PROVO, Utah - Specialized pediatric care just got a little more accessible to Utah County families.
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center officials announced Tuesday a partnership with Salt Lake City’s Primary Children’s Hospital to provide pediatric care.
Medical directors said it’s a process they’d started several years ago when they realized the large child population in Utah County was being under served.
“This is the youngest state in the nation,” said Primary Children’s Hospital CEO Katy Welkie.
The partnership means pediatric specialists will now be housed at Utah Valley hospital. Departments will be upgraded to accommodate children and equipment will be added specific to pediatrics.
“It is the most significant medical event for children in our valley ever,” said Dr. Russell Osguthorpe, pediatric medical director at Utah Valley hospital. “We now have access to 26 different sub-specialty pediatricians.”
Osguthorpe said the biggest advantage will be families can get the care without having to travel to Salt Lake City. Amy Baxter said that advantage is significant.
In October, Baxter’s daughter Brooklyn was diagnosed with a rare disorder, but the family was able to stay in Provo to receive the care.
“My other kids could stay, they were close by,” Baxter said. “And dad could come and see her, so it was really convenient, it was really nice, it was comforting that we were close by.”
Signs will start to go up at the hospital in the next few weeks.
