- A groundbreaking for the University of Utah Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital took place in West Valley City Friday.
- The facility aims to address health disparities and enhance community health care access.
- The project received $75 million from the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and is still raising funds as building begins.
WEST VALLEY CITY — Ground was broken on Friday on the University of Utah Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital in West Valley City, which aims to address health disparities, bolster a community and better connect patients with their caregivers.
The ceremony took place at Centennial Park, one block away from the future campus at 3750 S. 5600 West. It lined up with West Valley City's WestFest, an annual community celebration.
Dennis Menjivar, a resident of West Valley City and current student at the U. medical school, said patients will have the ability to receive care, including specialty care, "right next door" rather than driving 25 or 30 minutes to the University of Utah. He said that drive makes people less likely to schedule primary care or follow-up appointments — which he said can lead to missed complications.
"Having something right here I think is going to be huge," Menjivar said.
As someone who is Hispanic, Menjivar said he recognizes it's important to have health professionals understand a patient's culture to help address them respectfully and understand hesitations and concerns with treatment options.
He said student opportunities to learn at the new facility will teach them cultural sensitivity. He said the experience will help them be more careful about how they approach offering treatments, as they recognize cultural, financial or insurance concerns and address them.
Menjivar got involved in the planning for the hospital in 2021 while he was a medical assistant and still deciding if he wanted to go to medical school. He said doing something to help the community has been important to him.
He said things slowed down because they did not have funding until the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation donated $75 million to the project.
A partnership
U. President Taylor Randall said in a press release about the event that the university has benefited from the Eccles family's "visionary leadership" and is proud of their partnership, which has also helped fund the new School of Medicine building.
"Now, the Eccles family has stepped up again, continuing that momentum with a new facility that expands health care access, creates opportunity, and deepens our shared commitment to serving Utah. We're deeply proud to reach this milestone together," he said.
Spencer F. Eccles, chairman and CEO of the foundation, also said they are proud to continue the partnership.
"This beautiful state-of-the-art hospital will bring together expert medical providers and educators, top-notch medical students, and, most importantly, the wonderful people of this vibrant community. We couldn't be more excited about the future — a future of better health and expanded opportunities for our west-side communities," he said.
The new facility will have 130 patient beds, 200 exam rooms in outpatient clinics, a helipad and multiple specialties. Construction on the facility will be led by Okland Construction, which is collaborating on the project with MHTN Architects and CannonDesign.
'A win-win'
Gina Hawley, COO of hospitals and clinics with U. Health, said the groundbreaking is momentous for the organization. She said there is excitement about providing much-needed services to a community with health care disparities, noting a life expectancy difference between West Valley City and Salt Lake City.
She said only 1 out of every 10 inpatient beds in the area is on the west side of I-15.
Hawley has been helping organize designs, staffing and other logistics that come with starting a new hospital and medical school campus. She said this is the first community hospital the university will have off campus, and one of U. Health's largest facilities.
She said medical students are excited for rotations there to get experience with different communities.
"It's just a win-win from all sides when our students have the ability to have different rotations. ... It provides a more fulfilling experience," she said.
Community investment
Hawley said this facility will bolster an already thriving community and help open up space at other health care facilities in the county. She said they are still fundraising for the facility but have support through the health system and feel good about moving forward.
She said when someone's health is bad, it makes it harder to work and has an impact on their life. She said the new facility will help address this and other societal issues by providing 2,000 new jobs, education, a community space and other opportunities.
Menjivar said he is hoping to mentor high school students, and the many career opportunities associated with the future hospital will help them find different things they can do. He said he hopes the new facility will open doors for local students.
"More than anything, I'd love to see people expand their horizons and just go into something professional," he said.
He also said he hopes to work at the hospital — it should be completed while he is still finishing school, and he could do rotations or residency there, or come back after to work as a graduate.
"I think that's what makes me so optimistic and so happy to be a part of this school, is that ... they're seeing it as investment in the community, and I hope to see a lot of pathways for students," Menjivar said.
