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The Chisago Lakes Rotary Club delivered boxes of medical equipment; including ultrasound equipment, blood pressure machines and cardiac monitors for two rural hospitals in Jamaica.  The group arrived Jan. 2 in Jamaica. Shown with some of the equipment, in May Pen, Jamaica are:  Chisago Lakes Rotarian Joanie Sackreiter, left; Dr. Bradley Edwards, Sr.  Medical Officer of the Clarendon Hospitals, Walter Leavell, May Pen Rotary President, Colleen Johannsen, EKG Specialist, Dr. Ron Johannsen, Cardiologist, Dr. Jill Linse, and Pamela Ulett, Sr. Public Relations nurse from Mandeville, far right.

 Over the next two weeks, training of local health care providers takes place on the new equipment, including 75 Jamaican physicians who are travelling to participate in the Rotary sponsored training.  Team member  Dr. Ron Johannsen, a University of Minnesota cardiologist, will conduct lectures to local doctors and nurses on diagnosis of cardiac patients through the use of ultrasound.  Bedside ultrasounds in the emergency department enable physicians to rapidly determine who needs immediate surgical intervention and/or emergent transfer to a higher level trauma facility.  While in Jamaica, the team will conduct emergency room and clinic training to physicians and staff on cardiac monitoring and treatment of hypertension in both May Pen and Clarendon Parishes.  The Chisago Lakes Rotary Club applied for the Rotary International and District grants totaling $54,000 with financial matching support from more than 21 other clubs in Rotary District 5960; (district officials at local luncheon, story Press Nov. 26).

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