Pictured with the new ultrasound equipment in the SMH Women’s Clinic from left are Dr. Elisabeth Scalva, Ultrasound Technologist Sarah Schneider, Dr. Rebecca Franklund and Dr. Lindsay Capron. Not Pictured: Dr. Rebecca Krzyminski, Physician Assistant Tracy Jons, Family Nurse Practitioner Krista Frank and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Becky Olson.
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has granted $675,676 to The Sheridan Memorial Hospital Foundation to purchase new ultrasound equipment as part of a statewide ultrasound initiative across Wyoming. The initiative includes nearly $13.9 million to help Wyoming hospitals and health centers purchase ultrasound imaging devices and boost sonography and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training opportunities across the state.
“The addition of new and replacement ultrasound equipment supports SMH’s strategic goals and ensures patients and their families receive the excellent care they expect. Up-to-date technology and equipment ensure outcomes meet or exceed expectations by improving patient comfort and the flow of medical procedures,” shares Chief Development Officer Cody Sinclair. Ultrasound is an important tool for rural providers in disease management. This new equipment allows for best practice and support of specialty service lines such as the Women’s Clinic, Emergency Department, ICU, Radiology, and ENT Clinic.
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body. This safe, cost-effective tool supports other clinical information to help providers make timely diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment. Highly trained physicians and providers along with clinical support can utilize their training for best or improved patient outcomes and excellent patient care. “The new ultrasound equipment is incredibly helpful in providing excellent patient care. Updated technology enables us to provide more accurate diagnoses, perform procedures with greater precision, and ultimately improve patient outcomes,” shares Dr. Rebecca Franklund of Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Clinic. “This has not only enhanced our ability to provide high-quality medical care, but also increased patient satisfaction and overall experience. These additional ultrasound resources are truly a game-changer in delivering excellent patient-centered care.”
Walter Panzirer, a Trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust, said the grants will help improve access to quality medical treatment for all Wyoming residents, whether they live in the heart of Cheyenne or Casper or in a smaller rural community.
“Our hospitals and health centers need to stay current with rapidly advancing technology so they can continue to provide top-notch healthcare close to home,” Panzirer said. “These grants help ensure that facilities across Wyoming have the latest and greatest ultrasound equipment and training.”
The grants were announced Thursday during a statewide news conference.
About two-thirds (97) of the 143 devices purchased through the $12.3 million in equipment grants are POCUS machines, which are used by providers at the bed or tableside for immediate assessment of a patient to quickly determine a course of action. The grants will also provide 26 general ultrasound systems and 20 cardiovascular ultrasound systems, which aid in imaging of the heart.
The initiative also includes nearly $1.6 million for the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Point-of-Care Ultrasound Training Initiative, which aims to enhance patient care across the state by both broadening the scope of training in specialty ultrasound and bolstering access to quality POCUS services.
About Sheridan Memorial Hospital:
For over 100 years, Sheridan Memorial Hospital has been serving our community with excellent patient-centered care. Licensed for 88 beds, Sheridan Memorial Hospital is a progressive, state-of-the-art facility in beautiful Sheridan, Wyoming. With sophisticated technology and services beyond what one might expect in a hospital this size, patients can take comfort in knowing they are receiving high-quality care. Our patient satisfaction surveys tell us that we are providing exemplary service to our patients and their families. We are proud of our over 800 experienced and caring employees, 66 physicians, and 36 advanced practice clinicians serving in 25 specialties, who are meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of Sheridan and the surrounding communities.
About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed about $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $650 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
To learn more about this project, please contact The Foundation at 307.673.2418.