St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Health Achieve Prestigious Emergency Care Designations
Our critical access hospitals have reached significant milestones in emergency medical service capabilities by obtaining Stroke Level III and STEMI Level II Time Sensitive Emergency designations. Both hospitals have been Trauma Level IV designated for several years already. “These certifications represent substantial improvements in our ability to provide rapid, high-quality emergency care for patients experiencing time-critical medical conditions,” says Alyssa Adams, Director of Quality, St. Mary’s Health & Clearwater Valley Health.
Stroke Level III Designation
The Stroke Level III designation validates our comprehensive approach to stroke care. This certification demonstrates our hospitals’ capability to rapidly assess and stabilize stroke patients, implement evidence-based protocols for acute stroke management, and coordinate effective transfer protocols for advanced neurological interventions.
STEMI Level II Designation
STEMI is a type of severe heart attack caused by a complete blockage of one or more major arteries to the heart. Our STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction) Level II designation supports our advanced cardiac emergency response capabilities. This recognition confirms our preparedness to quickly diagnose and treat heart attack patients and facilitate expedited cardiac interventions and transfers.
Community Impact
“These designations represent more than certifications—they are a commitment to saving lives. By meeting rigorous standards for time-sensitive emergency care, we ensure that patients receive the most effective interventions when every minute matters,” says Lenne Bonner CEO, St. Mary’s Health & Clearwater Valley Health.
“Our medical teams across all departments have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and clinical expertise in achieving these critical emergency care designations,” says Alyssa Adams, Director of Quality, St. Mary’s Health & Clearwater Valley Health. “All members of the care team have been extremely engaged in this work and receptive to process improvement to facilitate rapid intervention within just minutes of patient’s arrival. Our Stroke and STEMI Registered Nurse Coordinators, Dawn Mason-Dunkle at CVH and Deborah Walker at SMH, have dedicated the last year to diligently working toward these designations with the support of our Directors of Nursing Services, Cata Granger at CVH and Tracy Williams at SMH. None of this would have been possible without the support and engagement of our Medical Directors for the programs, Dr. Vanessa Brown and Dr. Shelly Frayser, as well as Dr. Kelly McGrath and Dr. Ann Lima.”