PENDER – A $550,000 grant was recently issued to Pender Community Hospital (PCH) for a behavioral health grant from the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN).
According to a release, in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the grant’s funds come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), distributed through the state of Nebraska.
Laura Gamble, CEO at Pender Community Hospital stated these funds mean so much for PCH, especially being a 21-bed, critical-access facility. It’s such an important grant and will benefit so many of their patients who need care. PCH is extremely grateful for the partnership they have with the BHECN and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The specific behavioral health grant PCH received is for telehealth support in rural areas. Using some of these funds, and through its accountable care organization (ACO) partnership with Bryan Health, PCH has already purchased a telehealth-cart equipment to assist with remote appointments for behavioral health, alcohol- and substance-use disorder appointments, senior behavioral and mental health appointments through PCH’s Working on Wellness (WOW) program and more.
Sonya King, Behavioral Health Manager at PCH said, “it’s not always easy for our patients to drive to Sioux City, Omaha, or another city to get the behavioral health treatment they need. This technology allows patients to see providers in a much easier way. The new telehealth cart has improved sound and picture, and there are even unique capabilities with the equipment like a provider being able to listen to a patient’s heart remotely. In addition, new iPad devices will allow for expanded access to care for our homebound patients.”
Receiving these grant funds has allowed for better mental health triage in the hospital’s emergency room (ER) department.
King added, “it’s amazing how impactful these funds are to a critical access hospital like ours. We have been able to utilize the funds in so many areas across our system for different purposes. PCH can expand on its goal of providing quality care close to home through this grant by providing expanded care to our behavioral health patients.”
To learn more about behavioral health services offered at Pender Community Hospital, visit pchne.org/services/behavioral-health/ or call 402-385-3083, option 5.
