Utah Partners for Health was established in July 2002 by Brian Zehnder, M.D., and community leaders concerned about the growing number of uninsured. The original name was MCFM Foundation. Kurt Micka joined UPFH as the executive director in January 2003. In April 2003, UPFH received 501(c)(3) status from the Internal Revenue Service. The first collaborating partner was the Magna Center for Family Medicine, who provided in kind donations to the first patient in June, 2003.
In 2007, two major programs were added to provide needed access to healthcare: A mobile clinic that provides access to groups who experience cultural barriers to access in their own neighborhoods, and a prenatal clinic located in West Valley City. The mobile clinic has grown to provide care to thousands of underserved individuals at multiple locations in Salt Lake and Tooele counties. After 5 years of serving prenatal care, the prenatal services ended in June 2013.
In 2013, Utah Partners for Health was faced with losing providers who partnered with the mobile clinic. A new collaboration was established with the Health Clinics of Utah to keep the program running and expanding. Therefore we expanded our reach into the Glendale and Rose Park area.
In 2013, with the urging of several community partners, Utah Partners for Health also embarked on a plan to open their own clinic in Midvale, Utah. Part of the plan included applying for a New Access Point Grant with the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In November of that year, UPFH received the New Access Point Grant and received its first patient at the Mid-Valley Health clinic in November, 2013.
In 2014, UPFH included the mobile clinic into their scope of practice. The Mid-Valley Health Clinic opened its doors 5 days a week in February, 2014. On November 3, 2014 we added Saturday hours as directed by our Board of Directors and the results of the Needs Assessment.
In June 2014, we added the Utah Partners for Health Mobile Eye Trailer in partnership with Charity Vision and added the service into our scope of services. The Mobile Eye trailer was expanded to two days a week in November 2015.
In December 2015, UPFH purchased a professional office building located at 7651 S. Main Street in Midvale, Utah. The building would become the future home of the administrative staff, billing department, and the future behavioral health and dental clinics. The 6,886 sq. foot building also houses several tenants.
In January 2016, UPFH opened the Utah Partners for Health Behavioral Health Clinic at the Professional Office Building. The Utah Partners for Health Dental Clinic opened in October, 2016 at the same office building. The Dental clinic opened to five days a week with a registered dental hygienist and one day a week with a Dentist. By years end, the Dentist was expanded to two days a week with plans for five days a week in the first quarter 2017. (Opened 5 days a week, March 2017).
In March, 2019, UPFH added a 38 ft Mobile Medical Trailer to replace our older 31ft trailer. This new trailer will allow us to expand services such as contraceptive care and medication assisted treatment for substance abuse disorders.
In August, 2019, UPFH purchased the 7,965 sq foot medical building at 9103 S. 1300 W., West Jordan, Utah. The purpose was to add a medical clinic to increase provider efficiency and expand our ability to provide access to care for those in need.
In December, 2019, UPFH expanded the Mid-Valley Health clinic to include integrated behavioral health. Behavioral health is now co-located and integrated with our medical team at the Mid-Valley clinic.