LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A big donation will help expand access to medical care in west Louisville.
UofL Health Urgent Care Plus in the Parkland neighborhood received the $350,000 gift from Ted Nixon and Frank Harshaw. More than half of the money will go toward an Echo machine, which is an ultrasound device that will allow cardiologists at the Parkland clinic to look at the structure and function of a patient’s heart.Â
A kind of testing Parkland-area patients used to have to go downtown to get.
"It is much needed in the community," said Izegbea Cannon, a nurse at the clinic. "We have a lot of patients with cardiovascular disease."
This machine is part of an effort focused on providing better medical care in the west end neighborhood.
"When we opened the Parkland Clinic location in 2021, it was part of UofL Health’s commitment to expand access and reduce barriers to care in our community," said Tom Miller, CEO of UofL Health, in a news release. "This considerable gift helps reduce specific disparities and brings specialty care into this neighborhood."
A cardiologist at the clinic says there are often discrepancies in health care even when it comes to medical tests.
"The people who are minorities, the socio economically deprived don't get the imaging, they don't get access to specialist," Dr. Kim Williams said. "And this is what we're hoping to provide here."Â
The remaining funds from the donation will allow the clinic to hire a full-time licensed clinical social worker, who will help with both mental healthcare and case management services.
"I actually grew up in the Parkland neighborhood," Cannon said. "So for me this is surreal to be a part of this growth."Â
Cannon believes these investments go a long way toward their goal of being a one-stop shop for their patients.
"It's beyond words, it's so very exciting," she said.
Copyright 2023 WDRB Media. All rights reserved.
