SWEETWATER COUNTY – It seems like just yesterday, Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County announced they were the first University of Utah affiliated hospital. Recently, another first was announced.

On March 15, MHSC and Shriners Hospital for Children finalized the contract making Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County the first Shriners affiliated hospital in the United States. MHSC Chief Executive Officer Jerry Klein made the official announcement at the recent hospital board meeting.

Klein said Shriners will be at MHSC April 18-19 to start putting the pieces in place. By May 20, the CEO said MHSC will start providing services to patients.

“We are really excited about this,” Klein said as he explained MHSC is committed to bring more services to local patients.

To avoid making the long trip, Shriners patients who are closer to Rock Springs will now be able to get services through the use of telemedicine.