Fujifilm Healthcare Americas has extended its partnership with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) for three more years, continuing efforts to provide advanced imaging equipment to healthcare facilities within rural US communities.
Fujifilm said it will work alongside the NRHA to ensure that its member facilities have access to the same advanced medical imaging systems across modalities including ultrasound, mammography, digital radiography that are found in urban healthcare sites.
The broader rationale of the partnership is to enable patients to receive “quality care” closer to home, while at the same time supporting rural healthcare facilities by “keeping top tier care capabilities within the community and attracting high calibre talent”, Fujifilm said.
In practice, Fujifilm will partner with rural healthcare facilities such as hospitals and evaluate existing imaging services, with the company positioned to provide its imaging devices in cases where outdated or unreliable equipment needs upgrading or diagnostic capabilities expanding.
To support the funding challenges that exist within rural healthcare facilities, Fujifilm said it will provide custom “low capital impact purchasing plans” to make it possible for rural facilities to offer up-to-the-minute care while expanding their service provision in a cost-effective manner.
Shawn Etheridge, executive director of modality solutions marketing commented: “At Fujifilm, we believe everyone should have high-quality medical imaging and care close to home.
“It’s a privilege to extend our longstanding partnership with NRHA to build upon the strong relationships we’ve cultivated with rural hospitals and directly assist NRHA’s members by providing advanced medical imaging solutions and services to enhance care delivery in their communities.”
The collaboration also enables rural facilities to partner with Fujifilm to create custom marketing and educational materials for their communities – thereby highlighting their investment in high-quality medical technologies and reinforcing the importance of routine exams.
Kodi Smith, director of rural partnerships and leadership development at the NRHA commented: “Access to high-quality imaging shouldn’t depend on your zip code.
“We value the continued involvement of organisations like Fujifilm that provide rural healthcare providers with tools and technology that help keep care local.”
