It's a huge milestone for the Daybreak community in South Jordan. South Jordan Health Center, the University of Utah's largest off-campus medical facility, is celebrating 10 years of caring for patients.
The 208,000 square-foot facility held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 27, 2010 and officially opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting on Jan. 18, 2012.
A decade ago University of Utah Health had the vision to do things a little differently and build a larger health center—as a result, South Jordan Health Center was born. The facility was designed and conceptualized to deliver high-tech healing and health care with a neighborhood touch.
Associate Chief Medical Officer of Ambulatory Health, Richard R. Orlandi, MD, played a large role in the opening of the South Jordan Health Center.
"We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to do at the South Jordan Health Center for the community," Orlandi said. "But, also we really used it as an experiment, a pilot, that has worked so well that we’ve copied it and improved on it for Farmington and Sugar House."
This was considered a huge step for the Daybreak community. James Walston, Director for the South Jordan Health Center, says people joked around at the groundbreaking when a coyote and an antelope were spotted in the nearby fields.
"There just wasn't much there at the time," Walston joked.
Fast-forward 10 years, the once empty area has grown into a state-of-the-art health facility designed to empower health care teams and provide the best patient care possible.
From day one the facility offered health care for all ages, including primary, emergency, and specialty care services. It continues to feature a 24-hour emergency room; AirMed helicopter transport; a full-service pharmacy, 650 primary and specialty care physicians, nurses, and staff.
Walston says in its first full year they saw about 70,000 patient visits. This year, they will see more than 200,000, close to a 300% increase in patient volume. That number continues to grow. He says we can't believe it's already been 10 years. "It's amazing to see the growth we have experienced," Walston said. "But we're really just proud to be able to provide needed healthcare services in this community."
Built in the heart of the Daybreak community in South Jordan, the health center sits on 10 acres, with the intention of an additional 40 acres to be used for expansion over the years—Since opening, the center has provided more than 1.3 million patient visits, served 86,000 emergency patients, 110,000 therapy visits, and performed close to 15,000 surgeries.
Within the last year, South Jordan Health Center has been remodeled and expanded services, making changes to accommodate growth in the walk-in laboratory, Urgent Care, childcare, and expanding specialty services and a physical therapy gym.
Walston says the patients have always been their priority, but they have also focused on their staff. The health center is proud of its tight-knit family.
"We have worked to make this the best place to give and receive care," Walston said. "Employees are happy when they give and serve, and enjoy working here, and patients are able to receive the best care."
To celebrate the 10-year-anniversary, staff members were asked what their most memorable moment has been.
Suzanne Greep, office support supervisor, has been at South Jordan Health Center since its opening. She says there are too many memories to count. But, one touching moment during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic stuck with her the most, the time when F-35 jets flew over Utah to show support for those on the frontlines.
"Our staff gathered together out on the lawn to feel the moment of this…this is everybody saying thank you to us," Greep teared up. "To feel the energy of the staff and the providers, and everybody's lives here that had been affected from the clinical side come together for that moment of appreciation was one of my most memorable moments."
WATCH VIDEO: Several other faculty and staff from South Jordan Health Center also shared some of their most memorable moments, you can watch the video below to hear some of them.