FARGO — Rural and underserved communities across North Dakota are getting what some medical professionals call "game-changing" equipment and support.
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust awarded $27.4 million in grants to 69 hospitals and health centers.
With those funds, clinics can purchase 215 ultrasound machines and receive three years of training in sonography.
Essentia Health was awarded funds for ultrasound equipment at its clinics in Bismarck, Jamestown, Valley City and Wahpeton, and the system's hospital in Fargo.
Family Healthcare locations in downtown Fargo and south Fargo will each receive a point-of-care ultrasound machine.
The new equipment will help providers diagnose and treat patients more quickly.
According to Kelly Polcher, a certified family nurse practitioner and the co-medical director at Family Healthcare, the equipment will allow the clinic to "identify things sooner, help prioritize patient's care needs and getting them in for additional testing sooner, and also provide our providers with the tools that they need to provide better care."
The Helmsley Charitable Trust also awarded $1.9 million to North Dakota State University to expand sonographer expertise and provide additional training for medical staff.
The trust has committed a total of $72 million toward ultrasound equipment and training in Minnesota, Nevada and Wyoming in addition to North Dakota.