On Thursday, November 17th, St. Mary’s Health celebrated the construction and opening of their new Emergency Room Department in Cottonwood with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Area EMS crews, the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office, the Cottonwood Police Department, members of St. Mary’s Health and Clearwater Valley Health Board of Directors, Lenne Bonner, CEO of St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Health, Steve Frei, COO of St. Mary’s Health, and other key staff were on-hand to tour the new addition.
After years of planning, fundraising, and completing numerous projects in the years prior to construction to meet new building codes, including installation of a new sprinkler system, asbestos abatement, electrical improvements, and the relocation and expansion of the lab, the new 3,000 sq. ft. Emergency Room is now a reality. Funded in part by the St. Mary’s Health Foundation and the communities’ generous donations, the new Emergency Room is separate from the main facility and offers increased safety, patient capacity, and privacy. It has three trauma bays, one negative pressure ISO room, a decontamination shower and a new, explosion-proof, med-gas room. It also has a dedicated waiting room and provides easier access for ambulances. While there are some pieces of the overall construction still underway, the ER is already in use and serving our patients and staff.
Steve Frei, Chief Operating Officer of St. Mary’s Health, said, “This Emergency Department is a symbol of our hospital’s continuing commitment to being the caretakers of our community’s health and well-being. It is our promise that everyone in need of care will have continuous access to emergent, lifesaving services; and it is our pledge to provide the highest quality care consistently to each and every patient who comes through our doors. This is a significant milestone in meeting the needs of the communities we serve; and, while we certainly hope you never need to use it, we want to make sure that if you do, we are providing the best facility and staff possible for your care.”