Salt Lake Chamber

This is Derek Miller of the Salt Lake Chamber with your Utah Business Report.

CHG Healthcare, a leading staffing agency specializing in physician recruitment, has acquired CareerMD, a career management platform offering digital and live events to help clinicians secure their first job after training.

Founded in 1996, CareerMD started as an online resource for medical students.

Since then, it has developed into a trusted and established platform to help physicians and health care providers enter the workforce and navigate their careers.

They host more than 100 in-person career fairs at teaching hospitals across the country each year, virtual career fairs in more than 36 specialties, a job board, and other resources to help physicians and allied health professionals in their career search.

To learn more, visit the CHG Healthcare website.

The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business.

Originally aired: 3/17/25

Alsco Uniforms, headquartered in Salt Lake City, is donating 50,000 dollars to The Salvation Army to support wildfire recovery in Southern California.

Alsco also provided 8,000 face masks and partnered with the Dream Center to distribute detergent to those affected.

These contributions will help provide both immediate relief and long-term rebuilding assistance for communities affected by the devastating wildfires.

With over 135 years of experience and a commitment to community support, Alsco helps businesses stay clean, safe, and operational while providing aid to those in need during crises.

Their goal is "to help families recover and rebuild” in this time of need.

To learn more, visit the Alsco Uniforms website.

The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business.

Originally aired: 3/5/25

The One Utah Health Collaborative has released its first statewide study on healthcare spending, analyzing data from 2021 to 2023 across ten major insurers.

According to the findings, per capita healthcare spending in Utah rose 6.6 percent from 2022 to 2023, while per capita personal income grew just 5.6 percent during that same period.

The report also highlights several promising trends, including greater investment in behavioral health and a modest increase in investment in primary care.

Launched in 2022 by Governor Spencer Cox, the One Utah Health Collaborative is a nonprofit transforming Utah’s healthcare system.

To learn more, visit the One Utah Health Collaborative website.

The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business.

Originally aired: 3/4/25

The Salt Lake Chamber, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, has released the January 2025 Roadmap to Prosperity Economic Dashboard.

This tool highlights key economic data and provides decision-makers with actionable insights.

Key takeaways from the January report include:

First - United States CPI inflation increased for the fourth consecutive month, with year-over increases reaching 3 percent.

Secondly - Utah’s median home sales price equaled 500,000 dollars in December, up from 474,000 dollars the year before. And,

Third - Annual bankruptcy filings in Utah saw a 13 percent increase in 2024.

To learn more, visit the Salt Lake Chamber website.

The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business.

Originally aired: 3/3/25

Three Intermountain Health hospitals recently ranked among the Top 50 heart hospitals in the nation for 2025, according to a new national study of heart hospitals in America by Premier Inc.

Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, and Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, all made the list due to their quality of care, outcomes, and patient experience, among other criteria.

According to the study, if hospitals around the country had similar marks to those making the Top 50 list, it could mean 14,000 fewer deaths, 28,600 fewer bypass and angioplasty patients suffering complications, and save more than 1.5 billion dollars for inpatient costs in 2025.

To learn more, visit the Intermountain Health website.

The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business.

Originally aired: 3/11/25

Governor Spencer Cox and longtime community advocate Pamela Atkinson are urging Utahns to support those experiencing homelessness by donating to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account on their state tax returns.

In 2023, more than 9,000 Utahns entered homelessness for the first time — an increase of 794 individuals compared to the previous year, marking a 9 percent rise.

In total, nearly 33,000 Utahns accessed services through the state’s homeless response system last year.

Contributions to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Account are combined with other state and federal funding to distribute to agencies statewide, maximizing impact.

To learn more, visit jobs.utah.gov/htf.

The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business.

Originally aired: 3/7/25

ThrivePoint Academy, a free public charter school for grades 7-12, is excited to open enrollment for its first Utah location in West Jordan.

This expansion brings ThrivePoint Academy’s student-focused learning approach to the state, offering local students the tools and support they need to succeed academically and beyond.

