In September our community celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Park City Hospital and its contribution to our community’s health and well-being. I thought it appropriate to also share its humble beginnings as a grassroots effort of multiple community members from medical to business professionals.The Summit Community Hospital Development Foundation was born in the winter of 1999 because of a rapidly growing community and a desire to support the population’s hospital needs without requiring residents and visitors to drive 30-60 miles outside of Summit County. The Summit/Wasatch County Medical Society spent hundreds of hours speaking with Western State hospital administrators and physicians to investigate “what works/doesn’t work” in similar communities. In January 2000, citizens were invited to join the effort. A working committee of 15 physicians and 15 community members guided the organization through incorporation (not-for-profit).The group met early in the mornings in the basement of the Jack Johnson Building, creating sub-committees to explore the rationale / business plan, land acquisition / facilities, financial implications, community support, etc. With a generous donation from Beano Solomon, we commissioned a feasibility study which clearly showed a need for and support for a local hospital.With the feasibility study results in hand, the foundation board members and volunteers performed community outreach, fundraising efforts, and a thorough evaluation of several potential partners to build and operate the hospital. Based on the evaluation results and a memorandum of understanding, we selected Intermountain Healthcare as our partner. With successful early fundraising, we were able to hire a community development liaison, Joanna Charnes.With gratitude for our amazing Intermountain Park City Hospital, let’s thank those who tirelessly worked early on to make the medical cornerstone of our community a reality! Wain Allen, Randy Belnick, Linda Blonsley, Beverly Boyna, Hal Cook, Vern Cooley, John Culberson, Bill Dubiel. Frances Dye, Gene Dye, Michael Gladson, Steve Hamilton, Shana Hopperstead, Alice Hummons, Joan Jacobson, Jan Jones-Schenk, Deb Kennedy, Kim Labertew, Noah Levine, Eldon Lloyd, Val Logsdon, Dondea Lykes, Jack Massimino, Kathleen McKenna, Brad Olch, Darrick Olsen, John Olson, Mitch Perkiel, Al Pokorny, Kathy Pope, Ken Richens, John Rosen, Beano Solomon, Tom Terry, Joe Tesch, Doug Toole, Dana Williams, Craig WingGiven my memory and few remaining foundation notes, my apologies if I inadvertently left someone off this list.Shana HoppersteadJeremy RanchThe post Birthing our hospital appeared first on Park Record.