After Black Friday and Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday, a worldwide day of philanthropy during the season of gratitude. Grace Cottage Hospital asks its friends and neighbors to participate in its Giving Tuesday campaign on November 28th and help fund a highly desirable piece of equipment for its Emergency Department – a noninvasive ventilator. The price of the desired ICU-grade unit is $14,000. Thanks to three jump-starting contributions totaling $7,500, the campaign goal is set at $6,500.
For patients with acute respiratory distress from conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), or pneumonia, the use of a noninvasive ventilation support system can save lives, reduce fear, and improve the quality and rapidity of care.
When a person experiences acute respiratory distress, medical providers attempt several procedures to help, including administering medications and supplemental oxygen. If these are inadequate, the distressed person may need to be sedated and have a tube placed in the throat and lungs to help them breath.
Instead, a noninvasive ventilation (NIV) support system delivers oxygen efficiently through a face mask, pushing oxygen into poorly used airspaces without requiring an invasive tube into the lungs. The patient remains awake and interactive while receiving this support. This machine is intelligent and adjusts airflow to match the individual’s needs, based on parameters decided by the medical staff. This allows for the safe and comfortable provision of extra support, forestalling or altogether avoiding a more risky and invasive intubation procedure.
“NIV will help us provide more aggressive oxygen support to patients in the ED and in the hospital, and allow us to continue their care here at Grace Cottage, rather than having to perform an invasive intubation and send them to an intensive care unit for care,” offered Grace Cottage Emergency Department Director Kimona Alin.
Last year on Giving Tuesday, generous donors allowed for the completion of an ER Safe Room which has proven to be invaluable for patient and staff safety. This year, the hospital hopes to raise the funds necessary for the chosen Philips V60 NIV system in order to deliver the best possible emergency care to its community. Any money raised beyond the campaign goal will be applied to the purchase of a microscope for the new microbiology room in the Grace Cottage laboratory, dedicated for use in identifying organisms responsible for conditions such as wound, blood, and respiratory infections.
Donations will be accepted through Friday, December 1, 2017.
