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Community Medical Center ICU receives iPads for patients

Posted at 6:45 PM, Jun 22, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-22 20:45:48-04

MISSOULA — The Community Medical Center ICU and critical care department received three iPads, along with three bluetooth speakers to enable patients to better communicate with family and friends.

Howl for Healthcare took the money collected from the community through their T-Shirt sale and reached out to the Foundation for Community Health in hopes of donating the money to those who need it most.

The Foundation then contacted CMC, who came up with the idea of iPads and speakers. Due to visitation restrictions, ICU patients were unable to see loved ones in person, and these iPads have enabled communication on a personal level.

“A lot of people are using Facetime and other apps to connect on a regular basis so putting that in their hands, having a big device that they can use is really helpful in being able to see what’s happening in the room, being able to connect with the clinical team, the care providers, the physicians, the therapists, the nurses," CMC director of ICU Marcie Willmore said.

Foundation for Community Health executive director, Kira Huck, says these iPads have helped some patients battle a feeling of isolation as a result of restricted visitation rules.