Rotary clubs light Heritage Health pilot program
From left: Sid Armstrong, Kellogg Rotary; Pam Houser, VP of Community Relations for Heritage Health; Kate Stocker, project manager for Heritage Health; Leslie Stone, VP of Clinical Operations for Heritage Health; Allan Williams, Kellogg Rotary; Jessica Rude, Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotary; Dave Dean, Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotary; and Matt Briggs, Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotary.
Photo courtesy of MARC STEWART/Heritage Health
A remote monitory device.
COEUR d'ALENE — Heritage Heath launched a remote patient monitoring program thanks to a generous grant from three different Rotary clubs in North Idaho.
Heritage Health issued blood pressure monitoring devices to 72 patients in the greater Rathdrum area and the Silver Valley this month. The equipment is part of a pilot program to improve health care for rural residents who face transportation challenges.
“We are focusing on the rural areas of North Idaho,” said Leslie Stone, VP of Clinical Operations for Heritage Health. “These devices enable us to routinely do blood pressure checks for patients with serious health issues. The information they will provide is expected to improve outcomes and let us know if a patient needs more follow-up.”
The three Rotary clubs combined forces and raised about $9,000. Heritage Health’s Pam Houser, who oversees community relations, spearheaded the idea of approaching local rotaries to ask for funds.
“The Coeur d'Alene Sunrise Rotary Club wanted to help in a way that shows we are committed to the health of our community,” said Jessica Rude, a member of the Sunrise Rotary in Coeur d’Alene. “When we were approached to see about helping with the Remote Patient Monitoring Devices, the club thought that this would be a great way to support the goal. Since this program was focused on helping the rural community, we wanted to see this project get more support.”
“That is when we joined forces with the Kellogg and Wallace clubs,” Rude said. “We are excited to hear about how patients in rural areas feel about having this available to them and hope it will allow them to have more confidence in their health and care.”
Sid Armstrong, Chairman of the Kellogg Rotary, said he was pleased to be a part of the project.
“We know people in our town who will use this service,” Armstrong said. “It’s pretty neat actually.”
Allan Williams, who is a member of the Wallace Rotary, called the remote monitoring program a “blessing.”
“We’re an international organization,” Williams said. “It’s great to be able to help friends and neighbors. Health care in a rural area can be a challenge for some people to get to the clinic, especially during the winter.”
