Ivins welcomes new health clinic offering full spectrum of medical care

ST. GEORGE — A new community health clinic catering to all ages opened Thursday at the Rocky Vista University Southern Utah campus in Ivins. Residents and dignitaries toured the Rocky Vista Health Center after a grand opening ceremony at 255 E. Center Street.

Students celebrate the Grand Opening of clinic with Dr. Steven Harmon, Ivins, Utah, Aug. 18, 2022 |Photo courtesy of Logan Stott, St. George News

The enthusiasm was high from staff and visitors, as there has long been a community need, Steven Harmon, clinic director and osteopathic doctor, said.

“We’re very excited to be here. At our clinic, we’re going to offer a full spectrum family medicine care,” Harmon said. “We like to think about that as (a) cradle-to-grave type of care. We take care of babies all the way to people into their senior years. One thing we won’t do is obstetrics, which is taking care of pregnant women. But apart from that, we’re excited to provide all of the other services needed in the community.”

The new clinic is also open for anybody who wants to come in, even from outside the community. Early next year, the center will add osteopathic manipulative medicine as part of the practice, said osteopathic doctor David Forstein, who also serves as president, provost and chief executive officer of Rocky Vista University.

He said they also hope by opening up this primary care practice they can fill the building with other specialists who would be attracted to partner with Harmon to provide a medical hub for residents living in or near Ivins.

Compassion, integrity and excellence are a priority for the practice, he added.

“We have core values that include things like diversity and innovation,” he said. “So that’s part of where we are as an organization, and that is part of our health care practice as well.”

Dr. Steven Harmon and clinic director showcases one of the examination rooms during a tour of the Rocky Vista Clinic, Ivins, Utah, Aug. 18, 2022 | Photo by Stephanie DeGraw, St. George News

In addition to family medicine, the center will offer services such as electrocardiograms, biopsies of skin lesions, women’s health, and refilling medication for chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. The clinic also provides mental health services.

Around eight years ago, Rocky Vista University, headquartered in Colorado, approached the city of Ivins to open the school. University leadership had the vision of creating a partnership with the community. Forstein envisioned hundreds of people, students, faculty and staff living, eating and shopping in Ivins and the surrounding communities.

Ivins Mayor Chris Hart said Ivins is proud to have the university in the community.

“We are proud, not just because of the prestige of having the medical school in Ivins but because of who comes here to be trained to be the future physicians,” Hart said.

He said it has been a privilege to get to know many students over the years and appreciates how much the students and staff at Rocky Vista University donate their time and talents to local events.

Photo Gallery

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!