Respiratory Care Receives Technology Donation from Nellcor

CONTACT: TOM BAXTER, EXT. 1354

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9/23/2003
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri-County is among the 126 respiratory care programs in the nation who were granted an advanced technology pulse oximeter and educational materials from Nellcor, the world's leading provider of pulse oximetry solutions.

Students in Respiratory Care began using the Nellcor N-395 Pulse Oximeter the very day the department received this technology donation. Nellcor partnered with the non-profit American Respiratory Care Foundation to donate these Nellcor pulse oximeters and educational materials.

The machine non-invasively measures the oxygen percentage of the patient's blood. It also gives a graphic display of the pulse strength and shows trends over a period of time, said Respiratory Care Department Head Tom Baxter. The machine, valued at $4,000, is extremely job related, he said. "This is the first donation like this since the program began in 2000, and I am grateful for the company's commitment to respiratory care education."

The pulse oximeter is used in multiple labs on in the Health Education Division by students to demonstrate assessment skills, problem solving and critical thinking exercises, he said. "I've also used the machine in a medical terminology class and for non-respiratory care majors and other health care professions."

Respiratory care, one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, prepares students to take care of patients with cardiac or respiratory diseases in hospitals, nursing homes, private homes and doctors' offices.

"There is a tremendous demand for respiratory care practitioners," said Baxter. "Area hospitals are just waiting for graduates." The department has 100 percent job placement, and many second-year students already have part-time jobs at area hospitals, he said.
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