Helping area schools better prepare the nurses of the future, Mountain States Health Alliance (MSHA) has donated surplus hospital beds and equipment to regional schools for use in the clinical programs.
"This is a God-send," said Tennessee Technology Center (TTC) Nursing Instructor Sandy Barker of the five hospital beds donated to her classroom. "We have wanted these for so long." Included in the list of donations are more than 50 hospital and critical care beds donated to TTC, East Tennessee State University (ETSU) , King College, Milligan College, and numerous area high schools. TTC also received other equipment such as a ventilator and pulse oximeter.
"It is very difficult to give our students the best possible education without having actual hospital equipment for them to train on," said Barker, who has in the past been forced to substitute tables for beds in the clinical training at TTC. "There was no way we could afford to purchase all of this, so the help from Mountain States was extremely important."
Dale Claytore, Chief Resource Officer for MSHA, said the donation was possible because of recent upgrades in equipment at MSHA facilities throughout Northeast Tennessee. The donated equipment remains similar to the newer items placed in hospitals.
"Based upon salvage equipment availability, MSHA is pleased to be able to donate to the various nursing programs in the community," Claytore said. "MSHA benefits from being able to hire nurses and other healthcare professionals who have familiarity with our beds and equipment."
TTC Director Jerry Patton said the equipment will help further the success of students at his school. "MSHA's donation of hospital beds and respirator for the nursing lab at Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton will go a long way in providing the necessary hands-on training for students in our Practical Nursing Program," Patton said. "An average of 370 students are admitted to the program each year and 95 percent of our graduates pass the State Board of Nursing exam on the first attempt, a tribute to the excellent instruction provided by our nursing faculty and the clinical experiences received by our students. We gratefully acknowledge that MSHA is a part of our success story and look forward to continuing to work with the healthcare organization."
MSHA facilities include: the Johnson City Medical Center, North Side Hospital, Johnson City Specialty Hospital, James H. & Cecile C. Quillen Rehabilitation Hospital, the Children's Hospital at JCMC, Woodridge Hospital, a service of JCMC, all in Washington County, TN; Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Carter County, TN; Johnson County Health Center, located in Mountain City, TN.; Indian Path Medical Center and Indian Path Pavilion in Sullivan County; TN; Blue Ridge Medical Management Corporation - operating the First Assist Urgent Care centers, ValuCare Clinics and numerous primary care offices.
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