Local News

HOSPITAL FOUNDATION PURCHASES PPE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS

News Release

Sep 17, 2020

The Three Rivers Hospital Foundation has gifted new personal protective equipment (PPE) to the hospital’s front-line workers.

Four sets of Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs), manufactured by Ford, are now available and ready for use in the hospital’s designated PPE room. The PAPRs provide extra protection for staff who are doing aerosolizing procedures on COVID-19 patients, and they can be used to treat patients of other highly infectious diseases as well.

“Here at Three Rivers, we are so grateful for all the work that our Foundation does to help our patients and our hospital,” said CEO Scott Graham. “The funds provided by the Foundation represent the sacrifice of many people who care about the hospital enough to donate funds to it, and we are very grateful to them as well. Dan Webster has really led the effort to promote Three Rivers and to help our staff have equipment that they need to better serve our community.”

The new Ford PAPRs will be given priority of use in place of the hospital’s existing equipment, which is about 20 years old. The new PAPRs are more lightweight and easier to use, making patient care more efficient.

Three Rivers staff has received updated training on proper use of the PAPRs since the pandemic first arrived in Washington state, as part of the hospital’s overall preparedness plan.

“I am glad that Three Rivers Hospital Foundation can help provide equipment to protect our dedicated staff at Three Rivers Hospital,” said Foundation President Dan Webster.

The Foundation – comprised of Webster, Treasurer Julie Wehmeyer, and member Kim Moore – has provided other support for the hospital staff during the pandemic. In July, they delivered pizza to the day and night shift teams and brought a cooler full of beverages for the crew that administered free COVID-19 tests for the community.

More information about the Foundation, including how to donate, can be found online at www.threerivershospitalfoundation.org.