As of the writing of this chapter in SunRiver’s history, July 2010, the greater SunRiver community is within months of meeting its charitable commitment to Dixie Regional Medical Center made almost ten years ago.   Meeting the $250,000 charitable pledge is another milestone in the community partnership between SunRiver, its residents and the Dixie Regional Medical Center.

Let’s look at some history and see what has led up to this $250,000 pledge and the partnership with Dixie Regional.  Why is it important and how does it impact SunRiver residents?

The SunRiver partners’  dream of building an Active Adult Community with big-city amenities and lifestyle in an inspiring Southern Utah setting required community services that would support superior medical services for active seniors.   The selection of St. George, Utah, by SunRiver partners resulted in large part from their belief that the city would precisely meet those medical services including plans for a new “flagship hospital” and the doctors and professional staff it would attract. These planned local community medical services completed the required package for the “wellness environment” Darcy Stewart, managing partner of SunRiver St. George, wanted to provide by supporting those services and the “lifestyle” residents would have available living in SunRiver St. George.  Now SunRiver and St. George could attract and support future resident’s wellness needs for those sold on SunRivers’ Active Adult Lifestyle or those that soon would be.   It is fair to say that the availability of superior medical services that are close and convenient was essential for SunRivers success as they are a major part of most seniors’ decisions to retire in any given community.

Mr. Steve Wilson, the Hospital Administrator for Dixie Regional Medical Center from 1985 to 2006, believed that medical services must mirror, or be a reflection of the community it serves.  The challenge in St. George was to add the medical services ahead of the actual demand.  SunRiver was projected to add approximately 5,000 new active adult residents over the next 12 to 15 years and Washington County was gaining a reputation of being one of the nation’s fastest growing and best places to retire.

Mr. Stewart was a major contributor and supporter of the medical community prior to the launch of SunRiver and that involvement gave him the confidence that medical services would keep pace with the projected growth of SunRiver St. George and the surrounding communities.  Mr. Wilson explained that “in 1985 there was one hospital which had approximately 33 staff and 29 doctors.  This number has doubled every decade with new facilities employing the current staff of 2200 with 215 doctors.”  He further states, “…what is equally important is the range of services and the expertise of those doctors and the supporting hospital staff.”

Mr. Stewart worked closely with Mr. Wilson to support and promote medical services based on anticipated community needs.   Together, along with other private and local government leaders, they convinced the community to commit to funding the millions of dollars required, understanding the community’s growth and buying into the belief of “build it and they will come”.  This was no small feat.  It required, among other improvements, the financing and building of the 2nd Campus of Dixie Medical Center located on River Road in St. George.

This medical expansion and improvement began in 2000 when SunRiver had just broken ground and coincided shortly after with the grand opening of this large state of the art hospital campus including ancillary medical facilities in 2003. The new hospital has exceeded expectations at providing the resources to meet the needs of the community proven by its “badge of honor”, a current ranking within the top 100 hospitals in the nation.

The hospital is just a portion of what was required to attract residents—the traditional expertise and focus on medical services for ages 50 and above could now be guaranteed.  But one other change in traditional thinking was needed. Traditional medical beliefs had to adapt to best serve the SunRiver residents.  Mr. Wilson said that “during the preceding decade common wisdom stated that potential residents moving into St. George would  already be suffering from respiratory problems,  arthritis or related illnesses and hoping to live out their remaining years with less pain or discomfort due to the dry, mild climate.”  Mr. Wilson stated that “Mr. Stewart was part of a new wave of thinking and was developing a community that was healthy and robust whose residents wanted to get the most out of their remaining years—a lifestyle that would improve health and extend life.  This “active adult” concept changed the focus of the traditional medical practitioners to include services and specialties that would not have been available without this change in paradigm from the traditional “already sick” medical model.

Mr. Stewart is especially proud of SunRiver’s own Wall of Honor (See photos) at the new hospital.  SunRiver developed a tax deductible opportunity for new SunRiver residents to make a $500 contribution to the hospital that SunRiver St. George Development matched.  This not only provided additional financial support but also educated new residents on the quality and importance of medical services in Washington County.  “It made our residents part of the hospital family.  Many enjoy showing their names on the Wall of Honor and explaining how they helped finance and support this top 100 hospital.  As you can see, approximately 250 SunRiver residents’ names are proudly recorded on this permanent plaque.

