Cat Scanner and Cardiac Monitors/Defibrillator - Monroe County Hospital (MCH), a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital in Monroeville, Alabama, respectfully requests $500,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the following capital equipment: $372,114.59 – Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner Acquisition $127,885.41 – Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator Acquisition Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner Acquisition – $372,114.59 MCH requests funding to purchase and install a modern CT scanner to improve access to high-quality diagnostic imaging for residents of Monroe County and surrounding rural communities. The hospital’s current CT scanner is outdated, limiting image quality, increasing scan times, and contributing to delays in diagnosis. In some cases, patients must be transferred to other facilities for imaging, creating additional cost, inconvenience, and delays in treatment. Monroe County has an aging population, high rates of chronic disease, and limited healthcare resources. Many residents face transportation and financial barriers that make traveling for care difficult. Local access to advanced imaging is essential for the timely diagnosis of stroke, trauma, cancer, heart disease, and other serious conditions. Funding will support the purchase, installation, and implementation of a new CT scanner that will: Improve image quality while reducing radiation exposure. Shorten scan times and accelerate diagnosis. Reduce patient transfers for diagnostic imaging. Improve care for emergency and chronically ill patients. Strengthen the hospital’s ability to recruit specialists and provide comprehensive local services. This investment will improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare disparities, and strengthen long-term access to quality healthcare in rural southwest Alabama. Cardiac Monitor/Defibrillator Acquisition – $127,885.41 MCH requests funding to replace aging cardiac monitor/defibrillators with modern equipment throughout the hospital. These devices continuously monitor heart rhythms, provide life-saving defibrillation when necessary, and support emergency cardiac care until patients can be stabilized or transferred. Existing equipment is approaching the end of its useful life, resulting in increasing maintenance costs and reduced reliability. In a rural hospital where access to advanced cardiac services is limited and transfer times may be lengthy, dependable emergency equipment is critical. Funding will provide new cardiac monitor/defibrillators for the emergency department, inpatient units, and other patient care areas. Clinical staff will receive training on the new equipment, and emergency response protocols will be updated to maximize its effectiveness. The project will: Improve patient safety during cardiac emergencies. Enhance rapid recognition and treatment of life-threatening arrhythmias. Reduce equipment failures and maintenance costs. Strengthen emergency preparedness and rural healthcare capacity. Improve survival and clinical outcomes for critically ill patients. Together, these projects will enhance diagnostic and emergency care, improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare disparities, and ensure Monroe County Hospital can continue providing high-quality healthcare to the residents of rural southwest Alabama.
