New Dahl facility will have CT system

Dahl Memorial Healthcare CEO Ryan Tooke recently received notice that the association will be awarded another large grant for the new facility. Funds from this $500,000 grant awarded by the Helmsley Foundation will be used to purchase a CT scanner and go towards construction of a CT room in the new hospital.

The new Dahl Memorial Healthcare will not only be home to the rural health clinic, critical access hospital and long-term care facility, it will also house a pharmacy, physical therapy services, lab and radiology department.

Not having current CT services available at Dahl has been problematic in the past. Whenever a CT scan has been needed, the patient had to be transferred to another facility, creating time issues. Transferring patients for CT scans also takes an ambulance and EMTs out of the area, leaving the rest of the county with only one ambulance and fewer volunteer EMTs available for other emergencies.

The new CT system will have the ability to scan patients in one pass and provide diagnostic quality images that are reconstructed in real time. For patients, that means far less time getting scanned. The scan can be completed in seconds, which is also critical during emergency room visits.

The system can help physicians significantly reduce radiation dose while maintaining the high image quality needed for accurate diagnosis. It can be used across a wide spectrum of procedures including angiography, brain, chest, abdomen, orthopedic and more.

Current plans are that the CT machine will be serviceable shortly after the hospital moves into the new facility towards the beginning of 2021.

Tooke believes that the CT system at the new facility will improve health outcomes of patients, reduce transfers to tertiary centers and increase patient confidence and satisfaction while also increasing sustainability at Dahl through increased revenue.

In total, Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association has received $1,472,152 in grants and donations for the new facility. Following is a list of each grant/donation and what the funds will be used for:

• Murdock Foundation Grant - $142,500 - Radiology (Fixed X-Ray), Telemetry Patient Monitoring Equipment

• CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) - $600,000 - Clinic Equipment, Lab Chemical Analyzer, Hospital/ER Equipment, Nurse Call System

• Helmsley Foundation Grant - $500,000 - CT Scanner, CT Injector, CT Room Construction

• Small Hospital Improvement Grant (SHIP) - $76,652 - Pneumatic Tube for Pharmacy, Negative Air Handlers

• Department of Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Grant - $40,000 - Construction of Behavioral Health Room

• Southeast Electric Cooperative Donation - $33,000 - Purchase Efficient Electrical Systems

• ONEOK Donation - $80,000 - Hospital Patient Beds

• Community Member Local Donations - over $8,000 and growing - Artwork, Patio Furniture, Additional Equipment