Bingham Memorial Hospital Awarded Idaho Healthcare Preparedness Grant for the Seventh Time

BLACKFOOT, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bingham Memorial Hospital today announced it has been chosen as a recipient of the 2013 Idaho Healthcare Preparedness Program grant through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). This grant is provided to hospitals and supporting health care systems to deliver coordinated and effective care to patients during public health emergencies. As a result of this funding, Bingham Memorial will acquire equipment and complete training to assist in natural disasters, terrorist events or other emergencies.

“In a public health emergency, we will now have specialized training and the right equipment to successfully handle a problem and be an even better resource for people in this community.”

This is one of several grants the hospital has applied for and received through its research department, which identifies and seeks opportunities to improve the care for area residents through research and grant funding.

“As a rural facility, research and grant funding make an important difference in the hospital’s ability to provide for the needs of area residents in the event of an emergency,” said Louis Kraml, Chief Executive Officer and Bingham Memorial Hospital Administrator. “Preparedness of this nature is always a high priority and we are pleased to receive this grant to help our facility offer the public a haven during a public health emergency. Bingham Memorial now has the ability to provide training and acquire the necessary equipment to have on hand in case a need arises, which should provide peace of mind for those this hospital serves.”

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare through the Southeastern Idaho Office of Public Health works with healthcare entities in the region and distributes preparedness funds from the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) to these entities. This federal program was created in response to the events of September 11, 2001 to boost regional preparedness nationwide.

“This funding will provide resources for emergency preparedness that might not be otherwise available. We are now able to solve a problem we couldn’t solve before,” said Dr. Bernadette Howlett, PhD., Director of Research for Bingham Memorial Hospital. “In a public health emergency, we will now have specialized training and the right equipment to successfully handle a problem and be an even better resource for people in this community.”

The ASPR grant gives Bingham Memorial funds to support local and regional emergency preparedness capabilities. These capabilities include funding for procedures and equipment, such as a new decontamination tent and roller table, two procedure stretchers, a transfer board for bariatric patients, and will provide funding for emergency preparedness exercises. Bingham Memorial is a member of the Southeastern Idaho Healthcare Coalition, which is a regional disaster preparedness and response group coordinated by Denise O’Farrell, the regional Healthcare Preparedness Liaison with Southeastern Idaho Public Health.

To date, Bingham Memorial has been the recipient of $598,500 in research and grant funding activities during 2012. To learn more about Bingham Memorial Hospital, please visit www.BinghamMemorial.org.

About Bingham Memorial Hospital

Bingham Memorial Hospital is a 501(c)3 non-profit critical access hospital located in Blackfoot, Idaho. Bingham Memorial Hospital is committed to the pursuit of excellence in our endeavor to provide a continuum of quality, compassionate, healthcare services for residents and visitors to east Idaho, in the most efficient and cost effective manner possible.