The Pulse of St. George

Premium health care close to home
By Rachel Tueller

Washington County’s 130,000 residents can comfortably seek the majority of their health care, from primary care to specialized treatments, right at home. The region’s growth has ushered in a new wave of improved technology and expanded services as area facilities continually raise the bar in quality care for Southern Utahns through service upgrades services and with advanced medical expertise.

ST. GEORGE SURGICAL CENTER, ST. GEORGE
Established in 1988, the center gained the status as the first surgical center to the city of St. George. The outpatient surgery center hosts a number of procedures from orthopedics general surgery and gastrointestinal surgery to gynecology surgery, urology, optomology, chronic pain, plastics or cosmetic surgery.
“Almost all the surgeons in town, by their choice, have medical privileges there. That’s significant to a patient, because that patient and doctor can choose any of the three facilities, Coral Desert, St. George Surgical Center, or DRMC (Dixie Regional Medical Center),” said administrator Terry Dick.
“It’s the only multi-specialty center in town that’s locally owned by local physicians. All the owners of the surgical center live here in St. George and all of the decisions are made by local people who have local interests,” said Dick. “It makes for quicker decisions, less bureaucracy. It’s managed 100 percent by the physicians themselves.”
It’s also the primary center for plastic surgery, where the vast majority of the regions’ plastic surgery is conducted. “All three of the region’s plastic surgeons perform their procedures there,” said Dick.
The center also houses the St. George Eye Center with general ophthalmology and it’s home to the St. George Pain Management Center with all chronic pain management modalities. Dick spoke highly of Dr. Alexey Ryskin’s credentials fellowship trained in chronic pain management. The St. George Eye Center carries all the latest technology in ophthalmology treatment.

CORAL DESERT, ST. GEORGE
Chlostrophobes take heart — Coral Desert’s renowned imaging center provides the only open MRI in the county, making it possible for those who aren’t keen on tunnel vision to receive treatment.
The surgery center is often touted among locals for its ease of accessibility as cases are sometimes scheduled only a day in advance. And many take comfort in Coral Desert’s welcoming atmosphere. “It’s not a clinical feel but more of a homey, comfortable setting which patients enjoy,” said administrator Toni Morris. All of the center’s physicians are board certified in their specialties including orthopedics, opthamology, podiatry, ear nose and throat, gynecology and pain management.
Co-owned by the surgeons, the center captures the physician’s own special touches. “They picked everything here for their patients. So everything from technology to the decor is doctor choice, to cater to their patients,” Morris said.

SNOW CANYON CLINIC, IVINS
Since 1998, the Ivins clinic has been known as a research-oriented, high-tech, state-of-the-art clinic. “We’re able to do a greater variety and diversity of studies due to the technology at the clinic,” said Gary Jones, owner and Chief Operating Officer.
“We have not only the capability but we use them.”
The clinic obtained the first CT P.E.T. scanner in the state utilized for cancer detection, to localize the place in the brain where seizures begin, to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and to conduct cardiac
viability studies.
As a scientist, board certified neurologist, pharmacologist, chemist and physicist, Jones takes pride in the clinic’s lab where he conducts basic science research.
“It’s a specialty clinic built to meet needs that haven’t been previously met in St. George,” Jones said. Renowned for his work in cardiovascular imaging, Scott Flamm, M.D., who works with Snow Canyon, has touted the clinic’s imaging department and its advanced comprehensive system. With the use of advanced imaging, medical staff have the capability to non-invasively image the coronary arteries and valves. MR spectroscopy is also conducted, a non-invasive procedure that measures the chemicals in the brain and is useful in the diagnosis of brain tumors, Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Schlerosis and other diseases. The clinic specializes in neurology, oncology, pulmonology, interventional cardiology, internal medicine and family practice.
Next year Snow Canyon will triple its size at the existing Ivins site.

DIXIE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
With the addition of the new facility on River Road in the past few years, DRMC has reached a new level in health care. DRMC stepped up to join other community hospitals that provide one or more specialty services — first tertiary care — in December 2003 when it added open heart surgery. A great benefit to residents who long to have family nearby during serious procedures.
In August of 2004 neonatologists joined DRMC, bringing care levels up one more notch, and in May 2005 second tertiary care was added with the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
With the skills of specialized physicians now on board, in December 2005 DRMC began a heart procedure called patent ductus arteriosis ligation serving the few infants born each with an artery outside of their heart that doesn’t close.
November 9, 2005 saw the opening of the Huntsman-Intermountain Cancer Center as the Huntsman Cancer Center partnered with DRMC and Intermountain Health Care and DRMC with an extensive remodel at the 400 east or the old hospital location. “That partnership is unique and extremely beneficial to patients,” said Terri Draper, spokeswoman for DRMC.
“It brings together the two premier cancer treatment entities in the state of Utah.”
Currently there are only two centers like in the state, St. George and American Fork, which is now in the planning stages.

SGM