Hospital named trauma center

IDAHO FALLS – The American College of Surgeons has named an eastern Idaho hospital as a Level II trauma center, a designation that means it is deemed the best equipped in the state to take care of patients brought in with life-threatening injuries.

The Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center received the designation last week. It is the highest-rated trauma center in the state.

“We’re very excited,” said Dr. Brian O’Bryne, the center’s trauma director.

Trauma centers are hospitals with specialized teams of doctors and medical equipment designed to treat critically injured patients. Level I and II centers provide the most comprehensive care for the most severely injured patients, while level III centers are equipped to assess and stabilize patients and transfer them to a Level I or II center when necessary, the study said.

Hospitals must be active in research to attain a Level I rating.