Pediatrics

Pediatric center in Idaho Falls

Together with our physician partners, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) is the leading neonatal and pediatric provider in the region. We work with care providers and hospitals throughout Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Utah to offer the most comprehensive and advanced pediatric care, as well as access to pediatric subspecialties for children from birth to 18 years old.

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Compassionate pediatric team

With extensive experience and training, our team members work together to ensure your child's needs are met in a comfortable environment. Because of our experience caring for sick children, we anticipate needs and questions, which is why we invite you to ask us anything at any time.

Our team consists of:

• Pediatricians and pediatric intensive care physicians
• Physician subspecialists, including pediatric surgeons, cardiologists, oncologists, neurologists, endocrinologists, and more
• Pediatric registered nurses
• Pediatric speech, physical and occupational therapists
• Respiratory therapists
• Pharmacists
• Social workers
• Dietitians
• Lactation consultants
• Case managers
• Psychiatrists and psychologists

Find a pediatric specialist

Pediatric specialties we offer

Knowing your child has access to physicians in various specialties ensures they will receive comprehensive care. Our physicians are highly trained and have expertise in the following:

• Pediatric emergency care, including trauma and burn services
• Pediatric intensive care
• Pediatric inpatient care
• Child/adolescent psychiatry
• Pediatric anesthesia
• Pediatric neurology
• Pediatric endocrinology
• Pediatric cardiology
• Pediatric hematology/oncology
• Pediatric allergy/immunology
• Pediatric ophthalmology
• Pediatric otolaryngology

Pediatric emergency care

The pediatric emergency room (ER) is isolated from our main ER and has an environment designed to comfort kids. Our highly trained pediatric specialists provide gentle, expert medical care for children 24/7.

EIRMC is the first and only hospital in Idaho to earn the "Expert" designation for Pediatric Care Readiness, the highest level from the state of Idaho Emergency Medical Services for Children Program (Idaho EMSC).

Our pediatric ER features:

• Board-certified emergency medicine physicians and board-certified pediatric intensive care physicians to treat critically injured and ill children
• Pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC) involved in care
• ER nurses trained in pediatric advanced life support and emergency nursing pediatric courses (not standard in most ERs)
• Access to pediatric subspecialists specially trained in pediatric care
• Advanced technology specially designed for children and young adults
• Six dedicated pediatric rooms
• 24-hour parental visitation encouraged
• A pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), should hospitalization be necessary

Pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)

Our unit provides critical care for children up to 18 years old and treats a wide spectrum of serious illnesses and injuries, including burns, trauma, respiratory failure, neurological conditions and bleeding disorders. Care is provided by board-certified intensivists, with a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

Pediatric surgery

From routine to highly complex procedures, our pediatric surgery team offers experienced, expert surgical care. We offer the region's first and only pediatric surgery program for infants, children and teens. Additionally, we have the region's only dedicated pediatric anesthesiologist to keep your child safe in the operating room.

Pre-surgery tours

Our child life specialist offers pre-surgery tours to help familiarize your child with the environment and medical equipment. These tours can help ease a child's fears and clear up any misconceptions a child may have about the surgery. During the tour, the child life specialist uses developmentally appropriate education and therapeutic play so your little one can understand and participate in their care.

If you are interested in scheduling a free pre-surgery tour, please call EIRMC's child life specialist at (208) 529-7288.

Pediatric unit

Our 10-bed pediatric unit is home to a highly specialized pediatric medical staff. While in EIRMC's pediatric unit, children and their families benefit from advanced treatment methods and our team's expert, family-centered care. Our team works together to ensure your child's needs are met in a comfortable environment. Because of our experience caring for sick children, we anticipate needs and questions, which is why we invite you to ask us anything at any time.

We provide accommodations for one parent to stay overnight. If you choose to stay with your child, please bring toiletries, clothes and other essentials. The Ronald McDonald Family Room provides a place for families to relax, eat and shower. It is also available for overnight accommodations for parents, based on availability.

Additionally, our pediatric unit offers:

• All-private rooms
• In-room DVD players, with access to over 200 movies
• Child-friendly rooms with space for the family to remain at the bedside
• Playroom for hospitalized children

Pediatric Specialties

Your child has access to pediatric physicians in various specialties. EIRMC has these pediatric physician specialists on Medical Staff for pediatric neurology, endocrinology, cardiology, hematology/oncology, allergy/immunology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and psychiatry.

Pediatric rehabilitation

Pediatric therapies (speech, occupational and physical) are provided in an "early intervention" outpatient setting and for inpatients in the NICU, PICU and pediatric floor. We work one-on-one with children who have mild to severe disabilities. Our outpatient therapies have individual treatment rooms, two gyms and a kitchen to best meet the patient's needs.

Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

EIRMC's Level III NICU provides specialized care for the smallest patients, from premature infants to sick "term" newborns. We care for babies born as early as 22 weeks gestation in our 27-bed unit. Board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and registered nurses specializing in neonatal care work in the hospital full-time focused exclusively on the most fragile infants.

Adolescent behavioral health

The Adolescent Acute Care Program is for teens experiencing psychiatric emergencies or needing comprehensive evaluation and treatment.

Child life specialists

A child life specialist focuses on your child's psychological and social health while helping you navigate their hospital experience. The specialist works with everyone on your child's care team, including doctors, nurses, surgeons, you and your support system.

During your child's stay, our child life specialist may:

• Use play therapy to ease your child's fears about hospitalization and treatment
• Make the hospital visit feel less scary by explaining procedures and medication
• Use diversion techniques when drawing blood or starting intravenous administrations (IVs)
• Help you further explain treatments and care in child-friendly ways
• Provide support for siblings of hospitalized children

Ronald McDonald Room

The Ronald McDonald Family Room at EIRMC provides comfort and support to families with sick children who are receiving medical care at our hospital. The Family Room provides parents a place to relax, eat, shower, and sleep, and is located inside the walls of EIRMC. It has four sleep rooms, bathrooms with showers, laundry facilities, a kitchen, dining room and living room.

Parents with a sick child at EIRMC are able to use the Family Room free of charge, whether they live in Idaho Falls or have traveled from another area. Call (208) 227-2898.

Preparing for your child's stay

We know the thought of staying in a hospital may cause fear and anxiety in a child, which is why we encourage you to talk to your child before their visit. Explaining the reasons for your child's hospitalization in terms they can understand can help ease some initial fears. To stay connected to one's home and family, we encourage children to bring any of the following items to make their staff more comfortable:

• Favorite stuffed animal or blanket
• Bathrobe and slippers to wear over their hospital pajamas
• A few books or activities to help pass the time