PCHS Foundation hits goal for operating room equipment

Perkins County residents understand the importance and value of the hospital and Perkins County Health Services. 

Last fall, the PCHS Foundation launched a $95,000 campaign for six pieces of much-needed surgical room equipment. 

Thanks to the generosity of foundation supporters, the campaign was concluded by the end of the year, months ahead of what Foundation Administrator Jackie Urdahl anticipated. 

Two of those new pieces just arrived at the hospital. 

The first, a Neptune Waste Management system, is a self contained unit designed to dispose of fluid waste in a surgical setting. 

Disposing of fluid waste in a surgical facility may seem like an obvious task . However, it is extremely complicated and can endanger healthcare professionals and patients to potential exposure to infection.

In the operating room, limiting exposure to infection is critical to the patient’s successful surgery and recovery. 

The Neptune system protects the patients and the staff from exposure to biohazardous waste fluids in the OR.

Because it’s a self contained unit, staff does not have to empty or clean the system after use. The Neptune has a docking station that completes the disinfection cycle and disposes of the fluids without anyone on staff having to be exposed. 

The second piece to arrive is the patient transfer cart which provides increased patient safety before during and after a procedure or surgery. 

The patient remains on the cart throughout the entire process, eliminating further transfers before the surgery. This minimizes patient discomfort and the potential for injury. 

“We are very blessed and fortunate to have very solid support at our hospital from the administration, hospital foundation, and community,” Dr. Shane Banks, PCHS Chief of Surgery said. 

“Our new surgical equipment upgrades are another example of this fact. It is quite remarkable that a city of this size has the hospital capabilities that we can offer,” he added.

Urdahl said these two pieces alone cost nearly $40,000. 

“The community and surrounding area were fantastic with their support of this project,” she said.

“Part of that support came from the Operation Game Tournament which replaced our gala in 2020,” she added.

Near the end of the year, she was approached by a donor who asked how much money the foundation needed to finish off the drive. 

When she told the donor it was $40,000, the donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent the foundation a check for the amount.

The Foundation’s mission is to support healthcare services provided by the PCHS through private funding to for equipment, expansion, and specific programs. 

Urdahl said the OR equipment was a critical need to continue to provide the highest quality of care possible.