Riverton Hospital

Riverton Hospital is one of 23 Intermountain Healthcare's hospitals serving Utah and southeastern Idaho. Riverton's doors opened in November 2009 at 3741 West 12600 South, to meet the growing medical needs of the southwest region of the valley. Local residents now have access to specialty care, plastic surgery, orthopedics, hand specialists, gastroenterologist, general surgery and most important of all, an emergency department.

"With this region rapidly growing, we saw the need not only for medical services but more specifically for emergency services," says Jeni Owens, public relations manager. "The residents seem to be accessing the ER and we are happy to serve the community."

Medical Staff President Dave Hasleton also acts as the emergency department chair. His goal is to have all patients seen by a doctor within 30 minutes from when they walk in the door.

"The physicians, nurses and office staff are very quick and efficient which allows for shorter wait times," he says.

Patients seen at Riverton's ER not only can expect prompt treatment but they will also be seen by highly skilled doctors and nurses. The entire staff is specially trained and experienced to handle any kind of emergency whether it's a minor cut and sprain or serious trauma such as heart attack. This broad range of expertise stems from the rotation the staff makes between the Riverton and the Murray Intermountain Medical Center's emergency department. The benefit of this partnership, Dave says, is the staff has the highest level of training and experience because the Murray location is a Level 1 trauma hospital and is also designated as a Heart Attack and Stroke Center.

"Our physicians are trauma certified with hands-on trauma experience," Dave says.

Another benefit to the emergency department is the accessibility to the specialists at Riverton Hospital. Recently, a 7-year-old boy came to the ER with significant finger damage. He was seen, stitched up and sent on his way.

"Without our hand surgeon, the boy would have been transported to Primary Children's or another hospital with a hand surgeon," Dave says.

Riverton's ER strives to create a positive experience for children. Doctors have access to all the traditional instruments and equipment needed to treat children but in a colorful room with murals and a DVD player.

ER patients who need to be admitted into the hospital will continue to get full service care at Riverton Hospital. If the patient has severe trauma or is critically ill, Dave says they will be admitted to the Murray Intermountain Medical Center or to Primary Children's Medical Center. However, come Oct. 1, Primary Children's is opening a campus at the Riverton Hospital. This is the first Primary Children's inpatient service to open outside its Salt Lake campus.

To get more information about Riverton Hospital's emergency department, call 801-285-2500 or visit www.rivertonhospital.org/community.