14 May
Patients to Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center might be able to avoid costly emergency room visits, thanks to a grant from the Sioux County Community Foundation to purchase a new electrocardiogram (EKG).
The grant was presented to Promise during an awards reception ceremony today (Tuesday, May 14) at Prairie Winds Event Center in Orange City.
The grant for $4,080 will allow Promise to replace an EKG machine that no longer is in good condition with a more updated model.
An EKG records electrical activity of a patient’s heart at rest – showing heart rate and rhythm and if there is heart enlargement due to high blood pressure or evidence of a previous heart attack. Accurate results can be obtained quickly with a reliable machine. The EKG will be used for patients of all ages, from children to older adults.
“Promise has been providing electrocardiograms for quite some time. The machine that we are currently using has limitations due to its age,” said Emily Tuschen, chief operating officer for Promise. “The nurses and providers rely on the EKG for proper intervention and treatment. It is so exciting that Sioux County Community Foundation has provided Promise with a grant to replace our current machine. With the new EKG machine, we will be able to treat a broader age group of patients more efficiently and with more accuracy.”
Promise fills a crucial need in Sioux County by reducing barriers to care for low-income families, particularly those without insurance or covered by Medicaid. Promise can provide an accessible, affordable procedure for Promise’s patient population by using the EKG machine – potentially saving them hundreds of dollars.
“It is one tool that is vital in keeping patients out of the ER who may not actually need it,” Tuschen said. “It allows a quick read and glimpse into the heart, and sometimes that is all providers need to know the difference between chest pain caused by the heart and chest pain caused by a respiratory or gastrointestinal issue.”
Promise was among 12 nonprofit organizations or cities awarded a total of $98,250 during the 2018 grant round for various projects and programs in Sioux County.
More than $1.12 million in grants have been awarded by the Sioux County Community Foundation since 2006. Funding for the grant program is a result of Community Endowment Fund legislation in 2005. SCCF was formed that year through affiliation with the Siouxland Community Foundation. SCCF is governed by a 12-member advisory board comprised of representatives from each of the communities in Sioux County. The mission of SCCF is to encourage and provide opportunities for charitable giving, to manage and distribute funds in a responsible manner, and to enhance the quality of life for the people of Sioux County.
PREVIOUS GRANT:
Promise Community Health Center received a Sioux County Community Foundation grant of $10,000 in 2016 to fund a portion of the cost of replacing one of one of its dental chairs.