&dquo;To be able to earmark monies for this hospital,&dquo; Shuler said, &dquo;it could not be spent in a better way.&dquo;

Shuler said healthcare access is so important to our communities and Polk County is fortunate to have St. Luke&squo;s. Out of the 15 North Carolina counties he represents, he said there are two counties that don&squo;t have a hospital.

&dquo;And when you speak to their citizens, that&squo;s always a concern,&dquo; Shuler said.

John Young, regional vice-president of Carolina Health System thanked Shuler for his work securing the funding and said healthcare is about helping people over walls.

The money will mainly be used upgrading the information technology of the hospital and hospital officials say they are currently working on a plan to spend the funding.

Shuler also announced on Tuesday fedearl funding for Pardee Hospital. He said $295,000 was allocated for Pardee for upgrades and equipments in its Intensive Care Unit.

Following his visit to St. Luke&squo;s Wednesday morning, Shuler left St. Luke&squo;s to speak to the student body at the Polk County Middle School.