It’s Our One-Year Anniversary: Idaho’s First Neuro, Surgical, Trauma ICU

Advancing neurocritical care in Idaho

Anniversaries are worth celebrating. And today, March 1, 2024, marks the 1-year anniversary of Idaho’s first and only Neuro, Surgical, Trauma ICU and Stepdown Unit. And there is a lot to celebrate. From the vision and unwavering commitment to advancing neurocritical care here in Idaho, to standing up the infrastructure and cutting-edge technology needed to deliver that care. And most importantly, the physicians, nurses, care teams, and support staff that make it all happen, day in and day out. To everyone involved – we salute you, we thank you, and we celebrate you!

Since opening our doors one year ago, we’ve had 2,659 encounters of care treating patients suffering from critical injuries or illnesses of the brain or spine. These are patients that received the immediate care they needed close to home without having to leave the state and their support system.

So, what is makes this unit so special? It’s the 35 patient beds (18 critical care and 17 stepdown) with amenities that allow more flexibility for care providers and improved comfort for patients and their families. Allowing multiple specialists to gather and work together to provide the best care possible. These specialists include neuro intensivists, surgical intensivists, trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, pulmonary critical care physicians, specially trained neuro ICU nurses, radiologists, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists. And for our patients and their families, it means getting the care they need close to home.

Walk through the unit firsthand and see what makes this space so unique.

Hear from some of our patients and their families about how important having this level of care close to home was when every minute mattered.

Meet Laurence, a young man who suffered head trauma when a 600-pound lawn aerator landed on and penetrated his skull.

Meet Danny, a young father and construction worker who thought his nail gun simply backfired. What he would soon find out would change everything.

Meet Jenn, a NICU nurse and mother of four who experienced several strokes during a routine jiu-jitsu maneuver.

Are you a skilled nurse or inspired to become one? There’s no more inspiring story than Christopher’s journey from being a neurocritical care patient here at Saint Alphonsus to returning and become an ICU RN on our stepdown unit, to make a difference in the lives of others.

Here’s to many more years of advancing neurocritical care here in Idaho.