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It sounds to me like you are tiptoeing around some significant issues pertaining to the clinics in Shelley, perhaps with good reason. I'm awfully tired at the moment, but sounds to me like there might be certain emergencies it would be best to report as occuring proximal to EIRMC rather than subjecting oneself to the protocol of being routed to a hospital farther out but affiliated perhaps too closely with ones primary physician, or more exactly with the PA's operating under a primary physician's license. Is that kind of where this is going?
norcalmom101,
I'd say you read between the lines very well. There are other concerns I have, but how Shelley suddenly got a second clinic bears a closer look, from my POV. In no way am I saying for certain common conditions one can't receive competent care at many locations in eastern ID.
I am concerned about newer folks moving to the area don't understand the limitations of certain facilities, despite the marketing, especially those moving from metro areas where most hospitals could provide what several in eastern ID don't.
Hope your Thanksgiving was nice. It sounds like you did a lot of work. If you are into Black Friday shopping, I hope it was worth the effort.
Thanks for your post. It helps clarify my earlier comments.
Just an update on experiences with P&S Clinic in Shelley.
First, when we had a concern about scoliosis, we were able to come in immediately upon calling, and to get xrays on the spot. I was given a disk of the images at no charge, which we used to transmit the images to our specialist.
Secondly, I took my son in for a stomach ache today, and the PA caught an abnormal heartbeat and took an EKG on the spot. Within less than an hour he had reviewed the EKG with a specialist and was making arrangements to follow his recommendation.
I can't wait to make my own first appointment, so far I am very impressed with the quality of services we have received and I don't have a single complaint - and I can be a very critical consumer in a health care setting.
Just an update on experiences with P&S Clinic in Shelley.
First, when we had a concern about scoliosis, we were able to come in immediately upon calling, and to get xrays on the spot. I was given a disk of the images at no charge, which we used to transmit the images to our specialist.
Secondly, I took my son in for a stomach ache today, and the PA caught an abnormal heartbeat and took an EKG on the spot. Within less than an hour he had reviewed the EKG with a specialist and was making arrangements to follow his recommendation.
I can't wait to make my own first appointment, so far I am very impressed with the quality of services we have received and I don't have a single complaint - and I can be a very critical consumer in a health care setting.
FWIW!
Good for you, norcalmom101
It sounds like you have found a good diagnostician for your family. With Idaho's shortage of physicians, more and more people see NPs and PAs. Some may not have had as much experience, or training, as who you've seen - I don't know. I do think people should be comfortable asking about training.
And for those considering moving to Idaho who have very specific medical needs, I'd make sure there are physicians in the area where one is hoping to relocate to care for those needs. Many sub-specialty physicians have closed practices, or anywhere from a 3-6 month waiting period.
Anyway, great post ncm1 (I hope my abbreviation of your user name doesn't offend you. If so, I apologize). I'd certainly keep working with any provider my family likes, feels they can talk to (as I believe you have different ages of kids including TEENS and not all providers like teens - let's be honest Then there are those of us who like teens and people wonder why) and are not only pleasant, but they make patients better. A great combination you appear to have in your provider.
From your post, it sounds like this clinic in Shelley has been a good fit for you and your family. Good deal for finding what has worked for you.
Just an update on experiences with P&S Clinic in Shelley.
First, when we had a concern about scoliosis, we were able to come in immediately upon calling, and to get xrays on the spot. I was given a disk of the images at no charge, which we used to transmit the images to our specialist.
Secondly, I took my son in for a stomach ache today, and the PA caught an abnormal heartbeat and took an EKG on the spot. Within less than an hour he had reviewed the EKG with a specialist and was making arrangements to follow his recommendation.
I can't wait to make my own first appointment, so far I am very impressed with the quality of services we have received and I don't have a single complaint - and I can be a very critical consumer in a health care setting.
FWIW!
I couldn't give you rep points, but wanted you to know I would have if I could.
In the interest of full disclosure, I admit I have worked with Dr. Belfort elsewhere and was extremely impressed with his skill. I was pleased to hear he would be the MFM usually at EIRMC when the service started a few years ago.
Norcalmom101, you and others may be pleased to know that Dr. Belfort teaches with the combined faculty of UCSF/Stanford at their 3 day updates at least twice each year. That is among the many national/international CEU courses Dr. Belfort teaches annually.
