Senator Steve Saland Announces State Grants For Dutchess County Hospitals

Northern Dutchess Hospital will receive $76,500 and Vassar Brothers Medical Center will receive $100,000 to purchase a Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS).

PACS is a high tech system for the Medical Imaging Department used to store and distribute medical images and reports, both locally and remotely. Images from X-ray, CT Scans, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine, Cardiac Catheterization and Echocardiography can be taken at any of the system’s hospitals and then retrieved from multiple locations throughout the system. Using digital technology eliminates misplaced films and the labor intensive physical handling and storage of the films. More importantly, it provides physicians with instant access to patient data.

“This cutting edge technology will provide Northern Dutchess Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center physicians the capability of almost instantaneous retrieval of a patient’s imaging results from any place in the system,” said Senator Saland. “Precious time will no longer be wasted ordering scan results and looking for lost films – patient safety will be enhanced resulting in faster diagnosing and treatment. I’m glad I was able to secure this grant.”

"Senator Saland continues to be a champion for healthcare, and a champion for Northern Dutchess Hospital. His support over the years has yielded significant funding for the Hospital and we are very grateful for all he has done. Most recently, he has led the charge to secure a grant for NDH - specifically, in the amount of $76,000 to help offset the cost of installing a Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) for our Radiology Department. This digital technology offers several significant benefits for our physicians and our patients as it improves efficiency in terms of reduced film and labor costs and it gives physicians immediate and secure access to the results of critical radiology tests performed on their patients - all of which translates to a higher level of physician and patient satisfaction, clinical excellence and quality care. Senator Saland has been a driving force in NDH's progress over the years, and this is just another example of his tremendous efforts on our behalf." Denise George, President & CEO, Northern Dutchess Hospital.

Daniel Z. Aronzon, M.D, President and CEO of Vassar Brothers Medical Center said, “In helping us obtain this grant, Senator Saland is supporting something even more valuable than the laboratory information system: He is supporting Vassar Brothers’ across-the-board commitment to providing the highest level of patient care to people throughout the mid-Hudson Valley region. We are indeed very grateful for all he does for VBMC and the greater community we serve.”

Senator Saland also secured a $105,000 State grant for Saint Francis Hospital and Health Centers to purchase a new Logic 7 Ultrasound Unit. Due to its superior imaging quality, the Logic 7 Ultrasound machine will provide Saint Francis with improved diagnostic capabilities for a variety of illnesses and conditions, fine tuning patient treatment and enhancing patient safety.

“When we bring our loved ones to a hospital for treatment, we all want to be confident that the latest technology is being used to diagnose and treat their condition,” said Senator Saland. “In this era of skyrocketing health care costs, high tech equipment is extremely expensive, so I’m glad I was able to secure this grant to help Saint Francis continue its mission of providing the finest patient care.”

Robert L. Savage, President of Saint Francis Hospital and Health Centers said, “We are grateful for Senator Saland’s support. This vital piece of equipment provides four dimensional imaging capacity enabling superior image quality and improved diagnostic ability for patients with cardiac, vascular and other general diagnostic needs. The equipment will also improve breast imaging and enhance guidance for biopsy”.