STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JOY PRUDEK

St. Luke’s Wood has two new electrocardiogram machines, a LUCAS CPR device and a new portable x-ray unit, thanks to donations and grants provided St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation.

The foundation was able to purchase the ECGs and the other machines for $199,000.

Dr. Joel Carlson shows off the da Vinci Surgical System.

“These investments are a direct reflection of the community’s commitment to high-quality, local health care,” said Delvin Ash, president of St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation’s board. “We’re proud to support technology that enhances care and saves lives.”

The two GE MAC 7 ECG machines are already in use, providing real-time bedside testing of patients’ hearts’ electrical activity.

Among the most frequently used diagnostic tools in the hospital, ECGs are performed on emergency department patients, pre-operative outpatients and those undergoing surgical or cardioversion procedures.

The machines evaluate a wide range of conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, electrolyte imbalances, arrhythmias and unexplained falls.

The machines they replaced were transferred to St. Luke’s Wood River clinics to replace older equipment.

“These machines significantly improve our ability to quickly and accurately diagnose heart-related conditions, especially for patients experiencing chest pain or cardiac symptoms,” said Robin Keller, supervisor of Respiratory Care at St. Luke’s Wood River.

The LUCAS CHEST COMPRESSION SYSTEM, which was funded by a $16,000 grant, delivers consistent high-quality chest compressions during cardiac arrest, improving the effectiveness of CPR and reducing physical strain on clinical staff.

“It exceeds the human capacity to perform high-quality CPR by delivering continuous, effective chest compressions, which is critical for maintaining blood flow to vital organs—especially the brain,” said Angela Brady, associate chief nursing officer. “Studies have shown that mechanical CPR devices like the LUCAS can improve patient survival rates due to the consistency and effectiveness of compressions.”

The machine not only improves survival rates but allows the team to focus on other critical interventions, said Dr. Brock Bemis, SLWR Emergency Department medical director: “For a rural hospital, where patients often require transport to higher-level care, this technology is a game-changer.”

The MOBILE RADIOGRAPHY SYSTEM, made possible by a $165,000 grant, replaces an aging portable x-ray unit. Such units are used extensively in the emergency department during and after surgical procedures and for all neonatal intensive care and most pediatric patients. They are also used for STEMI (heart attack) and code patients.

The unit images trauma, orthopedic, surgical and pediatric patients, particularly those too ill to be moved to the imaging department. And the new unit offers reduced radiation exposure, improved image quality and quicker diagnoses.

It is the hospital’s second mobile unit, which should help the hospital be better equipped to meet demand during peak season.

RELATIVE NEWCOMER HAS BEEN USED ONE HUNDRED TIMES

In January of this year the hospital south of Ketchum acquired a da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery system in partnership with St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation.

Robotic-assisted surgery enables surgeons to operate with exceptional precision through small incisions, resulting in less pain, reduced blood loss, fewer complications, lower infection, risk, minimal scarring, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.

It also enables the hospital to perform advanced procedures in urology and women’s health.

Hospital staff recently celebrated more than hundred surgeries using the machine, which features a high-definition vision system and software that enhances surgical dexterity.

“This technology helps our patients get back to their lives quicker,” said Dr. Joel Carlson, an OB/GYN at St. Luke’s Clinic. “Minimally invasive surgery enhances a surgeon’s precision, flexibility, and control. It’s not just a tool—it’s a pathway to better outcomes.”

The acquisition of the DaVinci and other machines paves the way for future growth, allowing the hospital to provide more specialized care. And they will help attract top-tier surgeons and staff in the hospital’s bid to improve overall community health, said Megan Tanous, chief development officer for St. Luke’s Wood River Foundation.

“These initiatives are about more than just meeting today’s needs,” she added.