Unlike KPVI's report incorrectly stated, Dr. Belfort is NOT the only MFM who works with EIRMC. World-renowned, Dr. Steven Clark opened the service and other MFMs also staff the weekly clinic. It's the HCA Mountain Star sister hospitals working together - first St. Mark's in SLC, then EIRMC.
All of the MFM's in this group are very skilled, IMHO, and have helped many women be able to carry an infant many more weeks in utero, if not to term, given the interventions now used in MFM. Moms who have medical problems of their own can often now stay in eastern ID for their MFM and OB appointments and have their own OB deliver them at EIRMC. In the past, high risk moms had to travel to Salt Lake City to see both the MFM doctor and whichever OB would be delivering their babies in UT. Often, the moms would be forced to live with relatives, or in a camping trailor etc. close to the hospital where they would deliver in UT, often for several months of their pregnancies.
I was very pleased to see this story. It was only about 16 months ago the UT press was breaking the story of the twin-twin blood transfusion Dr. Belfort and Dr. Michael Draper were doing in Salt Lake City. They then taught the procedure to OB/GYNs, MFMs at HCA hospital in the midwest area.
It's awesome to read about a new baby that may not have been as normal as described in these links and others, who benefitted from this advanced technology and a highly trained MFM, at EIRMC. Most high risk moms, from southern MT, western WY, Sun Valley to the west and anywhere north of Malad, can stay closer to home and still have the same level of care they would receive in SLC.
I wish this family the best of luck and good health for their new arrival!
Having completed 30,000 caths not only is reason for those in eastern ID to think of what it use to be like to have to drive usually to SLC, or Boise for a cardiac cath and realize what is available locally, but it is also time to learn how much more can be done in caths today.
Plus, EIRMC's cardiologists and cath team are caring for the patient in less than 60 minutes, which is much better than the national average of 90 minutes.
Heart catheterization procedure at EIRMC | KIDK CBS 3 - News, Weather and Sports - Idaho Falls - Pocatello - Blackfoot, ID - Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Blackfoot - Idaho | Local & Regional (http://www.kidk.com/news/local/51624397.html - broken link)
A couple of important points I saw in this news:
"Former state representative Jack Barraclough has good reason for that. He's the 30-thousandth heart-catheterization patient at EIRMC. The 81 year-old had the procedure to prevent a likely future heart problem."
" 'We can go ahead and intervene and change the course of that person's heart disease,' " says Dr. Patrick Gorman."
" 'Here at EIRMC, the door to balloon time is less than an hour, that means from the time when you enter the hospital doors to the time you are on this operating table with the catheter inside, is 30 minutes less than what's recommended,' " says eyewitness news reporter Hasti Taghi."
I encourage anyone interested to read all the article.
What isn't clear in the article is the Cardiac Cath Program started at the hospital on S. Blvd which was known as "Community Hospital," or "Parkview," or "Sacred Heart," or potentially other names. Like other programs from both Idaho Falls hospitals, they consolidated when EIRMC was built in the 80s. But, senior personnel have remained with the program to ensure the quality.
Congrats EIRMC Heart Team and Cardiologist for reaching this milestone. A lot of lives have been saved because of the work of this team.
EIRMC- Adding 24,000 sq. ft. NICU III & Women's Care Wing
I'm happy to finally see this in a public announcement. Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) will be adding a $20 million, 24,000 sq. ft. addition (new wing) to expand the NICU and women's care center. Additional room for more NICU and post-partum beds will be shelled in. The current 18,000 sq. ft. NICU/Women's Care Center will totally be gutted and redone.
Since EIRMC offers the ONLY NICU III in eastern Idaho and covers the service area from Southern MT. to Western WY and all of Eastern ID, I think the additional NICU beds will be added as fast as there is the staff to cover them. Currently, at times, Boise has to defer referrals to Portland, Seattle, Spokane and many other Washington State Hospitals with NICU III units. I believe I've already posted the situation of which I'm aware that a baby who was referred to Boise ended up in hospital close to the Canadian border, in WA, as that was the only NICU III bed available in the region. So I can totally comprehend Twin Falls eastward referring to EIRMC.
I know for a fact when the first full-time neonatologist arrived, babies who had been at PCMC in Salt Lake City under his care there, were transferred to EIRMC as PCMC didn't have the room. MOST were from the region, but some were from UT as well.
The Post Register in an article from today also makes it official that a the new addition will include a triage suite and a four bed ante-partum testing area. I expect to hear more about services for high risk moms who need to be seen and/or tested and how they will be served in this new addition.
