KVHC expands services with HSF gift

    PATTEN – Katahdin Valley Health Center (KVHC) officials have announced Health Services Foundation (HSF) of Houlton has fulfilled a, $11,717 grant request for clinical equipment.
Contributed photo
NEW TECHNOLOGY — KVHC Nursing Supervisor Debra Wilkins, RN, demonstrates how the new spirometry equipment performs pulmonary function testing to Elizabeth Dulin, executive director of Health Services Foundation, as KVHC Clinical Director Holly Gartmayer looks on. HSF donated funds to KVHC for the purchase of new patient care equipment.
    “These grant monies allowed KVHC to purchase a spirometer that enables us to perform pulmonary function testing at KVHC’s Patten clinic. Prior to the acquisition of this equipment at Patten, our patients had to travel to an alternate KVHC site or area hospital for testing, requiring second and follow-up appointments, increasing the patient’s treatment time,” said Durward Humphrey, KVHC chief executive officer.
    “We were also able to purchase an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine for our Island Falls clinic. This new EKG machine replaces an outdated piece of equipment that had functional limitations.
    “Additionally, Health Services Foundation’s generosity permitted KVHC to purchase two automated external defibrillators (AED) with rechargeable batteries for our Island Falls and Dental clinics. This equipment is absolutely critical should life threatening circumstances arise,” said Humphrey.
    “Spirometry measures lung function and is an important tool used for assessing conditions such as asthma, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” said Debra Wilkins, R.N., KVHC’s nursing supervisor.
    “Arrhythmias (or dysrhythmias) are problems that affect the electrical system of the heart muscle, producing abnormal heart rhythms. They can cause the heart to pump less effectively. This new EKG machine has an ease of operation and functionality that allows improved documentation of patient arrhythmias,” added Wilkins.
    “Given the rural nature of the northern Maine communities our non-profit healthcare providers serve, the Foundation is extremely sensitive to the needs that are presented to us from those providers. We assist with their requests, within our financial assistance guidelines, as much as possible as we understand that in this fast-changing world of healthcare, providers cannot always meet the pressing needs that confront them almost daily. The care our outlying rural providers are able to extend is so important in order that as many healthcare options possible are offered to keep their communities healthy,” said Elizabeth Dulin, executive director  for Health Services Foundation.
                                                                “Patients may not always be able to travel great distances to see a doctor or get to the local hospital, so our outlying clinics are the lifeline for those communities. This grant funding awarded to Katahdin Valley Health Center gives the Foundation great peace of mind knowing that healthcare help for all those they serve is just around the corner,” said Dulin.
    “KVHC has expanded its service area to treat patients from the Millinocket region to the Houlton area. Our five clinics in Millinocket, Patten, Island Falls and Houlton serve the insured, uninsured and underserved and are well designed and well equipped, and our staff is well-trained, enabling KVHC to attend to all our patients’ needs. Our personnel at our facilities have received training for the new systems.
    “On behalf of KVHC, our staff and our patients throughout Aroostook, Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, we truly appreciate Health Services Foundation approving our grant request, enabling the purchase of this equipment that benefits our patients,” said Humphrey.