Home Care In Lehi, UT

Following more than three years of construction and decades of planning, the second campus of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital was dedicated in a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, ushering in the most significant enhancement in pediatric health care in Utah and the Intermountain West in more than a century.

The Miller Family Campus is a critical element of Primary Promise, Intermountain’s multi-faceted and comprehensive vision to build the nation’s model health system for children.

Philanthropist and civic and business leader, Gail Miller, a Primary Promise Executive Campaign Cabinet Co-Chair, joined patients, caregivers, and leaders from Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Intermountain Health, and the community to cut the ribbon on the hospital campus that bears her family’s name.

The Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi opens for patient care on February 12, 2024.

“The Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus honors the Miller family’s support and vision for children’s health and wellness in the Intermountain West and symbolizes the most significant boost in children’s healthcare delivery since Primary Children’s Hospital opened 102 years ago,” said Katy Welkie, chief executive officer of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health. “As we dedicate this special place of healing, we extend our gratitude to the Miller family and many other families who gave so generously to make it possible.”

The new Miller Family Campus, located at 2250 N. Miller Campus Drive in Lehi, is a full-service children’s hospital providing nearly all the same specialty pediatric services that patients receive at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City.

It includes an Outpatient Center, trauma center, medical office building, and a five-story, 66-bed, 486,000-square-foot Primary Children’s Hospital.

Medical staff will be fully integrated with the pediatric specialists at University of Utah Health, who will continue to work collaboratively with Primary Children’s caregivers to provide the highest level of pediatric care to patients at the new campus.

“It’s been nearly four years to the day that we announced the second campus of Primary Children’s Hospital, and we’ve all been anxiously awaiting the moment we open the doors to serve the children and families in the rapidly growing southern Salt Lake County and Utah County,” said Lisa Paletta, president of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, Miller Family Campus. “The day is almost here, thanks to our generous supporters, and the expertise and passions of our construction teams, caregivers, and communities.”

“Together, everyone involved in the new campus has given life to our vision for a beautiful, healing space for children, and we are proud to celebrate this historical moment with you,” she added.

The Miller Family Campus is one part of Intermountain Health’s Primary Promise to build the nation’s model health system for children. This transformative, multi-faceted plan requires a minimum investment of $600 million in children’s health, shared by Intermountain Health and community philanthropic support.

The Primary Promise campaign was announced in January 2020 alongside a $50 million gift from the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, the largest single investment in Miller family history.

“As Primary Children’s is guided by its philosophy, ‘The Child First and Always,’ our family is guided by the principle to ‘go about doing good until there is too much good in the world,’” Miller said. “Our children have been helped by Primary Children’s in our hour of need, just like so many families before and after us.”

“We are happy to support the good that Primary Children’s can do for children and families with this second location, and the Primary Promise vision to make the Intermountain West the home of the nation’s healthiest pediatric population,” she added.

The Miller family’s generous support of Primary Promise inspired unprecedented giving from individuals and organizations from the many communities served within Utah and beyond, in combination with investments by Intermountain Health. “Gail is a shining example of the impact of giving back, and what’s possible for our children now and in generations to come,” said businessman and philanthropist Todd Pedersen, whose family gave a $35 million gift to the Miller Family Campus.

“I’m grateful to her and the many others here today who have followed in her footsteps and given generously to this hospital and Primary Promise,” Pedersen added. “Just think of what the future may hold when even more of us catch the vision and come together around this compelling cause of helping kids. We are close to $600 million, and my hope for everyone throughout this region is that they will be a part of history through this incredible project. Now is the time.”

Nearly 1,000 patients, caregivers, and Primary Promise supporters joined the Pedersen and Miller families at the special dedication ceremony, sharing in the awe and excitement expressed by Rob Allen, president and chief executive officer of Intermountain Health.

“Today, more than ever, I feel as if we’re standing on the shoulders of giants,” Allen said. “Community support for the model health system for children is building. The power of philanthropy is what’s made Primary Children’s the beacon it has become – and will continue to fuel endless possibilities for children’s health.”

Thirteen-year-old Nellie Mainor shared Allen’s wish for future patients.

She spent years of her young life at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, receiving treatment for kidney failure caused by Dense Deposit Disease.

Nellie received daily dialysis treatments at home and in the hospital, and biweekly infusions for a related blood disorder, until she received a kidney transplant in 2021.

