Advanced technology is a vital component of heart health.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Latah County, with a rate of coronary heart disease prevalence above the Idaho state average.
Phyllis Vettrus
Phyllis Vettrus recognizes this issue and wants to strengthen our Latah County Community through a philanthropic gift to support Gritman Medical Center’s cardiology services. Vettrus, a retired educator and longtime resident of Moscow, recently donated $100,000 to the Gritman Foundation through the Dean L. Vettrus and Phyllis J. Vettrus Living Trust, allowing the organization to upgrade 2 of its EKG machines while replacing Cardiac Rehabilitation monitoring equipment that supports multiple patients simultaneously.
She is challenging the greater community to come together and match her gift, enabling Gritman to further invest in heart health services.
“It seems like so many people are required to go to Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. When you have heart issues, that’s not a good trip,” she said. “The more services we have in our local area, the better off everyone would be.”
Both Vettrus and her deceased husband Dean benefited from Gritman’s Cardiac Rehabilitation services, which is why she and her family are compelled to give back in support of the Moscow community.
“We thought this could possibly be helpful to all local residents,” she said.
An EKG, formally known as an electrocardiogram, checks electrical activity of the heart and detects abnormalities. Clinical teams complete about 400 EKGs each month across the Gritman System, and Vettrus’s donation is allowing the hospital to purchase 2 newer machines with more advanced detection.
“The best thing about them is they are a lot more advanced,” said Kevin Uptmor, Director of Gritman’s Cardiopulmonary and Respiratory Therapy Department. “They’re better at seeing and removing artifacts and getting a clear EKG, which makes them easier to read, and they’re very accurate.”
The ever-evolving advancements in heart health technology mean that allowing patients to be treated with such cutting-edge technology ensures better accuracy and enables them to get results in a more timely manner.
Separate telemetry equipment allows the monitoring of patients during rehabilitation following a heart event or heart surgery. The team at Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation combine supervised exercise with education and nutrition counseling to reduce the risk of future health problems.
The telemetry equipment utilized by Gritman’s Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation program is nearing the end of its useful life. Vettrus’s generosity means 2026 patients will have the most advanced monitoring available, enhancing recovery after a heart health event.
Vettrus hopes her donation spurs others to action – with a goal that our Palouse community can raise an additional $100,000 toward the purchase and upgrade of additional heart health equipment that keeps patients close to home for their healing and recovery.
The Gritman Family is grateful to Vettrus for her generosity. If you or someone you know is inspired to support this important initiative, please consider a gift to the Gritman Foundation in support of heart health in our community.
Your gift goes to much-needed equipment that directly supports the care of our patients, so more of our friends and loved ones don’t have to travel for care. Learn more, and make a gift, at gritman.org/foundation.
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