Glacial Ridge Health System and state-of-the-art ultrasound

A $26.4 million grant is spreading ultrasound technology and knowledge across Minnesota to provide faster diagnoses and better emergency care in even the state's smallest hospitals.

Helmsley Charitable Trust announced its grant Tuesday to better equip about 100 hospitals and clinics, many of which have endured financial challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and can't afford the technology or training without help. Glacial Ridge Health Systems is one of the recipients.

In conjunction with Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), all full-time ED providers at Glacial Ridge have been trained to perform resuscitative transesophageal echocardiograms (TEE). Glacial Ridge and HCMC are the only two EDs in Minnesota with this capability. There are only a handful nationwide.

The grant will provide nearly $6.2 million over the next 3 years to the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians Foundation which will partner with High Quality Medical Education (HQMEDED) to provide free POCUS training to PAs and other healthcare providers in Critical Access health care facilities throughout Minnesota.  The POCUS education is being presented as the most robust ever presented anywhere in the World.  Bringing POCUS experts into rural and underserved communities throughout Minnesota.  The Educational Grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust will include no cost regional ultrasound CME conferences, written and online modules, teleguidance, and image review with an overarching goal of credentialing as many healthcare providers possible for important POCUS examinations and allowing clinicians to integrate POCUS in their daily patient care.

“These grants are a game changer for rural hospitals across the state,” said Thomas Pahl, PA-C, an emergency department clinician at Glacial Ridge Health System, instructor with HQMEDED, and member of the Minnesota State Trauma Advisory Council. “Clinicians and sonographers will not only have access to the newest ultrasound equipment on the market, but they will also be able to pursue educational opportunities to become more proficient at use of the equipment, expand the studies they can perform, and incorporate these skills into their clinical practices.”

$26.4 million grant helps Minnesota hospitals find life-threatening conditions Minneapolis Star Tribune March 21, 2023 

Helmsley Charitable Trust Grants Over $459,000 to Glacial Ridge Health System Alexandria Echo Press March 21, 2023