“Primary Children’s Hospital is my home-away-from-home, and I tell my nurses and doctors that they’re like my second family. I love them all,” Nellie said. “I’m so happy that we now have a second Primary Children’s Hospital here in Lehi, where I know kids will get the same great care and love from the doctors and nurses who help them, as I did at the Salt Lake Campus.”

Since she was hospitalized as a 6-year-old, Nellie has helped her fellow patients find ease in their hospital visits, conducting toy drives and other fundraisers.

In 2020, Nellie had the chance to meet Miller when the Miller family’s philanthropic gift was announced. For the occasion, Nellie made a beaded necklace for Miller as a gesture of thanks.

At the Miller Family Campus dedication, Nellie and Miller reunited to cut the ribbon on the new campus together.

As for the necklace: Miller has worn it often over the past four years and keeps it in her office as a remembrance. Before the dedication ceremony, she placed the treasure into a special time capsule on the hospital grounds.

To learn how you can support Primary Promise, visit PrimaryPromise.org or contact [email protected].

For more information about the new Miller Family Campus in Lehi, visit primarychildrens.org/lehi.

Hospital Campus Facts:

What’s in the Hospital:

What’s at the Outpatient Center:

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NOTE TO MEDIA: Video and photos available upon request

Doors Open to Patients on February 12, 2024

Lehi Mayor Mark Johnson is known for his amicable personality. On Tuesday, however, during a City Council meeting, Johnson was outspokenly opposed to the Mountainland Association of Government (MAG) and Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) plan to widen Pioneer Crossing, making it a freeway, which would affect over 100 residential and commercial properties.

“Recently, in MAG [meetings], there have been a number of discussions about transportation systems through Lehi. We have had a lot of discussions about east-west corridors. Three months ago, UDOT started with a plan to expand Pioneer Crossing. They presented this to us and talked about moving forward on making Pioneer Crossing a freeway. They had no conversation with us about it,” said Johnson.

Pioneer Crossing’s current width includes a 108-foot right-of-way span. The proposed plan would require the span to nearly triple to a minimum of 300 feet, which would require removing at least 90 residential properties and several commercial properties.

“We’re talking about a significant number of residential properties and new commercial properties affected,” emphasized Johnson.

Johnson has been working with City staff and Hales Engineering to study alternative transportation improvements and to lobby other Utah County mayors to oppose MAG’s current plan.

On Tuesday, Ryan Hales from Hales Engineering presented the City Council with two other road improvement scenarios that Johnson had presented to MAG and neighboring mayors.

Scenario one is the MAG proposal turning Pioneer Crossing into a freeway with two Lehi interchanges for residents to enter Pioneer Crossing at 500 West and 2300 West. This plan would tie the road into I-15 and the American Fork Main Street interchange.

Scenario two proposes extending Pony Express Parkway with two extra lanes on Pioneer Crossing and 1900 South in Lehi.

Scenario three would be creating a new freeway on the north shore of Utah Lake, connecting to Pony Express Parkway to the west.

Scenarios two and three provide a continuation of a route that parallels I-15, off-loading traffic at Pleasant Grove Boulevard, 500 East in American Fork, or 1600 North in Lindon.

The study of each route used MAG’s projected build-out calculations for Lehi, Saratoga Springs, and Eagle Mountain. Lehi’s population is currently 90,000, with a projection of 185,000. Saratoga Springs currently has 45,000 people, with a build-out total of 155,000. Eagle Mountain presently sits at 50,000 residents, with a projected total of 240,000.

Volume demand for each scenario includes:

“Our recommendation is that we consider scenario two as the preferred alternative. We also think scenarios two and three need to be evaluated,” concluded Hales.

Mayor Johnson said he received the support of most mayors to avoid the Pioneer Crossing freeway despite MAG’s pushback.

“MAG pleaded with the rest of the mayors to not deviate from what they [MAG] wanted to do,” said Johnson.

“We need to have a minimum impact on Lehi citizens…Whatever the solution. Our residents need to also benefit,” concluded Johnson.

“What can we do now? How do we help?” inquired Councilman Paul Hancock.

Hales and Johnson recommended that the Council and public stay engaged and offer feedback during the process. MAG and UDOT will provide opportunities for public input throughout the planning phase.

LEHI, Utah — Kevin Bacon will triumphantly return to Utah this summer, but it has nothing to do with the 40th anniversary of the beloved film "Footloose," which was filmed in Payson.

