EIRMC celebrates future freestanding emergency room with beam-signing event

Idaho Falls, Idaho — Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) hosted a beam-signing event on Thursday to celebrate a construction milestone at the region’s first Freestanding Emergency Room (FSER). The event allows participants to leave their mark on the structure before a signed beam is permanently incorporated into the building.

When it opens in early 2026, the EIRMC North Idaho Falls ER will be a Joint Commission-accredited department of the hospital. The satellite location is an extension of EIRMC’s emergency room. FSERs bring a hospital’s emergency care capabilities to new areas, with hospital-level diagnostic, imaging and treatment for emergencies, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The new ER facility in north Idaho Falls will provide comprehensive, hospital-based emergency services and delivered by experienced, board-certified physicians from EIRMC. They will be supported by ER-trained nurses, laboratory and medical imaging technologists and other medical staff.

Beam-signing events are held to mark significant milestones in a construction process and often signify the completion of the building’s frame. Participants involved in this FSER project — including EIRMC colleagues, nurses who will work at the facility, community members and construction workers — signed a structural beam before its installation. Some people wrote messages of encouragement and others drew pictures on the beam. Although eventually hidden, once placed, the beam becomes a cherished addition to the project.

The EIRMC North Idaho Falls ER will feature 10,820 square feet of space and is located just west of the intersection of Lincoln Road and 25th E (Hitt Road). The facility will offer the same high-quality care as the ER on EIRMC’s main campus.

Features include:

• 10 patient exam rooms
• 24/7 emergency medical care
• Comprehensive laboratory and imaging services, including computed tomography (CT) scans and X-rays 
• Board-certified emergency medicine physicians
• Highly experienced and certified Emergency and Trauma RNs

"EIRMC North Idaho Falls ER will provide high-quality emergency care for members of our community and region. We believe it will be a more convenient option for many people, saving significant travel time when seeking care," Betsy Hunsicker, the CEO of EIRMC, said. "Patients can expect the same level of superior care as if they came directly to the ER on EIRMC’s campus."

Once open, the FSER will have a dedicated ambulance bay for the intake of patients transported by emergency medical services and will also accept walk-in patients. There is a seamless transition of care should someone need to be transferred to an inpatient hospital setting.

It is important that people seek out the appropriate care setting based on the severity of their healthcare needs. Some medical emergencies that require a trip to an ER — whether on-campus or at a satellite location — include:

• Suspected heart attack
• Suspected stroke
• Trouble breathing
• Severe allergic reactions
• Broken bones
• Severe burns
• Deep wounds with heavy bleeding
• High fever
• Uncontrolled nausea, diarrhea or dehydration
• Suspected poisoning
• Drug/alcohol overdose

Dr. Brandon Bloxham is a board-certified Emergency Room physician who has been named the Medical Director at the new FSER. Dr. Bloxham says that while urgent care clinics play a role in the healthcare delivery system, EIRMC North Idaho Falls ER will offer hospital-level emergency care. This satellite emergency room is open 24/7, accepts EMS drop-offs and treats all patients, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.

"The FSER will be fully equipped to handle any emergency. Urgent care facilities handle less severe injuries and illnesses — conditions like a cold, the flu, minor cuts, and sprains," Dr. Bloxham explained. "Satellite ERs like this one improve healthcare access without compromising quality. It’s the same quality care — just closer to home for people in north Idaho Falls and the surrounding area."

If someone is experiencing a medical emergency, the most important thing is to not delay care. Never hesitate to call 911 in an emergency.

EIRMC’s sister facilities in Utah operate similar emergency centers across that state, including in Pleasant View, Syracuse, Taylorsville, West Valley, Herriman and West Lehi.