Intermountain Healthcare’s On-Site Work Clinic Introduces New Approach To Family Medicine 

OREM, Utah — Intermountain Healthcare has long provided on-site work clinics, and they’re now introducing a new approach to family medicine, with a focus on preventative care.

One Utah Valley family said they’ve benefitted from this intimate and intentional approach to medicine. 

The Larsen family knows how to have fun, but they always keep safety top of mind.

“Riding bikes and motorcycles and camping and boating,” Megan Larsen described. “And safety and health has always been a number one priority for us.” 

Megan and Ryan Larsen have two young children, which is one reason they’re grateful their family long-had access to an on-site primary care clinic at Ryan’s work, U.S. Synthetic. 

“They make diamond drill bits for the oil rigs,” Megan said.

The Intermountain Healthcare clinic serves about 500 employees and their families right on their campus, in partnership with Castell. 

“We stop and say, ‘Hi’ to dad and have lunch with him after our checkups,” Megan said. 

In January, the U.S. Synthetic Intermountain Healthcare worksite clinic became the first in Utah to provide a re-imagined primary care model, with a focus on prevention and keeping people well. 

Dr. Spencer Scoville practices full-time at the clinic. He said this new approach to medicine allows him to think about who is due for preventative care and proactively reach out to patients to see how they’re doing. He relies on a robust data platform that ensures caregivers follow up with patients consistently. 

“Looking at lists of patients and seeing, you know, ‘Who hasn’t been seen? Are they taking their medications? Are they following up like they need to be?’” Scoville explained.

He said this model helps him to identify chronic illnesses, like diabetes and high blood pressure, early on before they become a bigger problem. 

“If you can treat a hypertensive patient before they’ve had long term hypertension, you’re going to prevent things like heart attack, stroke,” Scoville explained “There’s great evidence that shows that even just a little bit of education can go a long way if we catch it early, where later, the benefit is not quite as great.” 

Since this new model was implemented, patient satisfaction scores improved 15%, according to Intermountain, and various quality measures for patients’ health went up by 5% to 15%. 

Scoville has seen Paityn and Titan Larsen since they were newborns.

“We have used them faithfully for our checkups, wellness exams, vaccinations,” Megan described. “We love Dr. Scoville, and it’s been good for our family.”  

Scoville has also helped the family during more serious occasions, like when Ryan Larsen was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy.

“His face had started to droop, so he did, he started losing feeling on the one side of his face,” Megan described.  

Fortunately, Ryan received emergency treatment in a timely manner and doesn’t have lasting symptoms.

Scoville also helped Ryan when he injured himself on the job.  

“He literally called after he had already got stitches and was like, ‘Hey, cut myself at work today, but they stitched me up. Everything’s good,’” Megan recalled. “It’s so nice and reassuring to know that they are right there.” 

The clinic also provides easy access for families.

“We have always been able to get in, to be honest, within hours,” Megan said. 

“They can slip over and be seen on a 15-minute or 30-minute break pretty easily,” Scoville said. 

Megan said the best part about going to the U.S. Synthetic clinic, though, is the connection they found with Scoville. 

“[It] has allowed all of us to get to know him, and him to get to know us on a personal level,” Megan said. 

“I’ve been here for nine years, so it’s been fun watching kids grow,” he said. “They can come in, and we can get to know them really well, and hopefully, take care of them better because we know them better.” 

Intermountain said patients who utilize this new prevention-based model of care are less likely to visit the emergency room, be admitted to the hospital or need outpatient imaging. It’s also easier on the wallet. On average, members are saving almost $20 per month. 

“Preventative care really is where the greatest value in care is,” Scoville said. “If we can prevent an ER visit, that’s a great cost savings.”