EIRMC Only Idaho Hospital to Achieve “Expert” Designation for Pediatric Care Readiness
Idaho Falls Magazine August 2024 Edition
EIRMC is the first and only hospital in the state of Idaho to earn the “Expert” designation for Pediatric Care Readiness. This is the highest level designation issued by the State of Idaho’s Emergency Medical Services for Children Program (Idaho EMSC).
To achieve this designation, EIRMC earned a readiness score of 94.7 out of 100. Research shows that high pediatric readiness (greater than 87 points) is associated with 76% lower mortality rate in ill children and 60% lower mortality rate in injured children. At least 1,4000 children’s lives are saved across the US each year.
According to Pediatric Trauma Program ManagerSheandi Richins,. it’s important that parents seeking emergency care for their child understand that EIRMC’s capabilities exceed that of other ERs. “Time is often critical during pediatric care, and this designation from an outside agency speaks to EIRMC’s unique expertise for taking care of babies, children, and teens,” she said.
To earn this designation, EIRMC’s pediatric trauma and emergency care were assessed by the Idaho EMSC. There were several factors that contributed to the designation that are unique to EIRMC:
- Pediatric ER with six rooms designed specifically to care for infancy through adolescence (including specially-trained pediatric ER nurses and pediatric-sized equipment).
- Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC) involved in pediatric ER and trauma services.
- ER nurses trained in pediatric advanced life support and emergency nursing pediatric courses (not standard in most ERs)
- Board-certified emergency medicine physicians and board-certified pediatric intensive care physicians to treat critically injured and ill children.
- Access to pediatric subspecialists specially trained in pediatric care.
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), should hospitalization be necessary.
Source: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center