Intermountain Health has opened an expanded emergency department and a new molecular imaging center at its Cedar City Hospital, increasing capacity and diagnostic capabilities at the southern Utah facility.

The $7 million project adds 4,500 square feet to the hospital’s Level IV Trauma Center, bringing the total number of emergency treatment rooms to 22. The expansion includes nine new rooms, three of which are designated for behavioral health patients. Hospital leaders said the upgrades are intended to address rising demand from local residents as well as seasonal visitors to nearby national parks.

In 2025, the emergency department recorded more than 21,000 visits, while the imaging department performed over 57,000 procedures, according to the hospital.
“Our emergency department expansion and the remodel of our Molecular Imaging suite, including the addition of advanced PET/CT and Nuclear Medicine technologies, reinforce our commitment to exceptional, patient-centered care,” said Jamison Robinett, president of Intermountain Cedar City Hospital. “These investments allow us to provide faster, more accurate diagnostics and a more seamless experience for every patient who walks through our doors.”

Hospital officials said the expansion has already affected operations. Jake Fausett, manager of the emergency department, said some of the new rooms have been in use since January, contributing to a reduction in average patient length of stay by more than 16%.

The imaging upgrades include a new PET/CT system and nuclear medicine camera, which are expected to improve scheduling availability and support oncology and cardiac imaging services. The imaging center is scheduled to begin seeing patients next week.

“This is why there was a need for the first major expansion for Intermountain Cedar City Hospital since 2006,” Robinett said.

The project was completed in under a year, with Jacobsen Construction serving as builder and Environments for Health as the architect.

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