Located at 1589 W 9000 S, the school is designed to meet the needs of students who thrive outside of traditional educational settings.

With a combination of online and hybrid learning options, students enjoy the flexibility to tailor their education while maintaining the critical in-person support necessary for success.

To learn more, visit the ThrivePoint Academy website.

The Salt Lake Chamber. We Stand as the Voice of Business.

Originally aired: 3/6/25

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Weber State University's Dumke College of Health Professions offers students education with hands-on experience. This prepares graduates for successful healthcare careers in Utah and beyond. Dean of the college, Dr. Yasmen Simonian, joins us with more.

Yas Simonian:

Weber State graduates are at the leading edge of healthcare in Utah. They are filling important positions, engaging with communities and, most of all, providing quality patient care.

Weber State produces more healthcare professionals than any other college in Utah. We are constantly tracking workforce demands to make sure we keep our graduates at the cutting edge.

Recently, we graduated our first class of physician assistants, and we just launched a new psychiatric mental health emphasis in our Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Both of these address shortages and help increase access to care. We’re also long-time partners with over 1,200 hospitals and clinical sites, where students learn hands on and enhance their skills.

Every semester, hundreds of graduates from the College of Health Professions step into brilliant careers. You can, too, visit weberstate.edu/health-professions.

Derek Miller:

Weber State University strengthens the community by offering quality education and preparing students for careers across various fields. Programs like the Dumke College of Health Professions also help meet local healthcare needs and improve outcomes for Utah residents. I'm Derek Miller, with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 3/19/25

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Select Health, founded in 1982, offers comprehensive healthcare services and insurance plans for businesses, individuals and families. Committed to improving health and wellness, they serve communities across Utah and beyond. Heidi Castaneda from Select Health joins us with more.

Heidi Castaneda:

Select Health’s Level Funded plans offer small businesses the predictability of fixed monthly payments that cover insurance, administrative costs, and medical claims. If claims are lower than expected, half of the unused funds are returned as a credit for future use, providing opportunities to save.

These plans are a great choice for businesses that don’t currently offer health insurance, those exploring alternatives to traditional plans, or small companies looking for a more manageable approach to healthcare expenses.

In addition to affordability, Level Funded plans include nationwide coverage, virtual care, wellness rewards, prescription medication savings and tools to help employees manage healthcare costs. Employers also get personalized support, HR resources, and compliance assistance.

With simple plan management and valuable benefits, Select Health helps businesses provide access to high-quality healthcare while keeping expenses manageable, so employers can focus on their business and employees can stay healthy.

Derek Miller:

Select Health’s Level Funded plans offer small businesses the affordability, flexibility, and stability they need to thrive in today’s fast-paced business world. To learn more, visit their website at selecthealth.org. This is Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 3/18/25

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Since 1973, VCBO Architecture has grown to become one of the top design firms in the western United States. Committed to community-driven design, the VCBO team thrives on projects with an impact. Principal architect Brent Tippets joins us with more.

Brent Tippets:

VCBO’s mission is to create spaces for people to thrive. From Salt Lake City’s iconic library to the new Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, our work celebrates the communities we serve.

Nothing demonstrates this more than the Marshall N. White Community Center in

Ogden. Originally built in 1968, this beloved center honors Marshall White, a veteran, mentor, civil rights leader, and police officer killed in the line of duty. Over the past 50 years, the center has served a historically Black and Latino neighborhood, becoming a cherished gathering place engrained in the public memory.

Guided by community input, we worked with Ogden City to design a replacement twice the size of the original, revitalized with amenities for recreation and community programs. Opening in 2025, the new center will preserve its legacy as a vibrant hub of connection and opportunity — a reflection of Ogden’s values.

This is what VCBO is about — creating community spaces beloved by the people we serve.

Derek Miller:

With offices in Salt Lake and St. George, VCBO Architecture’s designs are inspired by the people and places they serve and ultimately bring communities together. Learn more at VCBO.com. I’m Derek Miller with the Salt Lake Chamber, Speaking on Business.

Originally aired: 3/17/25