By Kristin Bednarski
Sun staff
Mercy Health-Clermont Hospital donated a variety of medical equipment to the University of Cincinnati Clermont College of Nursing in September.
The equipment, which was valued at $16,000 included three hospital beds, two stretchers, six over-bed tables, six Hoyer lifts, two chairs designed for geriatric patients and a compression pump.
“This equipment helps give them a clinical setting at the University Clermont to help them get more hands on training in a virtual environment,” Jeff Graham, Mercy Health East Market leader and president, said.
Dr. Greer Glazer, dean of the college of nursing at the University of Cincinnati, said the equipment is extremely helpful to the program because students in the lab can learn on equipment they will actually be using in the field.
“It is important that what our lab looks like mimics Mercy Clermont, or any hospital,” Glazer said.
Glazer said it is also financially beneficial for the program.
“We haven’t had to spend money to buy that,” she said. “We can use that money to buy other things.”
Graham said it is good to find a home for equipment that they are not using any longer at Mercy Clermont.
“As we are working to enhance equipment we have, sometimes the equipment we are replacing is in good condition,” Graham said.
Gayle Heintzelman, site administrator at Mercy Health-Clermont Hospital, said they have a great partnership with the University of Cincinnati Clermont College.
“We have always worked with UC Clermont in their health program,” Heintzelman said. “As the nursing programs grew we began working more closely with them.”
Heintzelman said in addition to donating equipment, the hospital provides training opportunities for students who are in several health-related programs at the college, including the nursing program.
“When they do their rotation here it provides exposure to our health system,” Heintzelman said. “And we have the ability to hire these students.”
Glazer agreed that the partnership works well for both parties. She said students will go on to work at hospitals that include Mercy Health.
“They can be pretty assured that when students apply for the job they are getting the best students that will be their future workforce,” Glazer said.