Healthcare · Profile from Healthcare Research Companion
Intermountain Health
The nonprofit health system that the Latter-day Saints church gave to the people of Utah in 1975. It became the most studied example of data-driven, protocol-based hospital care in the United States, built one of the country's most successful provider-owned health plans (Select Health), and spun out ideas such as the Civica Rx generic-drug nonprofit. Since its 2022 merger with SCL Health it has tried to carry a Utah-made model across six Western states, and in 2026 it began pulling back in Denver while doubling down closer to home.
At a glance
- Founded
- 1975 (Intermountain Health Care, Inc., formed when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave its 15 hospitals to a new community nonprofit; operating from April 1, 1975, reported); hospital roots back to LDS Hospital (1905) and Primary Children's (1922)
- Founders
- A board of community trustees; Scott S. Parker, first president and CEO (1975–1998)
- Headquarters
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Ownership / structure
- Nonprofit, tax-exempt; no equity owners. Hospitals, Intermountain Medical Group (employed physicians and advanced practice clinicians) and Select Health (insurer, founded 1983 as IHC Health Plans) operate as one system. Former SCL Health Catholic hospitals keep their Catholic identity
- Leadership (2026)
- Rob Allen, president and CEO (since late 2022); Ryan Smith, chief digital and information officer; Dan Liljenquist, chief strategy officer and Civica Rx board chair (verify current titles); board chaired by Mike Leavitt after the 2022 merger (verify current chair)
- Segment and buyer
- Provider + payer (integrated). Buyers: Medicare (fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage), Medicaid (Utah and other states), employers and individuals through commercial insurers and Select Health, ACA exchange enrollees
- Scale
- ~34 hospitals and ~400 clinics in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming (2026, reported); ~68,000 employees ("caregivers"), Utah's largest private employer; Select Health 1m+ members (reported); 2025 revenue ~$18.5bn
- Capital / financial position
- Funded by operations, investment income and tax-exempt bonds; AA-category credit ratings (verify). 2025 operating income ~$515m (~2.8% margin) and net income ~$2.6bn including investment gains; 2024 revenue ~$17.1bn, operating income ~$370m (~2.2%) (reported)
- Signature moves (incl. failures)
- 1975 founding by gift; Select Health (1983); clinical process improvement under Brent James (from ~1986); HELP-to-Cerner iCentra conversion (2013–2016) and the earlier GE partnership that stalled; Civica Rx (2018); Connect Care Pro virtual hospital (2018); Castell value-based care company (2019); SCL Health merger (2022) and rename (2023); single-day Epic conversion (2025); 2026 Denver joint venture with AdventHealth, Idaho hospital buyout and pension freeze
10 strategic moves analysed
Each one gets a full strategy file in the companion: context, the decision, the financing, what happened, and the lesson.
1975
Church Gift and Nonprofit Founding
Founding / divestiture by a religious sponsor
1983
SelectHealth Provider Owned Plan
Launch / vertical integration
1986
Clinical Process Improvement
Restructuring / clinical operating model
2013
Cerner iCentra EHR
Partnership / technology replacement
2018
Civica Rx Nonprofit Generics
Launch / partnership (new nonprofit company)
2018
Connect Care Pro Virtual Hospital
Launch / care-delivery restructuring (telehealth)
2019
Castell Value Based Care
Launch / spin-out of an internal capability
2022
SCL Health Merger
Merger (nonprofit, no purchase price) / rebrand
2025
Epic Single Day Conversion
Technology replacement / restructuring
2026
Denver JV Idaho Buyout and Pension Freeze
Restructuring / joint venture / acquisition