For months, Utah has united in one cause: bring Kevin Bacon to the Beehive State for the movie's anniversary.

40 years later: A look back at 'Footloose' being filmed in Utah

Utahns who remember participating in Footloose, students currently attending the school where the movie was filmed, and even Governor Spencer Cox have joined together to beg for Bacon to pay a visit.

Earlier this month, students in Payson participated in a "Footloose Spirit Bowl," competing in relay races, volleyball matches, cake-eating contests and more.

Students additionally started a social media campaign using #BacontoPayson, pushing for their favorite celebrity to pay a visit to the iconic school from the movie, which will be demolished at the end of the school year.

Well, it seems Lehi City also wanted Bacon in Utah and took action to make it happen.

The city announced Thursday that "The Bacon Brothers," will perform at this year's Lehi Round-up Concert in June.

Kevin Bacon and his brother, Michael Bacon comprise the musical duo that tour the country, performing their mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music.

On their website, it shows the Lehi performance as the duo's first of the year, happening June 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Margaret Wines Park.

Lehi City playfully tagged Cox in their announcement, saying they think he will want to attend the concert that usually attracts hundreds.

The city suggested visitors bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the concert on the grass while indulging in some delicious bites from food trucks that will be on site.

The big question remains: will Kevin Bacon stop in at Payson High School before it's gone forever to celebrate the anniversary of Footloose?

Copyright 2024 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Campus of Primary Children’s hospital opened Feb. 12 in Lehi, and provides expanded healthcare to adolescents across Utah County.

By Giovanni Radtke, Assistant News Editor

February 13, 2024

Intermountain Health’s new Children’s Hospital in Lehi is now open. The hospital, called the Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Campus, opened its doors for a public tour in anticipation of its grand opening.

The five-story, 66-bed pediatric health center is Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital’s second campus. After three years of construction, the hospital had its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 2.

“It’s been nearly four years to the day that we announced the second campus of Primary Children’s Hospital, and we’ve all been anxiously awaiting the moment we open the doors to serve the children and families in the rapidly growing Southern Salt Lake County and Utah County,” said Lisa Paletta, president of the Miller Family Campus in a press release.

Utah County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, and almost one-third of Primary Children’s patients are in Utah and South Salt Lake County. In addition, children make up roughly 31% of Utah County’s population.

Chris Miller, chief medical officer of the Miller Family Campus, said the pediatric doctors from the Salt Lake Primary Children’s Hospital will also work at the Lehi campus. The new health center will provide most of the same health services as the Salt Lake center.

The pediatric hospital has trauma and emergency services, a neonatal intensive care unit, surgical services, imaging services and mental health services.

The Miller Family Campus also has Utah’s first walk-in pediatric behavioral health crisis center.

Marco Lozzi

“At this campus, we’ll be able to provide the full spectrum of behavioral health services,” Miller said. “From clinic … all the way up to in-patient behavioral health, this is the first time we’ve had all those services concentrated in one place.”

The pediatric medical center also has a “school zone” where hospitalized children are given tutoring sessions for extended stays.

“We help [students] transition back to school by doing tutoring depending on the age of the kid,” said David H. Smith, a teacher at the Miller Family Campus. “For high school, we work on credits and the teachers assigned homework … and [for a] third grader we’re just working on grade level appropriate flash cards with multiplication facts [and] some history games that we have.”

The school zone is part of the family support services, which also include playrooms and “Sophie’s Place,” a music therapy room. Spencer Hardy, the director of family support services, said the rooms and services were modeled after the Primary Children’s Hospital Salt Lake Campus.

“We will have music therapists, art therapists and dance therapists who can all use the healing components of the creative arts,” Hardy said.

Challee Johnson, a certified child life specialist, said the family support services help bring normality to the children’s lives.

“We … know from research the impact that hospitalization could have on the development of kids, so we try to create a space for them away from the medical things, a place where they feel normal and lay out their emotions and lay out what’s happening to them,” she said.

Intermountain spokesperson Jennifer Toomer-Cook said that donations will pay for family support services when patients’ health insurance does not cover the expenses.

[email protected]

@GiovanniRadtke

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About the Contributors

, Assistant News Editor

Giovanni Radtke is a junior at the U with an associate degree in journalism and digital media from Salt Lake Community College. He is majoring in communications with an emphasis in journalism. Giovanni is a self-proclaimed cinephile who loves traveling and reading history books.