As mentioned in the beginning of this writing, Darcy Stewart has joined forces with the Dixie Regional Medical Center in gaining community support for new initiatives and in marshalling the support of SunRiver residents to help accomplish ongoing medical improvements.  Over the last decade SunRiver has hosted and supported the annual Jubilee Cup Charity Golf Tournament for the hospital, supported the Jubilee of Trees and Trees of Light and Life along with other fundraisers.  Many of SunRiver’s residents have provided meaningful service and significant individual financial support on IHC boards and committees and/or have volunteered in numerous capacities.

Mr. Wilson said “It’s hard to say which came first, the chicken or the egg.  The hospital and medical services reflect SunRiver resident’s needs and having the hospital and advanced focused services helps attract more active adults to St. George with a hospital that now ranks number one in open heart surgery in Utah and among the nation’s top 100 overall.

Mr. Wilson further states, “The hospital and its medical services have a current capacity typically located in a community with a population of over 250,000 with Washington Counties’ population currently at approximately 150,000.”  This commitment to the future is a medical services testimonial of the future growth anticipated in Southern Utah as well as the communities’ active support and investment in that future.

When asked, Mr. Wilson smiled and said,  “The new hospital’s budget is close to $500,000,000 in 2010 so it might seem small to some but this financial support and the equally large ongoing volunteer efforts this $250,000 represents is the ‘margin of excellence’ we are able to provide.”

To further define the results of SunRiver’s efforts and contributions, Ms. Carrie Hepworth, Director of Dixie Regional’s Foundation, expressed her gratitude for the support of SunRiver and SunRiver residents.  To summarize she said, “SunRiver’s commitment and involvement really allowed the fund raising to take off.  Your program and contributions inspired so many others to go out and do the same.”

“I was biking in the hills here by SunRiver and I was really out of breath,” said Walter Dawe, SunRiver resident.  “After resting and trying again there was no improvement.  I decided to call it a day and went back home.  After talking to my wife we decided to call my doctor.  He asked me to come in and take some tests.  I took the EKG with radiation dye and went back home.  My doctor consulted with Dr. Millar and they asked me to come in immediately.  My wife and I went in and were informed that I needed immediate open heart surgery.  I prepared for surgery and went in the next morning.  I had five bypasses based on the damage to my heart.”

I asked Mr. Dawe what physical therapy was like after the surgery.  He smiled and told me they had him up and walking the same day as the surgery.  “I was in the hospital five days walking a little further each day.  I was then released with instructions on continued walking.  I remember the first day at home—I could only walk half of a block.”

Mr. Dawe looks very healthy at age 72, and reports that although the surgery was just one year ago, he is nearly back to 100%.  “I took a four hour bike ride yesterday.”

Mr. Dawe is one of five residents that he personally knew that had required open heart surgery, stints or other treatments within the past year.  It provides a great deal of confidence to patients, family and friends, that these life saving treatments are available conveniently close to home in the number one rated cardiovascular hospital in the state.

The value of living here in SunRiver with a top 100 hospital and staff truly is immeasurable.

The SunRiver family is proud to be part of the medical communities’ important efforts to advance quality health care.  In fact, Ms. Hepworth in further communicating her sincere thanks, applauded the many SunRiver residents who so graciously volunteer.  There are on-going opportunities to contribute to rewarding events, volunteer for part-time positions and other volunteering opportunities.  These contributions help maintain the “margins of excellence” for which the Dixie Medical Center is known.

Looking ahead, SunRiver St. George Development continues to attract medical services close to home.  The Design Center will be relocated to make room for Physical Therapy, Chiropractic, and other medical services in a shared Clinic with a target opening in late September 2010.  These new medical services will be next door to  Dr. Christensen’s Dental Office located in the Plaza at the corner of SunRiver Parkway and Country Club.  Health and wellness are a continued priority supporting the “Live Young” attitude of SunRiver residents.