Intermountain Press Release

Murray, UT —A veteran Utah healthcare leader has been named administrator/chief executive officer of Intermountain Healthcare's new Riverton Hospital, which is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009.

Blair Kent, who is presently an operating officer at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, was named to the post after an extensive national search.

"Blair was selected from an exceptionally strong field of candidates," says Larry Hancock, chief executive officer of Intermountain's Urban Central Region hospitals. "He has an excellent track record of administrative and strategic success. He's delightful to work with, very much attuned to the nuances of Utah's healthcare environment, and a dedicated team player who strengthens everyone he deals with."

The new Riverton medical campus will include a four-story 44-bed hospital, an attached physician office building operated by Intermountain's Medical Group, and a three-story pediatric outpatient facility operated by Primary Children's Medical Center.

Kent will lead ongoing planning and construction efforts at the hospital and its integration with Primary Children's Medical Center and Intermountain's Medical Group. Kent currently oversees cardiovascular services, imaging, hyperbaric medicine, sleep services, and dialysis for Intermountain's Urban Central Region hospitals. Prior to that he served as operations director for Intermountain Healthcare's Medical Group in the Urban South Region for almost four years.

Kent earned his bachelor's degree at Weber State University and a master of public administration degree at Brigham Young University. He and his wife, Terri, have two children and live in Highland.

Intermountain Riverton Hospital will open with 44 beds with room to grow up to 88; it will employ an estimated 400 employees. Hospital services will include emergency care, women's/birthing services, six operating rooms, general medical/surgical care, and full-service imaging and other diagnostic services. Primary Children's outpatient facility will offer surgery, radiology, pediatric subspecialty care, and other procedures.

The total size of the facility, including the hospital and all other buildings, will be 281,866 square feet (which includes 70,000 square feet of shelled space). The site, located at the corner of Bangerter Highway and 12600 South in Riverton, covers just over 60 acres.