-term health needs of the Desert Color and Sun River communities, the two main communities along the southern edge of the city. .
“We purchased the anchor land for this site in 2019 and last week closed on the purchase of what will become a 38-acre campus,” said Mitch Cloward, president of Intermountain’s Southwest Utah Hospital Market. “We have long wanted to provide greater access to care for those we serve in the Desert Color and Sun River communities. This location will accommodate immediate and long-term health needs.”
The facility will be named Intermountain Desert Color Parkway Emergency Services, following Intermountain’s standard naming convention of including Intermountain and the geographic location – in this case, the nearby Desert Color Parkway.
The new facility would represent the third autonomous emergency services department built in Utah by Intermountain Health. Similar hospital services will open this fall in Hurricane and Saratoga Springs.
The facility at Hurricane, known as Intermountain Hurricane Emergency Services, is on track to open in mid-August of this year. Built with similar growth concerns in mind, it was planned to feature 10 emergency bays, as well as an imaging corridor and full-service laboratory.
Desert Color’s new facility would still need final approval from the City of St. George, but planners said they anticipate they could start construction sometime in 2023.
“The SunRiver St George Community Association is excited to hear that Intermountain Health will soon be building a facility in this fast-growing southern area,” said Steve Lindley, association president. “Having medical care and emergency services close by will be a huge benefit to our community.”
GWC Capital Vice President of Operations Mitch Dansie said, “Intermountain Health’s medical services are critical components in helping individuals and families in the greater St. George to maintain their general health and well-being so that they can enjoy active and productive lifestyles. We are honored to have Intermountain Health join our Desert Color community.”
This article originally appeared on the St. George Spectrum & Daily News: St. George will receive new emergency rooms in Desert Color, SunRiver area