SOUTH SALT LAKE — Beleaguered Rocky Mountain Medical Center, cited as single-handedly responsible for most of owner Iasis Healthcare's money woes, will close its doors Saturday.
"The hospital has been incurring substantial losses that have affected the performance of the whole company," said Iasis spokeswoman Eve Hutcherson. Operating losses from January 2000 through the most recent quarter have reached $14.2 million, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses.
The hospital's 161 full-time and 33 part-time employees learned of the closure today, Hutcherson said. Monday, Iasis will post all of the openings available in its other Utah hospitals so that displaced employees can think about transferring. Those who don't will be eligible for 60 days severance pay.
Ambulances were to be diverted to other hospitals immediately.
"The emergency room will remain open and be appropriately staffed to receive walk-ins and those who come in themselves until 3 p.m. Saturday," Hutcherson said. "We expect those who are inpatients to be discharged as part of their normal course of treatment by then as well."
While they don't foresee a need to transfer patients to other hospitals, Hutcherson said they would do so if someone were unexpectedly not well enough to go home.
Iasis is the third hospital chain to own the building, located at 2500 S. State, since it was built in 1993. It was constructed by FHP, then sold to Paracelsus. Iasis put millions of dollars into renovation, including construction of a physicians office building adjacent. But it has had a tough time since it opened its doors in April 2000.
Despite having the latest equipment, excellent staff and what was touted as a prime location because it is so close to both I-80 and I-15, as well as downtown Salt Lake City, Rocky Mountain never attracted many patients, according to hospital chief executive officer Jim Rogers.
During the most recent quarter, Rocky Mountain averaged only 17 inpatients a day.
Iasis CEO David White and other Iasis officials met with the Utah Department of Health, the Health Care Financing Administration and the Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services to work out details of the closure. South Salt Lake Mayor Randy Fitz was in a meeting with Iasis Friday morning, according to his secretary, and was not available for comment.
Hutcherson said Iasis "anticipates" that most of the physicians who have offices next door will maintain them. And the Utah Bone and Joint Center and Intermountain Hematology and Oncology, both located inside the hospital, have indicated they wish to stay, as well.
Patient medical records will be available at Rocky Mountain by calling 350-4273. On Aug. 1, they will be physically moved to Salt Lake Regional Medical Center. But requests for copies of medical records should still be directed to the same phone number.
The closure will likely end rumors involving Pioneer Valley Hospital, 3450 S. 4155 West, also owned by Iasis. Because the West Valley hospital is 17 years old and needs some updating, speculation was the hospital chain would close it and move the services to Rocky Mountain. But Pioneer Valley is well established in its community and business has been booming, according to Pioneer Valley spokeswoman Carol Lindsay.
Iasis also owns Salt Lake Regional Medical Center, Jordan Valley Hospital in West Jordan and Davis Hospital and Medical Center in Layton. The company employs about 2,000 people in Utah and last year paid more than $2 million in state and local taxes and more than $71 million in salaries, wages and benefits, Hutcherson said.
A lawsuit filed by Rocky Mountain against St. Mark's Hospital, claiming anti-competitive practices, is still pending in 3rd District Court.
Plans for the property have not yet been determined.
E-MAIL: lois@desnews.com