Purcell Municipal Hospital officials are excited to announce their application for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) microgrant was awarded.

Not just for the $50,000 applied for, but for $92,167.92, to ensure they can get this program initiated to serve patients in need of clinical care experiencing dysphagia.

High level overview of what the grant will provide is:

“Our proposed acquisition of Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) equipment is designed to close an existing diagnosis and treatment gap in rural central and south central Oklahoma impacting adults and children experiencing dysphagia.

“Causes of dysphagia include, but are not limited to, neurological disorders, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, GERD, dementia and physical injuries. A 2020 study (Christorpher Adkins et al, Clinical Gastroenterol and Hepatol) found that one in six adults nationally have trouble swallowing (dysphagia) and half of those have not discussed their symptoms with a medical professional. Many of these people have treatable disorders.

“Diagnosis could result in a significant improvement in overall health and quality of life and, most importantly, prevent serious medical complications. Additionally, research conducted by Dr. Michael Pulia and Dr. Nicole Rogus-Pulia at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine indicates that hospitals, in general, are lacking in evaluating elderly pneumonia patients for dysphagia, with only 6.8 percent receiving an instrumental exam.

“This, despite swallowing dysfunction being identified as a significant risk factor for pneumonia. An absence of dysphagia equipment and clinical treatment facilities currently exists south of the Oklahoma City metro area and north of Ardmore. Purcell Municipal Hospital has office space and professional staffing available to fill the existing medical and geographical gap, pending the acquisition of the much-needed dysphagia medical equipment (FEES) identified in this application and proposal.”

Purcell Municipal Hospital serves residents of Purcell, rural McClain County, and increasingly, sections of Garvin, Grady and rural Cleveland Counties.

With Dysphagia impacting one in six adults and at least one percent of all children, the target population in these counties could potentially number in the thousands. McClain County alone, with a population of almost 34,000 adult residents, could be home to over 5,000 adults with dysphagia related issues.

Untreated dysphagia is generally more prevalent in rural areas due to several factors including isolation, lower median incomes, aging populations, and fewer clinics and healthcare specialists. The closest diagnosis and treatment options for those living in the area are in the OKC metro area and Ardmore. For many rural and elderly patients, the availability and cost of transportation to those locations may prove prohibitive to diagnosis and treatment.

That’s the word from PMH CEO/CNO Chris Wright, MBA, BSN, RN