Feeling good.

• Author: Francom, Sarah Ryther
• Position: Work: UTAH's WELL-BEING

Though it's impossible to pinpoint exactly why Utahns are healthier than their neighbors, it is evident that Utah's comprehensive health care system plays a vital role in keeping Utah families healthy. Utah is home to a robust and innovative health care system that is among the nation's best.

Utah No. 1 as Happiest State in America--alternet, SEPTEMBER 2014

Utah No. 9 Nationally "Percentage of Commuters who Bicycle to Work"--the republic, 2013

Utah No. 11 "Fittest State in the Union"--AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SPORTS MEDICINE, MAY 2014

The state's diverse health care system offers services that are both high in quality and affordable; in fact, Utahns enjoy the lowest health care costs of any state, according to the Wall Street Journal. Utahns also claim some of the nation's lowest rates of cancer deaths, heart disease, infant mortality and obesity, according to the United Health Foundation.

high quality

low cost

Utah has been named one of the nation's healthiest states by the United Health Foundation. Integral to this success are Utah's major health care systems, three of which are Intermountain Healthcare, MountainStar Healthcare and University of Utah Health Care.

Each offer highly specialized services, participate in ground-breaking research and have received national acclaim.

Intermountain Healthcare is one of Utah's most celebrated health care systems. A not-for-profit organization, Intermountain is the West's largest health care provider. It includes 22 hospitals and more than 185 clinics, as well as a health insurance division, SelectHealth.

"The combination of services helps us achieve our mission, which is helping people live the healthiest lives possible," says Greg Poulsen, senior vice president and chief strategy officer at Intermountain. "We also try to offer care in the most affordable fashion possible. We believe that by putting the components together, we're able to help people maintain their health in a cost-effective manner."

Intermountain's unique services attract individuals from all over the western region. One such example is The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH), which is one of the country's premier facilities for orthopedic care. From professional athletes to veterans, TOSH provides quality care in orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, athletic training and more, participates in research with partnering organizations.

Intermountain's impact extends beyond providing care to conducting ground-breaking research. Because...