The COVID-19 crisis in the United States has stirred a lot of concern that viral patients will overwhelm the medical infrastructure.
As a result, Intermountain Health Care has announced that they’re establishing two different clinic locations, for two different types of patients.
KPCW talked to Dr. Chuck Morrison, a native and a 1990 graduate of Park City High, who got a scholarship from a local group of doctors that launched him to college and medical school.
Now he’s working in town, as the newly-appointed co-director of the Park City Mountain Medical Clinic—the facility set up to accommodate Parkites suffering from sprains, lacerations and other physical injuries resulting from our active local lifestyles.
But Morrison said if you possibly have COVID-19, or are otherwise suffering coughs, cold or the flu, you are directed to Park City Instacare, located on Sidewinder Drive, across from the 7-11.
“We offer curbside testing. You don’t even have to go into the clinic. You can call the COVID-19 Hotline at 844-442-5224 with any questions. They’ll screen you and if they think you meet the criteria, they’ll send you over here with an order, and we do a swab and then you go. You don’t even have to enter into the clinic. But we do see sick patients. We see coughs, colds, sore throats here at the Instacare.”
The Mountain Medical Clinic for injury cases is set up at the base of the resort, near the First Time lift. It’s in the double-wide trailer that is familiar during the season to injured skiiers.
“It’s the nicest double-wide trailer you’ll ever see. Intermountain, when they took over from the prior clinic, they spent a lot of money renovating it. It is beautiful. It’s gorgeous. But yes. Typically, after the ski season closes, we close our operations and I go back to the Instacare, and the other docs go back to their regular clinics.”
Morrison said they wanted to be sure that injury patients don’t add to the load that medical providers are seeing from COVID-19 and other flu cases. For the injured, the mountain location can offer a number of services.
“We have X-ray capabilities. We can put splints on. We can suture up lacerations. We have, actually, urinalysis capabilities, so for patients with urinary-tract infection. Basically, either injured or otherwise-well patients, they should go over to the double-wide trailer. (Leslie) Okay, so if I need stitches I go to the Resort. If I have a sore throat, I call Instacare. (Morrison) You got it.”
He said the number for the Mountain Medical clinic is 435—645-6020. For Instacare, the number is 435—649—7640.
Finally, he reminded residents of the coronavirus symptoms to watch out for.
“If you have the signs, the classic signs for coronavirus are fever, dry cough—so non-productive cough—and shortness of breath. Please reserve the emergency room and EMS services, ambulances, 911, for the severely ill. We do not want to overwhelm our hospitals. If you are mild to moderately ill, please come to the Instacare.”
Dr. Chuck Morrison, from the Park City Mountain Medical Clinic.
