For Immediate Release:

Friday, July 6, 2001

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) today announced $1,271,670 to expand rural healthcare programs for families in Franklin County and the surrounding region. The funds, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will allow the Lourdes Health Network, based in Pasco, to provide specialist care, health education and physician recruitment programs to underserved and at-risk rural communities.

"Rural families face many barriers in accessing healthcare services. The absence of stable medical care, and language and cultural differences all lead to delayed and inadequate care for communities who already face many challenges," said Murray. "I am pleased that this grant will help the Lourdes Hospital to provide care to underserved communities in Southeastern Washington."

Senator Murray secured funding for the Lourdes Health Network through the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Committee.

The Lourdes Hospital is the only hospital serving Franklin County, an area encompassing over 1,550 square miles with the lowest per capita income in the state. The Lourdes Health Network will use the federal grant secured by Senator Murray to focus its rural outreach for patient services in six key program areas:

• A rural health clinic and educational outreach program in Connell, serving isolated communities in northern Franklin County
• An OB/GYN clinic providing bilingual medical staff specializing in high-risk pregnancies to serve at-risk populations
• A Board Certified pulmonary specialist to respond to a growing number of respiratory illnesses
• A family medical clinic serving a growing number of young families in Franklin County
• A physician recruitment and retention program