State recognizes EIRMC as a Level II Trauma Center

The state is recognizing Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center as a level II trauma center.

The hospital has been working toward this goal for three years and Saturday they received a certificate recognizing their status.

Director of the trauma center Brian O’Byrne said “To be recognized as a trauma center you have to be either verified by the American College of Surgeons which we have been since 2007 or state designated which we recently became,” O’Byrne said.

A national verification as a Level II Trauma Center from the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. ASC verification is considered to be the highest level of achievement for hospital-based programs.

Level II Trauma Center provides patients with 24-hour immediate coverage by general surgeons, as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care.

In 2010, EIRMC’s Emergency Department received the Qualis Health Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality for its work in improving the quality of healthcare and patient safety.

O’Byrne also said, they will be able to reach first responders in rural areas of Idaho.

“What we will be able to do in the future is use this system to designate smaller facilities throughout the state especially rural Idaho.”

In addition, EIRMC is home to Air Idaho Rescue (AIR), a mini-fleet with helicopter, a turboprop airplane, and ground transport capabilities. AIR is one of just 136 nationally accredited air emergency transport services in the U.S.