Harkin Secures Funding for CHCSI Equipment

U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations subcommittee, secured nearly $7 million for vital education and health care initiatives in Central Iowa. Of this funding, $130,000 will go to the Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa (CHCSI) to provide state of the art equipment for the medical practices in Lamoni and Leon.

“Senator Harkin is a major reason that the Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa is able to provide the high quality health care that it does,” Gary Rees, CEO of CHCSI said. “He has provided us with well over a half million dollars to make sure we are as up to date as possible since we opened in April 2005 – and he always asks ‘What else can I do?’”

“This funding will be used to purchase a Bone Densitometer and Digital Computer Radiology equipment,” Dr. Magle, Medical Director of CHCSI indicated. “ Digital radiography is a form of x-ray imaging where digital X-ray sensors are used instead of traditional photographic film. Advantages include time efficiency through bypassing chemical processing and the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images. Also less radiation can be used to produce an image of similar contrast to conventional radiography,” she explained. “In addition, Bone density scanning is an enhanced form of x-ray technology that is used to measure bone loss. It is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, which involves a gradual loss of calcium, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break,” she continued.

The Bone Densitometer will be in Leon to replace the one at Decatur Medical Services (DMS) that is currently being used among the medical providers in Decatur County. The Digital Computer Radiology will be in the Lamoni practice site and replace equipment currently at that site. “For a long time, Decatur Medical Services has provided important medical equipment for our county,” Dr. Richard, DMS physician, said, “I’m very pleased to learn about Senator Harkin’s funding so that we can expand and update our services.”

“Digital Radiology brings the Lamoni Clinic to state of the art imaging capability,” Dr. Mark Easter indicated. “It allows us to store pictures on disks or transmit them digitally to consultants who are out of town. This will benefit not only our local residents but will significantly help the many Graceland University students and athletes from out of town who have local medical providers back home”