Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated La Paz Regional Hospital in Parker for receiving a $78,523 grant from the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program. The money will pay for two new ultrasound machines and expand the cardiac imaging services at the hospital and the affiliated clinic in Quartzsite.

The money will also help hospital staff provide improved diagnostic services with the equipment. Imaging done in Quartzsite will be made available to staff in Parker to facilitate timely care for patients who travel between the two locations. One of the ultrasound machines is a specialized echocardiogram, which will provide first-time cardiogram diagnostic capacity to Quartzsite. Echocardiograms, commonly called EKGs, provide far more sophisticated and advanced imaging than standard equipment and give doctors important information about the condition of a patient’s heart.

The hospital recently hired its first full-time cardiologist, who will provide inpatient services in Parker and outpatient services at both locations.

“Rural health care quality deserves a major nationwide upgrade, and La Paz County is no exception,” Grijalva said of the award. “These funds will mean more accurate diagnoses, more up-to-date treatment and more convenience for thousands of people in Western Arizona. Improvements to our quality of life are hardly a partisan issue, and I believe everyone of every political stripe sees the value in providing this assistance to those who need it.”

For more information, call La Paz Regional Hospital at (928) 669-7300.