Some may not see this construction as that significant, but I would disagree. I think it is for many reasons. First, it will be the first multi-million dollar construction project in Idaho Falls for over a year (it will actually get done compared to the Marriott and the long "delay" there, given the situation. I expect the commercial (building) aspect to help the eastern ID economy and other projects finally get started that have been delayed.
Secondly, this expansion and recruitment of more sub-specialty physicians and other healthcare workers will create more jobs in the Idaho Falls area as women and children's services are greatly needed in the EIRMC service area. The addition will create other opportunities for health care clinics etc. for high risk moms and infants/children in Idaho. Idaho Falls always promotes itself as a regional center for shopping, health care and other goods and services.
Finally, this is strictly my opinion, but I think this is only Phase I of what will be coming. I don't work for EIRMC and have no special knowledge of what may be Phase II in the space that will be totally gutted and rebuilt. I do know several of the physicians and the needs. I know the perinatologists have interntional reputations, given their publications, research, teaching and direct patient care. I also know EIRMC's existing, but very crowded NICU III, received this comment upon JCAHO review eight months ago:
"“ 'I have surveyed Primary Children’s Hospital, which is one of the finest children’s hospitals in the U.S. Your NICU delivers care just as good as Primary’s, but without the arrogance.' ”
"—Surveyor, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, March 2009, during EIRMC’s Periodic Performance Review"
from: Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center - Specialized (http://www.eirmc.com/custompage.asp?PageName=specialized - broken link)
The new addition will start construction in the spring and will be open by 2011. It sounds like only after all present services (and more) will the current space be totally remodeled and redisigned. The total timeframe for this project is 20 months and more sub-specialty services will be added.
Here are the links available for this story. Special thanks to the Post Register article, "[COLOR="Black]"Infant facility expanding"[/color]"
"EIRMC to renovate Women's & Newborn Center" by Joelyn Hansen 11/25/2009 - Post Register. I'd like to thank Ms. Hansen for documenting changes the other reporters failed to include and have been details I've known for more than two years. I may even know other things hoped for in the future.....but cannot say.
Links for additional information:
"EIRMC plans new Women's and Infant Center"
EIRMC plans new Women's and Infant Center | KIDK CBS 3 - News, Weather and Sports - Idaho Falls - Pocatello - Blackfoot, ID - Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Blackfoot - Idaho | Local & Regional (http://www.kidk.com/news/local/73087347.html - broken link)
Congrats, and thanks for the hard work: to EIRMC, the Perinatologists and Neonatologists, Obstetricians and Pediatricians, and other physicians who have raised the bar to a NICU IIIb care in Idaho Falls for sick babies.
And a special congrats to the Nursing Director, at the time, who say this vision come together. Recruiting neonatologists may have been easier than all the experienced NICU RNs from throughout the country.
It is fitting that Idaho Falls was ranked the top city in Idaho where to raise children this week with this announcement coming the following day.
Good for the Babies and Parents, Let Alone Docs and Hospital, and Idaho Falls Service Area
Quote:
Originally Posted by cleosmom
You beat me to the punch MSR. Heard this on the news. I think it's way cool.
Yes, it really is great news for the building industry, the medical/nursing/allied health professions. But, mostly for the families and babies.
I ran the numbers by someone who currently works at PCMC in Salt Lake City. That person asked me what else was planned for the area as hospitals just aren't expanding NICU's, unless a totally new hospital is being built etc.
It's been hard to not say more........I've known about this for a long time, but couldn't say what I knew. The Women's/Children programs at EIRMC I think will being making some changes down the road.......
Congratulations Mountain View Hospital - Idaho's First Robotic Surgical System-
Congrats to the physician owners, and other investors, of Mtn. View Hospital in Idaho Falls. They are the first hospital in Idaho to use a Robotic System in Surgery.
"The machine allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures using robotic hands designed to mimic the movements of human hands."
"The machine is the first of its kind in Idaho. Similar machines can be found in hospitals in the Salt Lake City area, Denver, Seattle, and other bigger cities around the region."
More info is here: "Mountain View Hospital Unveils New Surgical Robot"
It's good newer medical procedures and devices continue to land in eastern Idaho.
MSR
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That is Good News
Then there are those of us who like teens and people wonder why
) and are not only pleasant, but they make patients better. A great combination you appear to have in your provider.
I Can't Give Pts. or I Would Have
Good for the Babies and Parents, Let Alone Docs and Hospital, and Idaho Falls Service Area
