Campbell County Health (CCH) is asking residents to donate their unused oxygen equipment amid a surge in patients needing oxygen and a growing shortage of supplies.
“(Campbell County Memorial Hospital) has seen a surge in patients needing oxygen after hospital care or having oxygen therapy at home to keep them out of the hospital, which has increased the need for oxygen cylinders and concentrators,” Mary Lou Tate, CCH chief financial officer, said in an Oct. 27 statement. “Suppliers have been contacted; however, many are experiencing component and materials shortages, which has caused them not to be able to fill our orders.”
Current and previous CCH patients are asked to look around their homes or businesses for unused oxygen equipment- specifically oxygen cylinders. If any are found, residents are asked to return them to Home Medical Resources (HMR) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays, per CCH.
“Purchasing, reimbursement, or buying back equipment is not something we are able to do,” Michell Fischer, HMR manager, said in a statement. “We are just hoping- our current or previous HMR patients can help us with this need in order to take care of our neighbors and friends.”
All donated equipment will undergo thorough inspection and maintenance before being issued out to patients, Fischer added.
