March, 2023 - Pawnee Valley Community Hospital

Foundation donates new electrocardiogram equipment to PVCH

Patients who face heart-related diseases and conditions can now receive a quicker diagnosis and earlier treatment thanks to new equipment at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH), 923 Carroll.

The electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) machine, which was donated by the PVCH Foundation, provides “a simple and fast test to evaluate your heart,” said Dusty Thacker, director of Cardiopulmonary Services. “Small electrodes are placed on the chest and connected to the machine. The electrical activity in your heart is then measured, interpreted and printed out.”

Examples of when someone may need an EKG include chest pain or a history of heart disease.

“We can evaluate problems such as fatigue, shortness of air, dizziness and irregular heartbeats,” Thacker noted. “The machine also can evaluate your heart before surgery and determine how your pacemaker is working.”

When someone is having a heart attack, “it is extremely important to open the arteries as quickly as possible to get oxygen and nutrients flowing to the blocked part of the heart.

“The sooner we can identify a heart attack taking place, the more heart-muscle function we can preserve,” Thacker said. “We can quickly determine a diagnosis and start a treatment plan.”

The machine’s hardware is completely redesigned with a touch screen and new technology.

This includes:

Smart Lead Technology that automatically detects when a new patient is connected.
Enhanced Hook-Up Advisor helps guide even new users on how to achieve a clean, high-quality waveform.
Smart Auto-ECG immediately captures and displays the first clean, high-quality waveform, which reduces the number of repeat procedures.

“We are extremely lucky to have the Foundation’s support in securing this new technology,” Thacker commented. “The hospital benefits, which means patients and families benefit. All of us appreciate the Foundation’s foresight.”

He also noted the new EKG machine is just one of several items the Foundation has helped purchase over the years.

“A lot of this type of equipment cannot be found at smaller Critical Access Hospitals because of the cost,” Thacker said. “But thanks to the Foundation, this up-to-date technology makes it easier for our staff to deliver the highest level of patient care available.”

Cody Thacker, Foundation director, noted $19,000 was donated for the EKG.

“This and other equipment are possible only through the vital philanthropic support of our community, which positively impacts patients’ overall health,” Cody Thacker commented. “The Foundation’s mission is to advance quality healthcare in Pawnee and surrounding counties.

“We are guided by our remarkable trustees who are community leaders that have a vision for the success of the Foundation and the hospital.”

The Foundation was formed in 2012 as a non-profit charitable organization to support PVCH. It is the designated depository and trustee for all current and future gifts to the hospital.

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; wound care; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. The PVCH Family Medicine, 713 W. 11^th, provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.

PVCH names Madrid director of marketing and communications

Jose Madrid lived most of his life in densely populated urban areas in the United States and around the globe.

Today, he is “more than excited” to live in Larned, while taking on his new duties as director of marketing and communications at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH).

“This smaller community and state-of-the-art hospital are exactly what I was looking for,” Madrid said. “This gives me the opportunity to put into practice what I learned in Kansas colleges, as I share information about the exceptional people and services at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital.”

Madrid will spread the hospital’s message through newspapers, television, radio and social media. He will help create marketing and advertising content, while overseeing marketing strategies.

“I am eager to spread the word because most people wouldn’t expect such a high level of medical infrastructure in a smaller community,” he commented. “I acknowledge that I was surprised. The facility itself, as well as the services and equipment are second to none.”

For example, Madrid pointed out, Pawnee Valley Medical Associates is “a great family-medicine clinic that integrates well with the hospital. In addition, we have 3D mammography and the Sleep & Diagnostic Center, which oftentimes are not offered in a smaller hospital. These are just a few examples of the high-quality services here.”

Madrid was born in Venezuela, and also lived in Kuwait and India. This was due to his father, Abrahan Carpio, working in the oil industry, which allowed Madrid and his family to experience world travel when he was growing up. Most recently, he resided in Katy, Tx., which is in the Houston area.

Madrid, who is fluent in Spanish, earned his associate’s degree in business administration in 2019 at Labette Community College in Parsons, Ks., where he was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

The next stop was Bethany College in Lindsborg for a dual bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. He graduated in 2022.

Madrid received baseball scholarships at both colleges, achieving the status of Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete.

“Both my formal education and baseball experience will help me in this new job,” Madrid commented. “I will rely on the leadership and strategic planning skills I learned in college as we help PVCH grow.

“Also, baseball taught me how to work with a team, hold myself accountable and work to achieve a goal. Ultimately, I am committed to lifelong learning and personal development.”

Madrid also noted that he has been astonished by the friendliness and welcoming nature of his colleagues at PVCH and the Larned community.

“People here greet one another with a smile and say ‘hello,’ which you don’t experience often in the big cities,” he said. “The hospital and community are just the right fit for me.”

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital, 923 Carroll in Larned, is a 25-bed facility, offering many services not typically available in a smaller facility. Included are 24/7 emergency care; acute, skilled and specialized nursing; surgery; high-tech imaging and laboratory tests; wound care; rehabilitation; and sleep and diagnostic center. The Pawnee Valley Medical Associates clinic, 713 W. 11^th, provides the full range of family-medicine services; physician-assisted weight loss; and women’s health services. The hospital’s number is 620-285-3161; the clinic’s number is 620-804-6007.

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Foundation donates new electrocardiogram equipment to PVCH

PVCH names Madrid director of marketing and communications