“Our commitment has always been to provide compassionate, high-quality care close to home,” hospital leaders said. This year, that commitment has been demonstrated through expanded services, new facilities, emergency preparedness, modern technology, and an unwavering focus on patient and employee well-being.

Bringing specialists to rural patients

Access to specialized medical care is often a challenge for rural communities. Gunnison Valley Hospital continues to close that gap by partnering with visiting providers in orthopedics, podiatry, urology, ENT and oncology/hematology.

The hospital’s partnerships have brought highly trained specialists directly to the community — many of whom perform surgeries in Gunnison. Visiting Urologist Dr. Henderson and ENT specialist Dr. Jeffrey Nelson both offer surgical care on site. In addition, the new Telehealth Oncology and Hematology Clinic connects local patients with specialist Dr. Rice, reducing the need for costly and time-consuming travel.

Expanding comprehensive family care

Over the past two years, Gunnison Valley Hospital has invested heavily in expanding primary care access across the region. Three new family care clinics have opened in Gunnison, Manti, and Salina — two of which include on-site pharmacies for added convenience. Mid-Utah Family Medicine, Main Street Family Clinic and Salina Family Medicine all hold “Rural Health Clinic” status, ensuring patients receive cost-effective, high-quality care.

This expansion was a leading reason Gunnison Valley Hospital was named the 2024 Sanpete County Business of the Year, recognizing its impact on improving health care accessibility in South Sanpete and North Sevier counties.

Prepared for emergencies and surgical excellence

Emergency preparedness is a year-round focus for Gunnison Valley Hospital, which regularly conducts drills and training exercises to ensure coordinated responses to crises.

That preparation proved vital in the summer of 2024, when a youth group hiking in eastern Sevier County was affected by a nearby lightning strike. Approximately 50 youth felt the electrical shock, and seven required immediate medical care. Gunnison Valley Hospital received 24 patients within a matter of hours.

Thanks to trained clinicians and well-coordinated teamwork, every patient received timely, compassionate care, and no life-threatening injuries were reported.

Hospital leaders credited the staff’s professionalism, readiness, and dedication during the incident. “This is exactly why we prepare,” the hospital said. “Our community depends on us.”

Investing in technology and innovation

To ensure that rural residents have access to the same level of medical technology found in larger hospitals, Gunnison Valley Hospital has invested significantly in modern diagnostic and treatment tools.

This year, the hospital unveiled a new in-house MRI suite featuring a Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5 Tesla MRI, complete with an ambient surround system that guides patients through the imaging experience with calming visual and audio elements. The upgrade marks a major evolution from a once-a-week portable MRI to a permanent, state-of-the-art imaging wing.

The hospital has also expanded cancer care through a partnership with Intermountain Health. At the Gunnison Valley Oncology and Hematology Clinic, patients meet virtually with Dr. Rice via telehealth, while local nurses provide in-clinic support and IV treatments. This approach has reduced travel burdens and improved continuity of care for many Central Utah families.

Supporting employees and strengthening local jobs

Gunnison Valley Hospital places a high priority on retaining and supporting its employees–and the results speak for themselves. While the national health care turnover rate averages 20.7%, GVH maintains an impressive 7% turnover rate, helping ensure consistent, high-quality patient care.

Employee-focused initiatives include frequent opportunities for staff to share input directly with the CEO and a culture built around the “Own It” mentality–encouraging accountability, initiative, and positive communication.

Two GVH employees were recognized statewide this year:

• Vikki McClaskey, AEMT, received the AEMT of the Year Award for exceptional service.
• Barbara Hyett, RN, was honored with the Rural Health Impact Award from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

To further support its workforce, the hospital opened a new on-campus Learning Center, providing convenient childcare for staff and peace of mind for working parents.

Beyond internal benefits, GVH is also a major economic driver. Studies show that each rural physician helps create more than 26 local jobs, illustrating the hospital’s significant impact on the region’s economy.

A “Patient First” philosophy

From training to daily interactions, Gunnison Valley Hospital emphasizes putting patients first. Staff are encouraged to provide personal, empowering and seamless care, focusing on empathy, transparency and active listening.

Those efforts have not gone unnoticed. This year’s national HCAHPS survey revealed that 82% of GVH patients rated their experience as 9 or 10 out of 10, a strong reflection of the hospital’s patient-centered approach.

Local residents also showed their appreciation through the 2024 Best of Sanpete Awards, where Gunnison Valley Hospital earned top honors in:

• Best Customer Service (Hospital)
• Best Pain and Wellness Center
• Best Mental Health Practice
• Best Homecare and Hospice

By the numbers

In the past year, Gunnison Valley Hospital has:

• Completed 32,637 outpatient visits
• Delivered 147 babies
• Logged 2,636 inpatient days
• Performed 1,864 surgeries and procedures
• Provided 9,087 home health visits
• Served 40,810 meals
• Treated 4,023 emergency department patients
• Transported 560 ambulance patients
• Employed 260 staff members

Committed to rural health, every day

As National Rural Health Day is celebrated nationwide, Gunnison Valley Hospital is recognizing its ongoing mission: to deliver excellent, compassionate and accessible health care to the people of Central Utah.

“Rural health matters,” the hospital shared. “We are honored to care for our community and remain dedicated to meeting its needs — with integrity, preparedness, innovation and heart.”