Marco Lozzi, Photographer

Born in Texas and raised by Italian parents, Marco Lozzi grew up with two vastly different cultures. Now a sophomore at the U, he is majoring in communication with a journalism emphasis while also minoring in photography and Italian. He joined the Chrony to gain experience working as a photojournalist for a larger entity. When he's not taking or editing photos, he can be found hitting the slopes, napping, or making pasta.

Lehi’s new ice skating rink will hold its grand opening this Friday and all are welcome to attend.

The ice skating rink will remain open until Jan. 26 of next year. Lehi officials are hoping for the ice rink to become a yearly tradition but will take into account the community response they see this first year, said Shawn Winters, Lehi City Parks Department assistant director.

“I am excited to have this new offering to the citizens of Lehi,” Mayor Mark Johnson stated in a press release. “Ice skating in Utah County created many fond memories for me as a child and I expect many will recognize this as a great opportunity to introduce their children to the fun activity.”

Outside of the ice rink are two sets of bleachers and several benches and heaters. Christmas lights have been strung up around the area where concessions will be served and a Christmas tree made of lights is positioned on the side of the rink. The addition of Christmas music adds to the ambiance that Lehi City hopes to create at the ice rink to draw in people from Lehi and surrounding cities, Winters said. The concessions will sell hot chocolate, Lehi Bakery square donuts, water, gloves and socks. Each item will be $2.

Public skating will be open Monday through Friday from 5-10 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The rink is closed on Sundays and on Christmas. On the Alpine School District’s winter break, the ice rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The ice rink will be fully staffed during public skating hours. In addition, the rink is available for reservations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8-10:30 a.m. The full calendar can be found at www.lehi-ut.gov/legacy-center/lehi-ice-rink.

The press release said the 5,000-square-foot ice rink “is an engineered aluminum floor with a chiller sized to make a substantial amount of ice during the entire period of the skating season.” The ice rink is located at the Lehi Sports Complex, 2000 W. 700 South, on the baseball diamond, which was protected through careful preparation before the ice rink was created, the release states.

Lehi City contracted Ice America to build the portable ice rink for $250,000. The startup costs came from city reserve funds, according to Jeanteil Livingston, Lehi City communications manager. “We are hopeful all costs associated with the ice rink will be recovered through user fees,” she said.

Admission to the ice rink for all ages is $7 per person and ice skates are $5. For groups of 10 or more people, there are discounted rates.

As a park staff, Winters explained they were looking for something to provide the Lehi community during the winter when the parks are usually closed. They had spoken to a different city that started an ice skating rink and Winters said as they were talking together, “They just were going on about how magical it was and how much it brought the community together. That’s kind of what sparked the wheel.” He added there has been involvement from departments across the city to make the ice rink a reality this winter.

The press release states, “Ice skating lessons will be taught through the Learn to Skate program provided by Learn to Skate USA. The program offers a standardized curriculum designed to help skaters of all ages and abilities master the basics of ice skating. Learn to Skate is providing 7 instructors from around the state to teach lessons for Lehi. To register for skate lessons, visit https://lehilegacycenter.activityreg.com/.”

The lessons cost $68 per person. There are three two-week sessions throughout the season, which consist of twice-a-week lessons, Livingston explained.

The grand opening will include a show by professional figure skaters who are instructors of the Learn to Skate program and speeches by city leaders and sponsors before the rink opens to the public for the first time. The opening of the rink comes at the end of Lehi Family Week. As part of the weeklong celebration, the first 200 people at the ice skating rink Friday who mention they are there for Lehi Family Week will receive a free Lehi beanie. No purchase or admission is necessary, and one beanie will be given per family.

On Saturday, there will be a station at the ice rink to write letters to Santa Claus and an ornament-making station from noon to 2 p.m.

Livingston said at both of these events those participating can mention they are there for Family Week to enter a raffle for the chance to win an Xbox Series S.

In addition to the two events this weekend, activities will be held at the ice skating rink all winter long.

On Dec. 9 from 2-4 p.m., there will be story time with Santa and cookies.

Jingle Jangle Jubilee will be held Dec. 15 from 5-9 p.m. and on Dec. 16 from noon to 8 p.m. All events will be held at the ice skating rink/park. More information is available on the Lehi City Facebook page.

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