USDA Rural Development State Director Colleen Landkamer visited Tri-County Hospital in Wadena this week to officially award a $2,193,000 loan to purchase and install an electronic medical records system. The new system will result in cost savings, fewer errors, greater data portability and a reduction in paper files.
"It is important that rural healthcare facilities have access to the latest equipment and technology," Landkamer said. "This loan will give Tri-County Hospital the tools necessary to streamline their records system and continue providing quality care to residents of Wadena and the surrounding region."
Rural Development has financed six projects totaling more than $14.1 million at Tri-County Hospital since 2005. Projects include remodeling and updating the facility, equipment purchases and a parking lot. All funding was awarded through Rural Development's community facilities program, which finances essential buildings, equipment and vehicles in rural areas.
"Tri-County Health Care's commitment to improving the health of the communities we serve can be reflected in the investments we make. The electronic medical records will make health care visits more convenient for our patients no matter where they are within our system, which provider they are seeing or what time of day they are being seen," said Joel Beiswenger, Tri-County Health Care president and CEO.
USDA Rural Development has invested almost $2 billion throughout Minnesota since 2008. In addition to community facilities, Rural Development finances water and wastewater treatment systems, high-speed Internet, single- and multi-family housing, renewable energy and business loans.
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For more information, call the local office in Alexandria at (320) 763-3191, ext. 4. You can also visit Rural Development on the Web at www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn .
