Echodardiography now available at Curry General Hospital

GOLD BEACH, Oregon (April 6, 2014)

The Curry Health Foundation and Curry Health Network wishes to thank Southern Oregon Cardiology of Medford for their generous donation of $10,000 to the foundation, funds earmarked as a contribution toward the purchase price of an Echocardiography machine for the patients of Curry General Hospital in Gold Beach.

Curry Health Network is providing the balance of the cost of the Echocardiograph, an instrument that uses high-pitched sound waves to create moving pictures of the heart.

The test - also called a heart ultrasound or "Echo" - is noninvasive and painless for the patient, and shows the size and shape of the heart in addition to how well the chambers and valves are working. Echo can detect possible blood clots, fluid buildup, and problems with the aorta. A trained Sonographer administers the test and the resulting information is transmitted to the cardiologists in Medford to be read.

"The Echocardiograph is a necessary cardiac diagnostic tool for our Emergency Department and Hospitalist physicians," said Andrew Bair, CEO of Curry Health Network. "We're appreciative of Southern Oregon Cardiology's contribution, and pleased to have this service available to our patients."