Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

MCDH Mammography Service Receives $55,000 USDA Grant
—Posted Friday, August 19th, 2011 at 1:36 pm—

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Reef Atwell of USDA and Riki Thoreson-Schaefer, Mammography Technician

Mr. Reef Atwell of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) made a visit to Mendocino Coast District Hospital on Wednesday of this week to inspect our new digital mammography equipment.  USDA awarded MCDH a $55,000 grant which has been used towards the purchase of the new equipment which is housed in the hospital’s new Diagnostic Imaging Center.  Mr. Atwell, who is based in Santa Rosa, California was performing a part of his responsibilities to check and verify that the new equipment had, indeed, been purchased and that it is working.  “I am very impressed with the new center and all of it’s new equipment,” said Atwell.  The total cost for the new digital mammography unit, including a picture archiving system was $412,783.   USDA provides millions of dollars each year for rural America.  “We are always glad to help the Mendocino Coast,” he said.  USDA has made hundreds of thousands of dollars of grants to MCDH over the years.  The last one before this was for funds to purchase a new ambulance in 2008.  We are very thankful to our Congressman Mike Thompson, who supported this grant for Mendocino Coast District Hospital and to the United States Department of Agriculture for their support of rural America.

Posted in Diagnostic Imaging, Grants, MCDH Clinical Services, Technology | Comments Off

The Technology Age is Here
—Posted Sunday, July 24th, 2011 at 11:38 pm—

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Last week I had the privilege of attending the InTouch Health Company’s 6th Annual Remote Presence Clinical Innovations Forum in Santa Barbara, California.   In the 6th year of its existence, this was the largest gathering yet of institutions, educators, clinicians and administrators who come together each year to learn about the latest in technological advancement from one of our Nation’s  Clinical Technology leaders.   

InTouch Health’s signature product is the RP7 “robot.”   Just like the one that we have named “Dr. Don,” that we see roaming our halls.  I saw that the same robot that we use to bring specialists to Mendocino Coast District Hospital is used in hospitals from coast to coast in some of our Nation’s finest Academic Teaching Hospitals, as well as small rural hospitals like MCDH.   I also learned that the RP7 robot can be used to enhance advanced surgical techniques in hospital surgical suites, as well as in the Emergency Department of major trauma centers.  I attended the conference because I was invited to participate in a Focus Group Session for the use of telemedicine in rural settings.   As is usually the case, I am certain that I learned more and I am bringing home more valuable knowledge than I was able to contribute.    Johnathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association, one of many prestigious presenters, said it best when he said “2011 is the most exciting year in telemedicine innovation and acceptance, that we have seen in the past 18 years.”  And its very satisfying to know that Mendocino Coast District Hospital is one of the hospitals that is leading the way.

Posted in MCDH Clinical Services, Technology | Comments Off

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