Intermountain Riverton Hospital
It hasn’t been around too long, but Intermountain Riverton Hospital is already establishing itself as one of the best in the Salt Lake Valley. And in particular, the hospital’s children’s unit can treat your little ones as well as or better than any other medical facility around.
The pediatric center opened at Riverton Hospital in September 2010. The unit is still growing, and staff members are eager to assist more patients.
Dr. Alyson Edmunds, M.D. is a pediatric hospitalist in the Riverton Hospital Children’s Unit. In this capacity, she is dedicated to hospital medicine and handling patient care, teaching, research and leadership.
Dr. Edmunds says Riverton Hospital compares favorably with the renowned Primary Children’s Hospital. In fact, the doctors and nurses in the pediatric unit all split time between Primary Children’s and Riverton. The nurses are required to work at Primary Children’s for two years before coming to Riverton.
“We’re part of Primary Children’s,” Dr. Edmunds says. “We have all of the same doctors, nurses and specialists. We can do all the same things at Riverton as at Primary Children’s.”
Dr. Edmunds says Riverton can’t handle all cases, and in such instances, the child is sent without hassle to Primary Children’s. But unlike most other hospitals, at Riverton your child will have constant access to pediatric specialists.
“If parents want a place with pediatrics 24/7, this is the place,” Dr. Edmunds says. “There’s always a pediatric hospitalist here. There’s always someone to help find toys, games and video games for kids.”
Dr. Edmunds also says doctors and nurses in the Riverton Hospital Children’s Unit strive to create a comfortable atmosphere and to genuinely care about the children and their families.
“Riverton is more intimate than Primary Children’s,” she says. “The doctors are right here with the patients. We get to know patients and the family. We’re the ones seeing the patients.”
Having to be admitted to a hospital can be stressful and bring anxious moments. That’s why Riverton Hospital’s Children’s Unit tries to make the experience and stay as pleasant as possible.
“It’s a beautiful hospital,” Dr. Edmunds says. “There are nice rooms; they’re comfortable and they’re clean, which makes for a nice stay. It’s a great place to stay.”
A common issue Riverton Children’s Unit doctors and nurses deal with is RSV and other respiratory illnesses. And Riverton Hospital can treat your affected children better than any hospital.
“We give supportive care,” Dr. Edmunds says. “We give them an IV and oxygen. We do a lot of deeper suctioning to get mucous out and take care of secretions.”
RSV and other respiratory illnesses affect up to 90 percent of all children by age 2. One-third of all RSV cases turn into bronchiolits, which is a lower-respiratory illness. And not only do Riverton Hospital Children’s Unit staff members effectively treat the illnesses, but they provide education as well, urging parents to wash the children’s hands and keep them away from cigarette smoke.
In addition, Riverton Hospital hospitalists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist in high-risk deliveries.
“We’re there to take care of things until the pediatrician arrives,” Dr. Edmunds says.
For more information about Intermountain Riverton Hospital and its Children’s Unit, visit http://intermountainhealthcare.org/hospitals/rivertonhospital. The hospital is located at 3741 West 12600 South.
