CCMSD to benefit from statewide ultrasound program

Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) is among the healthcare providers set to benefit from a statewide initiative to increase access to ultrasound technology.

Funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the initiative will see $13.9 million divided among hospitals and healthcare centers to purchase 143 ultrasound devices and to provide training for the new equipment.

CCMSD will receive a grant total of $415,000 for ultrasound equipment in the hospital and each of its three clinics in Sundance, Moorcroft and Hulett.

"The addition of new ultrasound technology at CCMSD will allow for improved accessibility to diagnostic ultrasound services for our patients," says CEO Micki Lyons.

"We are currently able to provide ultrasound services on a weekly basis with the goal of increasing frequency as needed. Patient care will be positively impacted by creating timely access to care, improved diagnostic capabilities and the ability to keep care close to home."

At a press conference on Thursday, Trustee Walter Panzirer explained that the aim of the initiative is to help providers purchase "state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment".

"At the Helmsley Charitable Trust, we believe in leveling the playing field," he said, explaining that the trust wants to ensure that everyone in Wyoming has the same access to medical technology as their urban counterparts.

Healthcare should be the same no matter where you live, he said. The trust aims to remove barriers to healthcare and, when investigating the needs of providers in Wyoming, ultrasounds came up as a high-need item and, he said, "For us, it was low-hanging fruit."

"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," he said in a press release. "These grants help ensure that facilities across Wyoming have the latest and greatest ultrasound equipment and training."

Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures within the body. They are a safe and cost-effective tool to help providers make diagnoses and provide treatments.

Around two thirds of the devices that will be funded through this program are "point-of-care" ultrasounds that can be used at a patient's bedside for immediate assessment, said Panzirer. The funding will also be used for 26 general ultrasound systems and 20 cardiovascular systems.

$1.6 million of the funding will go towards the Wyoming Ultrasound Training Initiative, which broadens the scope of training in specialty ultrasound.

"The rural setting of Wyoming requires innovative healthcare solutions. Point-of-care ultrasound offers vital diagnostic capabilities, reducing the need for patients to travel for standard ultrasound tests," said UW Provost and Executive Vice President Kevin Carman.

"By expanding access and training, our initiative aims to empower rural providers, minimizing patient burden and enhancing healthcare delivery.