$8,000 Transport Ventilator donation make patient care safer, easier at Memorial Heath Systems

Cutline: A new Transport Ventilator and 6 months of supplies, was donated to the Respiratory Department at Memorial Health System of East Texas by the Memorial Volunteer Auxiliary. The transport ventilator, which is MRI compatible, makes it possible to transport ventilator dependent patients without the worry of changing the rate and size of breath the patient has been receiving in ICU. Also, the donated transport ventilator can go in a MRI tube with the patient and still work. Pictured are: (Left to Right) Carrie Smith, Volunteer; Don Newland, Memorial Volunteer Auxiliary President; David Henson, Director of Respiratory Services; Jo Ann Handley, Volunteer.

Transporting ventilator dependent patients from one area of the hospital to another has been made easier by a recent donation from the Memorial Volunteer Auxiliary to the Respiratory Department at Memorial Health System of East Texas.

"In the past when a ventilator (vent) dependent patient needed an MRI, a Respiratory Therapist had to vent the patient during transport and during the exam with a hand operated resuscitator bag. Since there are no measuring devices on the hand operated bag, the therapist may compress the bag faster or slower or give bigger or smaller breaths than the patient was being given on the ventilator in ICU," stated David Henson, Director of Respiratory Services at Memorial Health System of East Texas. "With the new transport vent, we match exactly the rate and size of breath that the patient has been receiving in ICU on the full sized vent."

The donation was for the transport ventilator and 6 months of supplies which cost around $8,000. The transport ventilator that was donated is MRI compatible. This means that the vent can actually go in the MRI tube with the patient and still work. This vent also can be used for patients needing any type of transportation, not just for MRI patients.

"We are very pleased and grateful the volunteers provided the funding that allowed us to improve care to a group of patients that are very critical," said David Henson. "As always, our Volunteers are there and ready to help when we need them."

The Memorial Volunteer Auxiliary hosts book and jewelry sales throughout the year to help fund needed hospital equipment and supplies. Additionally, the volunteers sell popcorn, which supports numerous academic scholarships for local graduating high school seniors.

For more information on becoming a volunteer call Don Newland at (936) 639-7237.