SCC Respiratory Therapy Laboratory receives over $98K in supplies

SYLVA - Southwestern Community College has received over $98,000 in equipment and supplies through the generosities of local health care organizations and vendors.

Sharon Hatfield, SCC's Respiratory Therapy Program Coordinator, and Paul Rice, SCC Respiratory Clinical Coordinator, joined efforts to solicit monetary and in-kind donations to update SCC's respiratory lab. The response was overwhelmingly successful.

After Southwestern purchased five exam tables, local hospitals agreed to donate supplies for the tables for one full year. In addition, high tech equipment such as life support ventilators, a transport incubator and an oxygen concentrator were donated to the lab.

"Our area in the state has the highest percentage of people with respiratory diseases," says Hatfield. "We are very appreciative of the cooperative spirit local hospitals and health care vendors have toward improving the quality of our laboratory, and thus the quality of respiratory care delivered by our students and graduates."

WestCare, Mission St. Joseph's Hospital, Angel Medical, Haywood Regional Medical Center, the V.A. Hospital, Margaret Pardee Hospital, Kelley's Medical Supplies and WestCare Home Medical have made donations.

The Respiratory Therapy curriculum prepares individuals to function as respiratory care therapists or respiratory care therapists. In these roles, individuals perform diagnostic testing, treatments, and management of patients of all ages with heart and lung diseases, including life support, monitoring and drug administration.

"Since our students are trained in life support procedures, it is vital for our students to have a functioning lab with proper equipment and supplies," says Hatfield.

Recently, Respiratory Therapy students have joined forces with the American Lung Association's Open Airways training program to teach 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students in Jackson County schools who suffer from asthma to better control their breathing.

For additional information, see the Respiratory Therapy web page.