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.

To learn more about our pediatric services, please call (208) 227-2778.

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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:

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:

  • Child/adolescent psychiatry
  • Pediatric inpatient care
  • Pediatric anesthesia
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Pediatric endocrinology
  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Pediatric hematology/oncology
  • Pediatric allergy/immunology
  • Pediatric ophthalmology
  • Pediatric otolaryngology

Pediatric emergency care

Pediatric emergency needs are unique. Equipment, procedures, treatments and even medications can be drastically different for young patients than they are for adults. At EIRMC’s pediatric emergency room (ER), we understand this and have the specialists and equipment required to treat your children as quickly and effectively as possible.

Our experienced teams of board-certified emergency physicians and highly trained nurses are skilled in caring for pediatric emergencies for babies through teenagers.  

EIRMC offers pediatric emergency care in an area of the emergency room (ER) separate from adults. This means children will have less exposure to the sights and sounds of an ER that can sometimes be scary.

As a Level II Trauma Center and Idaho's only Burn Center, we are well-equipped to handle pediatric trauma, major injury and illness to children.

 

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.

Pediatric Cardiology Clinic

The Pediatric Cardiology Clinic specializes in diagnostic imaging services for babies, children and teens, including stress tests, echocardiograms and cardiac testing for urgent patient needs.

Our clinic is home to the region's only board-certified and fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologist, who is present for all cardiac imaging and is able to share real-time results. This arrangement allows patients and parents to learn vital information right away, as opposed to having to wait for a follow-up appointment.

In addition, our clinic offers pediatric patients numerous benefits, including:

  • Dedicated pediatric room
  • Sedation services with a pediatric anesthesiologist
  • Technicians certified in pediatric echocardiography

Please connect with your pediatrician or pediatric cardiologist for a referral. If you have questions, or have a referral and are ready to set an appointment, please call (208) 529-7862.

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

Pediatric nurse helpline

Do you need help deciding if your child needs an ER visit or simply a visit to their pediatrician? Our expert pediatric nurses can help you understand symptoms, manage chronic conditions or provide insight about treatment options right over the phone, for free.

Our EIRMC pediatric Consult-A-Nurse® line is available 24/7 to:

  • Answer healthcare questions
  • Find a doctor and make an appointment
  • Provide peace of mind about the health of your child
To reach one of our nurses, please call (208) 497-6167.