Grizzly Bear Attack Victim Talks About EIRMC Trauma Center

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Story Published: Jan 17, 2008 at 11:30 PM MDT

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 1:17 PM MDT

By Rick Montañez

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If you're ever in a serious accident, chances are you'll be brought to the EIRMC emergency trauma center, the best one in the state. In fact the guest speaker at Thursday night's celebration, the victim of a vicious grizzly bear attack back in May, talks about his treatment at EIRMC.

"I woke up 3 days later in this incredible facility," says Jim Cole, who was treated at EIRMC.

On May 23rd 57 year old Jim Cole was taking pictures of grizzly bears in Yellowstone park when he was viciously attacked, the bear took off half of Cole's face, he hiked about 3 miles to the nearest road, then he was flown to EIRMC for treatment.

"I've been to a lot of hospitals in my life," says Cole.

Too shaken up still to speak about the attack, Cole told the audience EIRMC is a unique place.

"There was something about the people, the nurses, everyone who took care of me, the doctors that felt special and different than any other hospital experience I've ever had," says Cole.

EIRMC takes special care of their patients, like making sure they're surrounded by loved ones..

"I woke up after 3 days with my two best friends over the bed," adds Cole.

His best friends worried about the care Cole was receiving.

"What kinda hospital is out there, I'm really worried about Jim out there in the middle of nowhere," says Cole.

Little did they know EIRMC is a level 2 trauma center, treating the most serious of patients and covering a huge geographical region.

"We cover all of south eastern Idaho, western Wyoming, southern Montana. We also are involved in covering Yellowstone Park and Grand Teton National Park where a lot of trauma's do occur," says Doug Crabtree, CEO of EIRMC.

The next step EIRMC can take as far as Trauma centers, is to become a teaching hospital, which isn't quite in the plans yet. And Crabtree also tells Channel 3 Eyewitness News Jim Cole has become a friend of the hospital, and he visits from Montana quite often.

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