ST. GEORGE, Utah — Officials from Intermountain Healthcare announced Thursday that Intermountain Dixie Regional Medical Center will be renamed Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital.
The change will be effective January 1, 2021 in order to give the hospital time to rebrand and change what they need to before the first of the year.
Officials discussed the reasoning for the name change in a virtual news conference at 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
“I am pleased to announce that this hospital will be chaining its name to Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital.” Brian Chadaz, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dixie Regional Medical Center announced.
“We anticipate this will be received in different ways,” Chadaz said. “Some people will welcome it, others will be disappointed in it.”
This change comes in the middle of turmoil over the name "Dixie" on all fronts in Southern Utah, including the debate over the name Dixie State University.
“The meaning of 'Dixie' is not clear” Mitch Cloward, Dixie Regional Medical Center Administrator said on the call. “This hospital's name should be strong clear and help every one we serve."
The clarity and the definition of service area is predominantly what the call emphasized were the reasons for the change.
“I think it's a great idea” Jeanetta Williams, President of the NAACP Salt Lake Branch told our crew.
Williams has led the fight for removing the name from a lot of places in southern Utah and sees this as a big step.
In an interview with FOX 13, Williams told us she hopes “when folks see that the hospital is changing its name that it may have others doing the same thing.”
Commenters on FOX 13’s Facebook page were mixed on the issue with some approving of the change but others disapproving.
Some comments went as far to say “Another One Bites the Dust to peer pressure” and “someone needs to stand their ground.”
The decision is supported by the Board of Trustees and the hospital's administration and, ultimately, according to Chairman Chadaz, the change “will excellently position this hospital for the future.”
