Eastern Plumas Health Care Acquires State-of-the-Art Ultrasound Machine

New point-of-care ultrasound technology expands diagnostic capabilities and keeps patients local

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:18pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph revealing the internal components of a medical ultrasound probe, its intricate structure glowing with an ethereal energy against a dark background.The new state-of-the-art ultrasound machine at Eastern Plumas Health Care brings advanced diagnostic capabilities to the rural community, reducing the need for patient transfers.Reno Today

Eastern Plumas Health Care (EPHC) has acquired a cutting-edge point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) system, enabling its emergency medicine physicians to provide faster, more comprehensive care for patients in their rural community. The new Mindray TE X Flex Edition Ultrasound System was funded by a donation from the hospital's Auxiliary and spearheaded by ED Manager Donna Dorsey, who recognized the need to improve care delivery and patient outcomes.

Why it matters

POCUS technology allows clinicians to perform real-time imaging at the bedside, reducing delays and improving access to care in rural areas where patients may otherwise need to travel long distances for specialized imaging. This new capability helps EPHC keep more patients local and expedite treatment, rather than having to refer them to facilities in Reno, Nevada.

The details

The Mindray TE X Flex Edition Ultrasound System provides EPHC's emergency medicine physicians with a versatile diagnostic tool that can be used for a wide range of clinical scenarios, from routine examinations to more complex challenges. Dr. Paul Swanson, Emergency Physician and Director of the EPHC Emergency Department, noted that POCUS has become a standard tool for emergency physicians, and this new machine allows all of EPHC's ER doctors to continue developing their ultrasound skills.

  • EPHC acquired the new POCUS system in early 2026.

The players

Donna Dorsey

ED Manager at Eastern Plumas Health Care, who spearheaded the initiative to acquire the new POCUS system.

Dr. Paul Swanson

Emergency Physician and Director of the EPHC Emergency Department, who noted the importance of POCUS technology for emergency medicine.

Dr. William Mills

Emergency Medicine Physician at EPHC who has the most experience using the new POCUS system, including being able to detect a fetal heartbeat for a pregnant patient and identify other critical conditions.

Eastern Plumas Health Care Auxiliary

The hospital's Auxiliary organization provided the generous donation that funded the acquisition of the new POCUS system.

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What they’re saying

“Unlike traditional imaging, POCUS provides real-time results at the bedside, reducing delays and improving access to care in our rural community.”

— Donna Dorsey, ED Manager, Eastern Plumas Health Care

“Point-of-care ultrasound has become universal for emergency physicians. Ultrasound is routinely used to help with the evaluation and treatment of a variety of common conditions. This state-of-the-art ultrasound machine brings this capability to EPHC.”

— Dr. Paul Swanson, Emergency Physician and Director of the EPHC Emergency Department

What’s next

EPHC plans to continue training its emergency medicine physicians on the new POCUS system to ensure they can fully leverage its capabilities in patient care.

The takeaway

The acquisition of the state-of-the-art Mindray TE X Flex Edition Ultrasound System at Eastern Plumas Health Care represents a significant investment in improving diagnostic capabilities and keeping more patients local, rather than having to travel long distances for specialized imaging. This new technology is already making a positive impact on patient care and outcomes in the rural community.