Federal Stimulus provides EKG machines and other medical equipment to community health centers

No matter where you get your healthcare, the needs are the same, but many community health centers have been underfunded, and were getting by for years with out-of-date EKG machines, X-ray equipment and monitors used for lifesaving procedures.

Thanks to the recent federal stimulus package however, many non-profit community health centers and medical clinics are able to buy new or gently used equipment to replace obsolete EKG and ECG machines, ultrasound equipment and other upgrades, such as digital x-ray machines.

One such medical center, Portsmouth Community Health in Hampton Roads, VA, has nearly 8,000 patients in the Norfolk and Portsmouth area. Medical Director, Dr. Subir Vij, expects the overall quality of medical care for the community will be drastically improved. He expressed excitement about the newly installed electronic doors for disabled patients, new examination tables, and especially the new EKG machines. All of this is possible, said Dr. Vij, because of more than $500,000 in federal stimulus funding.

Aside from new EKG machines and other vital medical equipment, the center will be implementing a new system of electronic health records. Now, when a patient comes to Portsmouth Community Health, and is later transferred to another healthcare facility, they can easily access their most recent medical history and take better care of the patient.

Most states are receiving several million dollars in community health care grants, which is allowing them to hire staff, buy new equipment to care for uninsured patients, and modernize their medical record keeping procedures. According to the Federal Stimulus program records, the state of Virginia will receive a total of $13.5 million in community healthcare funding.

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