Memorial Community Health is pleased to recognize Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for their donation of funds toward the purchase of two portable ventilators and an HD digital video routing system for use in the hospital’s surgical department.
Pat Oswald, president of Memorial Hospital Auxiliary commented that, “Our auxiliary members are thrilled to support the important work our hospital does for the health of our community. The funds we donate come from the efforts of our members through fundraising events and thrift shop sales. It’s rewarding to know these efforts are helping to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Ventilators are used when respiratory failure occurs, a condition in which it’s very difficult to breathe or get enough oxygen into the blood. In such cases, ventilators act as bellows to move air in and out of the lungs. The two Respironics Trilogy 202 portable ventilators purchased with the donated funds, the first arriving in March and second in April, allow Memorial Hospital medical professionals to act rapidly to help save lives. Because of their portability, these ventilators provide the needed support for the patient while being transferred to a larger facility with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The Auxiliary’s contribution totals just over $85,000. “These funds come at a time when revenues are temporarily low due to coronavirus precautionary measures, and the need for these important life-saving technologies are high,” commented Memorial Community Health’s CEO Diane Keller. “The portable ventilators are important today as we fight the battle against COVID-19 in our community. Going forward, they will be extremely useful in respect to the broad range of conditions that can and do cause acute respiratory failure.”
A Stryker SwitchPoint Infinity 3 HD digital video routing system for Memorial Hospital’s surgery department was also purchased with the donated funds to improve efficiency and collaboration. This routing system offers a platform tailored specifically to our operating room, providing accuracy and flexibility during surgical procedures. Images are displayed precisely on our screens, allowing our surgeons to have better visualization during laparoscopic and minimally-invasive procedures.
“With plans to resume elective surgeries in June, the integration offered by the new SwitchPoint system will be extremely beneficial to our surgical team,” stated Ruth Simmons BSN, RN and recently appointed supervisor of Memorial Hospital’s Wortman Surgery Center. “We are eager to serve patients while providing the latest possible technology for specialists who perform surgeries here. I’m pleased that the new system will be in place as we move forward.”
About Memorial Hospital Auxiliary:
Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was organized in 1963. In the decades since its inception, the organization has become Memorial Community Health’s largest and most enduring benefactor, donating funds in excess of $1,600,000. With these contributions, the Auxiliary has improved the services offered by MCHI, enhanced the quality of care, and helped control the cost of health care.
About Memorial Community Health
Memorial Community Health offers residents of central Nebraska a diverse, modern health care system that includes three family medicine clinics, a critical access hospital, state-of-the-art surgery center, outpatient specialty and diagnostic services, independent and assisted living facilities, and a nursing home.