Intermountain Park City Hospital celebra la apertura del nuevo Centro de medicina deportiva y rendimiento. El remodelado centro cuenta con nuevos equipos de última generación que incluyen captura de movimiento 3D, cintas para correr de alta velocidad y un riel aéreo para neurorrehabilitación.

La amplia gama de programas que ahora se ofrecen tienen como objetivo ayudar a todos con sus movimientos y acondicionamiento físico, desde atletas olímpicos que intentan obtener una ventaja hasta deportistas y personas comunes que se recuperan de lesiones graves.

“Al tener todos estos servicios en un mismo lugar, podemos garantizar que si alguien busca mejorar su salud y sus movimientos, contamos con alguien que puede ayudarlo a lograr sus metas”, indicó Marlene Morgan, una fisioterapeuta y jefa de medicina deportiva y rendimiento en Intermountain Park City Hospital. “Nuestra comunidad tiene personas muy activas, y esto ayuda a garantizar que puedan seguir haciendo lo que aman.

Además de fisioterapia, rendimiento deportivo y medicina deportiva, el nuevo centro también ofrece servicios integrales de medicina de estilo de vida y bienestar para satisfacer mejor las necesidades de la comunidad.

Esto incluye servicios como Medicina integrativa que combina planes de tratamiento convencionales y alternativos, y Salud de conserjería, que ofrece acceso a servicios ampliados y especializados de atención primaria que se enfocan en la salud y el bienestar individualizados.

El nuevo centro también ofrece otros servicios de salud, como servicios de nutrición, acupuntura y masajes.

Para obtener más información sobre el Centro de medicina deportiva y rendimiento de Intermountain Park City, haga clic aquí o, si desea obtener más información sobre los servicios de medicina de estilo de vida y bienestar, diríjase aquí.

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Among the students who received their diplomas with this year’s class of 2024 at Hurricane High School, Madison Gill’s journey was unlike any other.

Two years after an accident left her paralayzed, an arduous journey of intensive physical therapy followed, marked by numerous ups and downs, the support of incredible caregivers, and Gill’s unwavering commitment to herself.

Her determination culminated in a triumphant walk across the graduation stage to receive her high school diploma.

It was a long journey, In the summer of 2022, an accident left Madison, affectionately known as “Madi,” unable to walk.

After a day of cliff jumping, laughter, and music with friends at Sand Hollow Reservoir in Southern Utah, she was in the backseat of a truck that rolled.

Gill, not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected through the back passenger window.

She still recalls the impact, the feeling of lying outside the truck, and the comforting presence of a police officer until she lost consciousness, only to awaken in a hospital room with her mother by her side.

"I couldn't move my legs. I remember I just kept crying over and over and apologizing to my mom," Gill said. She was admitted to Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital with a T-12 spinal fracture, wrist fracture, ankle fracture, and numerous other injuries.

Gill, who at the time of the accident was a cheerleader, spent months in the hospital and inpatient rehab following the accident. Although difficult, she remembers the kindness and care of those involved in her treatment. Moments like celebrating her birthday with a brief mall visit coordinated by her caregivers, and a small party with cake in a conference room—a day that held profound meaning for her. 

When it was time to leave the hospital and go home, she recalled practicing getting in and out of the car for days in anticipation.

"It's harder than you think it is," Gill laughed, as she remembered the process of what something was once she had never had to think twice about.  

Her mother and sister became certified caregivers, supporting Gill as she adjusted to her new reality at home. But life had another curveball in store: the loss of one of her best friends in a climbing accident plunged Gill into depression, halting her progress.

It would be several months before Gill decided she wanted to try again. In August of ‘23, she needed to stand to get something for her nephew.

"I took four steps,” Gill said. 

Those four steps were important as she chose then to dedicate herself to try and walk again. She expressed her desire to return to physical therapy, and her mother knew just who to call: Tyson Winder, a physical therapist with Intermountain Hurricane Physical Therapy Clinic, who had previously worked with her family.

“The goal that she expressed was that she wanted to walk across the stage at graduation,” Winder said of their first meeting in January of this year.

Gill and Winder got to work. First, she needed an ankle fusion to help combat some of the problems she was experiencing. After that procedure, Winder was able to start, by also pushing her to gain confidence and ability.

Winder said he focused on not making it too complex. It was literally training her body to take steps, working through the atrophy, how her body shifted, the way her sides rotated. Together, they made small strides, as she could walk 100 steps in just a few months time.  

"Tyson is my best friend; he is the person who pushes me when I need it; he doesn't coddle or baby me; he is a huge reason I am walking across the graduation stage," Gill said.

As the week before graduation approached, they game planned “the walk” and even went to the field the day before to do a practice walk.

They evaluated the stage, the precise steps, all in hopes of making it. Winder blocked out his schedule as he said he was not going to miss it.

Gill then had one final request of Winder: Walk alongside her on the stage.

Graduation day came on May 22, 2024.

With a crowd of support that included her family, friends, caregivers, the police officers at the accident, school administrators, and peers, Gill crossed the graduation stage confidently, accepting her diploma with Winder by her side.

Gill achieved what she said she thought was once impossible. Each step, each movement, each one of those 105 feet walked represented a moment of self-growth, a person who supported her on her journey, the courage and confidence she built in the face of her trials, and the future she has ahead. 

"It meant a lot that she trusted me that much," Winder said. “Here you have this cheerleader, who had her world turned upside down, and she trusted us to help her and then to receive that honor to be with her in such a moment. It truly was such an honor.”

"Walking across the graduation stage was a huge relief because it meant I had actually graduated high school,” said Gill. “School was challenging even before the accident, and the year after was even tougher. But when senior year came, I was determined to finish strong and walk across that stage. In that moment, all I could think was, 'Don't fall, don't trip, just get it done.' And I did."

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Intermountain Health is restructuring its hospital-based outpatient rehabilitation services in Utah and is moving to a clinic model that will result in lower costs and allow for more virtual telehealth visits for patients. 

This shift comes as Intermountain Health continues to expand its value-based care model. Rehab services leaders say the move is a step in the right direction for improving access for patients. 

“There was a time when most services were at a hospital but we’re seeing a transition away from hospital-based care, and frankly, for certain services to stay affordable they’re going to have to move to an outpatient model,” said Bob McCall, vice president of rehab services at Intermountain Health. “Once you see the benefit to patient access and affordability it really is a no-brainer to do it this way.” 

With the change, Intermountain is now charging about 30 percent less for outpatient rehab services, compared to the hospital-based system. These services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help patients recovering from injury, managing pain, or following surgery. 

With the services now under a clinic license, there is greater flexibility around the use of telehealth, allowing caregivers and patients easier access to virtual appointments and recovery. 

“Both patients and caregivers saw the benefits of telehealth visits during the pandemic, but once rules allowing it expired there was a grey area whether hospitals could still use telehealth,” said Joey Kamerath, MD. “By restructuring our model we can ensure we can use telehealth when needed and expand access to communities who have been underserved in the past.” 

Dr. Kamerath says in-person rehab appointments are vital for ensuring success, so patients won’t only be using virtual visits. Combining in-person and virtual visits gives flexibility to patients who may benefit from having the option to receive therapy from home. 

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Moving to a clinic model will result in lower costs and allow for more virtual telehealth visits for patients.