CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has granted $1,490,918 to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation to purchase ultrasound machines as part of a statewide ultrasound initiative. The initiative includes nearly $13.9 million to help Wyoming hospitals and health centers purchase ultrasound imaging devices and boost sonography and point-of-care ultrasound training opportunities across the state.
“The impact of this ultrasound technology will be seen in a multitude of different procedure and testing areas throughout our medical center,” said Casey Robinson, administrator of cardiac and medical imaging for Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, in a news release Thursday. “This new technology will significantly reduce pain levels typically experienced during some exams, reduce patient wait times, and largely help prevent workplace injuries to our sonographers. The generosity of this grant allows us to bring technology to our patients and community that is second to none.”
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of structures inside the body. This safe, cost-effective tool supports other clinical information to help providers make timely diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment.
Walter Panzirer, a Helmsley Charitable Trust trustee, said the grants will help improve access to quality medical treatment for all Wyoming residents, whether they live in the heart of Cheyenne or Casper or in a smaller rural community.
“Our hospitals and health centers need to stay current with rapidly advancing technology so they can continue to provide top-notch healthcare close to home,” Panzirer said. “These grants help ensure that facilities across Wyoming have the latest and greatest ultrasound equipment and training.”
About two-thirds (97) of the 143 devices purchased through the $12.3 million in equipment grants are point-of-care ultrasound machines, which are used by providers at the bed or tableside for immediate assessment of a patient to quickly determine a course of action. The grants will also provide 26 general ultrasound systems and 20 cardiovascular ultrasound systems, which aid in imaging of the heart.
The initiative also includes nearly $1.6 million for the University of Wyoming’s Wyoming Point of-Care Ultrasound Training Initiative, which aims to enhance patient care across the state by both broadening the scope of training in specialty ultrasound and bolstering access to quality point-of-care ultrasound services.