PICU at EIRMC (Boise, Idaho Falls, Teton: home, school, university)

[Mtn. States Resident]

My understanding is the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at EIRMC is now open. I'm sure they will have a media day and more can be learned for those who don't know.

I do NOT work for HCA or any hospital. I'm an informed reader who knows this PICU already has Peds Intensivists, as well as a fair number of sub-specialists onboard and will be 6-10 beds. (Reports differ- anyone who has firm numbers, please add). I remember talking with one of those sub-specialists probably 4-5 years ago about his absolute frustration of having to transport kids to SLC for procedures he completed his fellowship to do locally.

Someone said to me, "With 6 beds that won't make a dent in PCMC's PICU." Well, DUH, it isn't suppose to, although PCMC will feel some pressure removed from it's PICU. That isn't the point, now more kids can stay in Idaho Falls or be flown in and get many of the same services offered in the PICUs in Boise and at PCMC.

PCMC, on the Aves, had 13 beds until it moved next to University Hospital. That puts things a bit more into perspective and is how I answered my younger, less informed friend.

WTG - to the Medical, Nursing and Support staff (plus HCA and EIRMC Mgt.) for getting a PICU in Eastern IDAHO!

MSR

[cleosmom]

I will be seeing someone either Monday or Tuesday and can get the lowdown on number of beds without a doubt

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

I will be seeing someone either Monday or Tuesday and can get the lowdown on number of beds without a doubt

Thanks, Cleosmom. Please add what you can to this thread. I know there are 6 beds for sure and perhaps some are estimating that will rapidly increase to 10 given plans for additional sub-specialists, let alone dealing with the fact a 26 bed Level IIIb NICU keeps babies in Idaho Falls who are more fragile and need a higher level of ongoing medical care.

If your contact can share this info, Cleosmom, is the hem/oncology already in place or one of those additional services that soon will be added? There is a Peds Hem/Onc practicing in the area, but there may need to be some additional support staff in place for kids with cancer to get to stay home for a lot of their care.

The NICU expansion and upgrade to a Level IIIb is about a year old. Admission criteria to the PICU is 24 months as it stands now. There could be some bending over those rules depending on what is wrong with the child and the census in each the NICU and PICU, I don't know. My point is in another year the additional increased census of NICU babies who remained in Idaho Falls, more families never had to leave the region for their infant to get the care needed. A certain % will have ongoing medical needs like they would at any location with a NICU IIIb. If they are ill enough to need hospitalization as older toddlers/children, they may start to be admitted to the PICU for the care they need vs. having to go out-of-state.

Then there are the pediatric traumas/emergency medical patients etc. associated with the visitors to the Tetons, Yellowstone etc. let alone other area hospitals who can now send appropriate patients to the new PICU. Healthy kids can get sick to the point they need a PICU for a while as well. To the best of my knowledge, the only other PICUs in the area are in Billings, PCMC and St. Luke's.


Referral patterns do change when additional services and specialists are available in the region vs. SLC or in Boise. Families can be closer to home so often one parent can continue to work, other siblings can go to their own school and don't have to be cared for by others for long periods of time without seeing their parents and vice versa. Plus, families have their own local support system to help them during the hospitalization, it's better for the entire family to have more services locally.

Not all pediatric patients needing a PICU can get the services they need at EIRMC but many will. And as additional sub-specialists are added the number who can get care in Eastern Idaho will only increase.

IMHO - this is great news for the families in Eastern Idaho, Southern MT, and Western WY.

MSR

[cleosmom]

The "correct" person has not dropped in yet this week. More to follow

[cleosmom]

There are 6 beds and the most that has been filled at one time as of yet is 3. I've been told that they have had 20 plus go through since it's opening.

While it's sad something like this needs to exist, at least folks are not having to travel greater distances to get the intensive help they need.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

There are 6 beds and the most that has been filled at one time as of yet is 3. I've been told that they have had 20 plus go through since it's opening.

While it's sad something like this needs to exist, at least folks are not having to travel greater distances to get the intensive help they need.

Thanks for the info. It wouldn't let me rep you - but you deserve it.

Being at 50% open less than a month is good. Wait until more know about it and a couple of other planned specialties are ready to utilize it. Then there are the traumas of summer............ Just saying, some will look back and wish they had this time again.

I agree it is unfortunate to need this service, but glad EIRMC rose to the need of both the families and medical community .

Thanks

MSR