Hurricane gets expanded health care

HURRICANE, Washington County — The size of Dr. Greg Last's extended family is nothing to sneeze at — especially since it's nearly doubled in size over the past 10 years.

Last, who grew up in Hurricane as the son of Garth Last, the town's beloved family doctor, was impressed with the way his father cared for and loved his many patients.

"I knew I wanted to follow his example in caring for the residents of Hurricane Valley because they're like extended family to me," said Last, a University of Utah School of Medicine graduate who began his own family medical practice in Hurricane 16 years ago.

Intermountain Health Care officials were impressed, too, and felt Last's commitment to patients was something they wanted to include in their expansion plans.

"Greg Last is an excellent physician," said Dr. Dennis J. Moore, director of IHC's Southern Utah Physician Division. "I've actually been trying to become his partner for a couple of years."

Moore got his wish when IHC opened the doors to its newest InstaCare Clinic and Health Center at 90 S. 700 West in Hurricane on Wednesday. The clinic, which also houses Last's practice, will serve patients from Kanab to Colorado City to Hurricane, and all towns in between.

"I'm excited for the increase in health care here. IHC is dedicated to Hurricane Valley," said Moore, a family practitioner who is scheduled to be the center's staff physician for the next few days. Other IHC physicians will rotate the duty until a full-time doctor signs on for the job, he said.

Among the new medical services now available at the Hurricane IHC Health Center are urgent care, pre-admission testing for Dixie Regional Medical Center, on-site lab results, weekend and after-hours care, ultrasounds and bone density scans, and DRMC's rehabilitation services.

Certified family nurse practitioner Penny Emett was thrilled when IHC announced its plans.

"One of the really important reasons I'm here is to help women with their health-care needs, and to see more pediatric patients," said Emett, a Hurricane resident who has 22 years of nursing experience. Most recently, Emett worked at DRMC in the areas of infection control and employee health. "One of the real pluses of being a nurse practitioner is that we're oriented to look at the whole person. We're taught to look more globally."

Providing a patient-friendly environment is especially important to Last and his office staff.

"Somehow we need to keep the practice of medicine personal, and not let it be taken over by the corporate attitude," said Last. "We may need their resources, but not their bureaucracy."