KIMBALL -- Kimball Health Services continues to modernize its medical equipment, thanks to a recent contribution from the Kimball Hospital Foundation.   

The Foundation board unanimously approved a $65,927 request from the KHS clinic, emergency and nursing departments to purchase a new ultrasound machine and two new EKG machines. The new units will replace outdated technology currently in use. 

“We use our current EKG on approximately 90 percent of our ER patients,” Whitney Smith, director of nursing at KHS, told the Foundation board. "It is crucial for diagnosing significant conditions in emergencies, such as heart attacks and arrhythmias. Our increased use of EKGs on our medical floor is due to our capability to care for sicker patients with our upgraded equipment and the newly built hospital.”  

The new ultrasound machine is also important for assessing if a patient can stay in Kimball or should be transported out of town, Smith explained. “The best practice in emergency situations, particularly in trauma, is to have an ultrasound unit readily available at the bedside. This allows us to determine if a patient is experiencing internal bleeding, which influences whether they can continue treatment here or require transfer to a larger hospital." 

Funding for the new equipment will come from donations to the Foundation through memorial gifts, fundraising events and proceeds from a recent member distribution from the Nebraska Purchasing Group.   

Since 2004, the Foundation has contributed a total of $2.9 million to the hospital.  

Director of the Foundation Kerry Ferguson expressed gratitude to the community for its continued generous support, stating, "The donations we receive are not merely charitable gifts; they represent an investment in the health of our community.”