By MICHAEL WARD
The market for Utah County health care has just become more competitive.
Columbia Timpanogos Regional Hospital, on 800 N. 750 West in Orem, conducted an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for corporate sponsors and media.
Timpanogos Regional becomes the second Orem hospital. The Orem Community Hospital has been in existence for around 15 years.
Chris Coons of Intermountain Health Care Utah County Services said IHC thinks competition is healthy.
'People like choice, and we love competition,' Coons said.
Jacque Brown, public relations director at Columbia Timpanogos Regional Hospital, said the competition will help the community.
'It creates the first network of competition in Utah County, which before has not existed,' Brown said.
Coons said IHC works very closely with Columbia Mountain View Hospital in Payson and anticipates building the same ties with Timpanogos Regional.
IHC and Columbia will be competing on quality of clinical services, cost effectiveness, access and service mentality, Coons said.
'People will have the ability to try some different things and choose what makes sense for them,' Coons said.
Timpanogos Regional Hospital's Chief Financial Officer Kent Tarbet said population increase is the reason for a new facility in Orem.
'Orem City feels like they need a full service hospital that does everything, so that's why we're here,' Tarbet said.
Brown said because of growth in population, there will be plenty of work for all Utah County hospitals.
'There are more babies born in Utah County than any other county in the country,' Brown said.
Orem Junior High School and Central Elementary in Pleasant Grove have created a partnership with Timpanogos Regional. Both schools sent representatives to present the new hospital various gifts of thanks for the partnership.
'Even before Columbia Timpanogos Regional Hospital was opened, they were willing and wanting to help us out and help people in the community who need them most,' said JoAnna Meacham, a teacher at Central Elementary School.
Meacham, a fifth-grade teacher, said Central Elementary is comprised of low-income families with special needs, and Columbia has helped provide more possibilities for learning in their school.
Debbie Walls, a resource teacher at Central Elementary, said Columbia has provided materials, financial help and helped arrange media coverage for a special student program in their school.
'Our children were on TV and in the newspapers for doing something right,' Walls said.
Both IHC and Columbia officials said the community is first priority in a health care organization.