Penn Yan – The Yates County Tuberculosis and Health Association has awarded $5,000 to the Finger Lakes Health Foundation in support of the purchase of a new Cardiovascular Ultrasound system for Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital.
In the Finger Lakes region, death from cardiovascular disease is 13% greater than from all cancer deaths and the mortality rate per 100,000 in the region is 190.7, higher than that of the U.S., which is 173.8. Lack of access to and availability of diagnostic imaging and practitioners are significant barriers for the prevention of heart disease for patients in our region, particularly for those with low socioeconomic status.
With an older system, it can take weeks to get in for a consult. If imaging is considered appropriate, it can take another few weeks for there to be availability on an elective basis. Limited access to timely care also increases stress on emergency rooms and hospitals due to the critical nature of cardiovascular disease.
The new Cardiac Ultrasound equipment offers increased efficiency and cutting edge technology that will decrease time to testing and need for repetitive testing; improve detection and diagnosis of both common and rare cardiac conditions; identify patients that can benefit from medical therapy or procedures to help prolong life and decrease morbidity; allow better collaboration with cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists in the treatment of heart disease; and attract highly qualified health care workers to our region.
Helen Kelley, Director of Development for the Finger Lakes Health Foundation, says, “We are most grateful to Yates County TB & Health Association for their support of this critical new equipment at Soldiers & Sailors that will make state-of-the-art cardiac screening, diagnostic, and treatment services more readily available, close to home, for at risk Yates County residents.”
Kelley adds, “Financial challenges brought on by the pandemic, inflation and staffing issues are stretching our healthcare resources, especially in rural areas and hospital environments. We are more reliant than ever upon our community and funding sources such as the Yates County TB & Health Association to recognize and respond to our need to maintain equipment and facilities, recruit staff, and sustain vital services.”
To support the project or for more information, contact Helen Kelley: (315) 787-4050 or [email protected] or donate online at: https://www.flhealth.org/make-a-donation/.
