A Gift for the Fort Scott Community Freeman Fort Scott Hospital Receives Grant Creating Heart Imaging Onsite

A Gift for the Fort Scott Community 
Freeman Fort Scott Hospital Receives Grant Creating Heart Imaging Onsite  
                                     
FORT SCOTT, Kan. – Thanks to the generosity of the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, Freeman Fort Scott Hospital will receive the capability to perform advanced heart imaging onsite, providing faster and more accurate diagnoses for patients suffering from heart conditions.
 
During a Thursday morning ceremony held at Landmark National Bank in downtown Fort Scott, FSACF’s Board of Directors Chair Becky Tourtillott presented a $18,168 check to Freeman Health System’s Director of Radiology Services Lesa Deardorff, Mammography Supervisor Stephanie Thompson, and Vascular Sonographer Ryan O’Toole.
 
The money will be used to purchase a package of high-end echocardiogram technology that includes a PA1-5AQ Phased Array Transducer and a DP2B Pencil Transducer.
 
“With this new echocardiogram technology, we can deliver timely, high-quality cardiac diagnostics right here at home, reducing barriers to care and enhancing outcomes for our patients,” Deardorff said.
 
The equipment uses sound waves to create detailed images of a patient’s heart, enabling Freeman Fort Scott physicians to access heart functions, detect abnormalities, and monitor treatment progress.
 
“Traveling out of town for cardiac imaging means additional cost—transportation, time off work, lodging—and disruption to patients' lives,” Deardorff said. “By having the technology locally, [Fort Scott and surrounding Bourbon County residents] save money, time, and avoid the stress of long drives or arranging travel. That convenience helps more people stay in Fort Scott for their care.”
 
The equipment will be installed and fully operational by early next year, Deardorff added.
 
The FSACF’s goal is to be a resource for organizations working hard to improve the quality of life for Fort Scott and Bourbon County residents. Since 2017, they have awarded $3.5-plus million in grants to local nonprofits and charitable causes.
 
“While the community foundation is widely recognized for supporting a broad range of community programs through our regular grantmaking, we also understand the importance of investing in transformative efforts that can elevate the health and well-being of our entire area,” Tourtillott said during the ceremony. “This grant to Freeman Health System reflects that commitment. By enabling critical diagnostic testing to be performed locally, we’re helping reduce the need for patient transfers and improving access to timely, life-saving care for our community.”
 
Deardorff said she couldn’t be more pleased with the timely FASCF grant.
 
“This is far more than just an equipment purchase,” she said. “It shows a community committed to quality healthcare close to home. This ensures rural patients receive the same quality of care as those found in more densely populated areas.”