Write a comment
With a strain on materials and the shortage of ventilators across the country, community hospitals need to be more resourceful than ever to be prepared should COVID-19 patients need critical treatment in their facility. Lucky for Oswego Health, a unique partnership has evolved with SUNY Oswego.
Though classes have moved to online, and faculty and staff are engaging with students in a distance education format, some members of the SUNY Oswego faculty are going above and beyond. Technology professor Daniel Tryon is putting his skills towards supporting a critical need during the COVID-19 pandemic and helping Oswego Hospital. Since SUNY Oswego had already produced protective face shields with CiTi BOCES, Exelon and Novelis, Katie Pagliaroli, RN, Director of Quality and Patient Safety, turned to Tryon once again to see if SUNY Oswego could possibly assist with the ventilator shortage. Tryon was up for the challenge so Pagliaroli introduced him to Oswego Health’s Director of Respiratory Therapy, Kristina Marks, RRT, BS.
After a few phone calls and exchanging pictures of ventilator adaptors, Tryon materialized a prototype within 24 hours for Oswego Hospital. Marks then ran the prototype through a test lung simulation, which quickly passed and proved operational. Tryon then produced 30 tee connectors and delivered them to the hospital. Each ventilator requires two connectors, so potentially 30 patients can be vented simultaneously.
“These adaptors will assist us to further our preparedness to take care of even more critically ill patients should we need to,” stated Kristina Marks. “We are so grateful for our partnership with SUNY Oswego and their continued innovation and commitment to this community.”
# # # About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Oswego County. As a not-for-profit healthcare system that was established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to continue to be one of Oswego County’s largest employers. More than 1,200 employees work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 164-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 28-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, a retirement community. Oswego Health also has Health Services Centers located throughout Oswego County. For more information about Oswego Health, please visit our website www.oswegohealth.org.
