The Harris family is fully committed to health and safety in Garfield County. The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health is honoring Susan Harris, with an Impact Award. Susan is an advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and acute care unit nurse manager at Intermountain Garfield Memorial Hospital. Her family has helped rural Utah grow their own healthcare workforce. Susan’s husband, Ron, is the nearby Tropic, Utah fire department chief and an advanced EMT. Their son, Trevan, works in nearby Iron County as an advanced EMT. Trevan is a member of search and rescue and also travels home often to volunteer for the Tropic Fire Department.
“Having a firefighting husband and son is kind of busy, we are often going different directions,” said Susan Harris. “Our youngest son Trevan got involved in healthcare early, by attending training with us instead of staying with a babysitter, and he stuck with it.”
Susan is known for responding to community emergencies as an advanced EMT, accompanying the patient to the hospital, and then staying at the hospital to care for the patient as a nurse. Her supervisors credit her with helping the hospital become a level 4 trauma center.
“Intermountain had a goal to make all emergency departments designated trauma centers,” said Harris. “As a level 4 trauma center, we are better trained and able to provide better care to our patients.”
“We are pleased to recognize Susan Harris and Garfield Memorial Hospital,” said Marc Watterson, PCRH office director. “The Harris family’s commitment to health and safety in their community is a prime example of the strength that comes from growing their workforce within their community, contributing to the power of rural.”
Harris became an emergency medical technician in 1989, a certification she maintains to this day. She began working at Garfield Memorial Hospital in 2001 as a certified nursing assistant. Harris advanced in her career by becoming a licensed practical nurse, and registered nurse, and ultimately earned a Master’s degree in nursing education. Harris completed nursing education as a rural resident, traveling 2 hours to Richfield for classes. Susan and Ron have 4 children.
Garfield Memorial Hospital is a 15 bed, Critical Access hospital located in Panguitch, Utah, with an adjoining long-term care facility and a 4-bed emergency room. The Office of Primary Care and Rural Health (PCRH) honored Susan Harris with an Impact Award, intended to recognize employees from rural healthcare facilities who embody the “Power of Rural” as part of National Rural Health Day celebrations. Each year, PCRH celebrates National Rural Health Day to bring attention to the efforts of rural healthcare providers, communities, organizations, State Offices of Rural Health (SORH), and other stakeholders dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare needs of rural America. PCRH works to improve access to quality primary, behavioral, and oral healthcare in rural and underserved communities. PCRH is an office of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services and receives funding from federal grants and state appropriations. For more information, visit ruralhealth.utah.gov