A year after Orem City Council members made it clear that services at Orem Community Hospital are inadequate, they are reiterating their call for a full-service hospital in the city.
"Everything indicates to us that Orem Hospital should become a bigger, better facility than it is," said Orem Mayor Stella Welsh.Administrators at Orem Community Hospital agree that there is a need for expansion but say they are keeping up with the demand and have made progress during the past year.
"There is a lot being done at Orem. We're recruiting doctors. We have all the services you'd find at a full-service primary-care facility. But we will continue to expand, there is a definite need," said Mark Dalley, chief operating officer for Orem Community Hospital.
But Dalley said the hospital does not want to duplicate expensive facilities that are readily available at Orem's sister hospital, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
"There is no need to duplicate tertiary services. We want to be cost efficient, but at the same time, we want to work together with the city to provide for the needs of the community," Dalley said.
Dalley said the hospital has recruited an internist, an anesthesiologist and an orthopedic surgeon; has received approval for a new education center; has added additional diagnostic equipment; and is in the planning process for a new physicians' medical office building.
An internist was one of the primary requests of council members. They also want more extensive pediatric services at the hospital.
Some council members say that's not enough. They think Orem needs a hospital that's capable of handling large-scale emergencies. For example, disaster plans show that a failure at Deer Creek or Jordanelle dams would send a wall of water 30 feet high rushing past Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
If Intermountain Health Care is unwilling to provide such a hospital, Orem City is prepared to find someone who is, officials say.
Next Tuesday, the council will consider a resolution stating the city's desire for a full-service hospital. That may be just the message some health agencies are waiting for.
Word has been circulating in the city for weeks that Health Trust Inc., parent company of Mountain View Hospital in Payson, may be interested in building a new facility in Orem.
"A presence in the north County is in the works," said Pam White, public relations director for Mountain View.
Health Trust Inc. owns a piece of property in Provo that could be used for a hospital that would compete with UVRMC. Orem officials acknowledge that if Health Trust Inc. builds on that site, or in any other nearby city, their chances for a full-service hospital are dead.
Dr. James Steel, orthopedic surgeon who practices at Orem Community Hospital, said Orem doesn't need a full-scale hospital.
"The expensive stuff we don't need. A slow, steady growth is what's needed," Steel said.
Steel said the competition would dramatically increase health-care costs rather than lower them. He said growth right now is hampered by the fact that the hospital is having difficulty recruiting doctors.
Steel said Orem City should be willing to provide subsidies to help the hospital attract a more extensive staff.
"Doctors need office space and personnel to get started. The city can subsidize those things, that's not unheard of," Steel said.
Dalley agrees that recruiting physicians is the key to begin meeting the city's needs and said IHC is committed to meeting those needs.
"We are fully supportive of plans at Orem Community Hospital that will meet the needs of area residents. We believe our responsibility is to provide access to the highest quality medical care for area residents while at the same time keeping health-care costs as low as possible," said Dr. Cecil Samuelson, senior vice president of IHC.
Staff writer Brooke Adams also contributed to this story.