EIRMC prepares for ‘100 Days of Trauma’
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls is gearing up for what they say are some of their busiest days in their Trauma Center. They call it '100 Days of Trauma.'
It's the time of year between Memorial Day and Labor Day where they say they see the most amount of traumatic events in a year.
EIRMC is the region's largest Level 2 Trauma Center and the only Burn Center in Idaho.
When it comes to trauma, time is of the essence. Trauma Medical Director Dr. Michael Lemon says, "We truly have a golden hour that we are trying to be. Anytime someone is injured and that's a truly an hour of time that we want to get to identify and begin repairing whatever trauma injury they have."
A lot of EIRMC's trauma patients are actually teens.
For the past 10 years, the hospital has been providing critical care in their Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
On Wednesday, they celebrated the PICU's growth.
EIRMC C.E.O Betsy Hunsicker says, "Our goal is to be able to provide care in the community and to allow patients to get their care here rather than having to leave the community." Pediatric Critical Care Dr. Daniel Sedillo says, "My metric has been to keep 95% of our patients here in the building instead of having to send them somewhere else."
They say offering local care like this better allows families to stay together, which can be essential.
"I don't only take care of the child in the bed, I take care of the parents as well, or the siblings. I think it's a group effort and family is part of healing," Dr. Sedillo said.
But the best thing you can do to stay safe this summer is prevent a tragedy before it happens.
"We're here and we're happy to help you, but we are much happier if we don't have to see you. And that means don't drink and drive. Look both ways before you're crossing the street. Wear your helmet... Wear your seatbelt in the car," Rich Tyson with ERIMC's Surgical Services said.
Dr. Lemon adds, "It truly is the difference between being alive at the end of their trauma and being dead at the end of their trauma."
To stay prepared, EIRMC is giving people an opportunity to participate in Stop the Bleed courses. It can let people know what to do in case of an emergency to essential save a life.
