Empowering Cardiac Care in North Iowa: MercyOne’s State-of-the-Art Imaging

Over the past decade, philanthropy has significantly impacted the level of cardiac care able to be offered locally in North Iowa. Thanks to generous donors, the Heart Center at MercyOne North Iowa recently acquired a new wireless point of care ultrasound to better serve patients in our community.

For patients in need of cardiac care at MercyOne North Iowa, the tool offers quick access to imaging of the arterial or venous access sites during routine patient exams or in emergency settings. Providing sometimes life-saving benefits to patients receiving regular or emergent care, acquiring these new tools also enhances the training offered through our graduate medical education program to residents and fellows.

Dr. Samuel Congello, Director of the Sukup Hybrid Lab, describes the tool and outlines its impact on patient outcomes:

We use this device on every cath lab patient to assist in arterial and venous access. It is real-time, two-dimensional ultrasound guidance that has become the standard of care for placement of venous and arterial catheters. It is a safe and efficient strategy for reducing access site bleeding and to achieve the optimal location for femoral and venous access.

Jenna Voet, Director of Cardiovascular Services, further emphasizes the importance of philanthropic contributions in enhancing care offered at MercyOne North Iowa:

Donations to our heart center make such a difference for us. Hospitals are under a lot of financial strain, and there are never enough resources to make all the improvements we hope to each year. Because of donors, we’re able to make these significant investments in care.

The MercyOne Heart Center’s hybrid cardiovascular suite, generously funded by a $1 million gift from the Sukup Family Foundation in 2013, seamlessly accommodates both catheter-based and open-surgical procedures in North Iowa. Sukup Manufacturing is the world’s largest family-owned grain bin manufacturer, whose production line includes grain dryers, farm and commercial grain bins, bucket elevators and material conveying systems, and steel engineered buildings.

The MercyOne North Iowa Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1993 for the purpose of raising philanthropic funds to strengthen MercyOne’s Mission of providing a healing ministry to all in North Iowa and compassionate care to our most vulnerable community members. Working to bolster MercyOne North Iowa’s clinical excellence, education program, and charitable commitments to the region, the Foundation prides itself on raising philanthropic contributions for the ultimate betterment of local health care for all.

Make a gift to the MercyOne North Iowa Foundation by visiting MercyOne.org/NorthIowa/Giving.