Camosun College loans portable x-ray unit to Island Health in the battle against COVID-19

"The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone at Camosun and we're pleased to do whatever we can to support local front-line health professionals, many of whom are former students," says Dr. Cynthia Smith, Dean of the School of Health and Human Services. "The loan of the digital, portable x-ray unit will help Island Health staff and benefit patients during this challenging and complex time."

The x-ray unit is used by students in the two-year Medical Radiography program that is located at the Interurban campus. Medical Radiography technologists are an integral part of providing a medical diagnosis, working with patients and producing clear images for radiologists to interpret.

"We appreciate Camosun College loaning us this x-ray machine that will be used to help monitor and assess patients with COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia," says Dr. David Robertson, Island Health Executive Medical Director for Medical Imaging. "Because the unit is portable, it can be brought directly to a patient, allowing for a more rapid assessment with high-quality digital images for a radiologist to interpret, while reducing the chance of transmission of the virus."

The loan of the portable x-ray unit builds on the work of the college to support Island Health during the global pandemic.

Camosun Innovates, the applied research arm of the college, is currently manufacturing more than 9,000 medical grade face shields for local health professionals at Island Health. Camosun Innovates has also provided face shields to Beacon Community Services Community Living Victoria.

.@CamosunInnovate to produce thousands of face shields for health-care workers. “We are grateful for the innovative work being done by Camosun College to develop face shields that meet the health system standards” - Leah Hollins, Island Health board chair. https://t.co/u6Tyw4SdnH

— Island Health (@VanIslandHealth) April 2, 2020

 

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Camosun has stepped up to manufacture over 9,000 medical grade face shields for Island Health workers!??? . Camosun Innovates, our applied research and innovation arm, is contributing their expertise and advanced manufacturing capabilities in the fight against COVID-19. . . Working at their campus facility and in collaboration with local industry partner AP Plastics, Camosun Innovates is producing medical grade face shields for local health care workers on the front lines of the global pandemic. The team is led by Dr. Richard Gale, with Applied Research Technologist Matthew Zeleny (pictured here) serving as the coordinator of all COVID-19 response activities. . As Canada began to prepare for the global pandemic, Zeleny reviewed the available open-source face shield designs and realized that a 3D printed solution would not be able to meet the growing demand. He consulted with Island Health and local manufacturer AP Plastics, then designed from scratch a new flat-pack version that Camosun’s facilities at the Babcock Canada Interaction Lab could produce at a rate of 90 per hour rather than 10 per day using their industrial 3D printer. . Read the full story on our website!

A post shared by Camosun College (@camosun) on Apr 2, 2020 at 5:36pm PDT

The college's School of Health and Human Services also provided personal protection equipment to Island Health and Camosun Nursing Instructor Selena Hebig initiated the creation of much needed scrub caps for local nurses and health care workers. Hebig prototyped a fun, colourful cap with buttons to allow nurses to fasten their masks directly to the cap, instead of having them chafe behind their ears. Hebig then partnered with local company The Cloth Castle who put the word out to their sewing community. Together they created and delivered over 150 scrub caps to Victoria nursing staff.

Another 121 caps delivered to my partner in crime...coming soon to health care workers at Island Health!! Over 200 caps donated in total...#staystrong#togetherwequilt#joyjoyjoypic.twitter.com/gTUcyiaw5N

— selena hebig (@selhebig) April 14, 2020

Camosun's School of Health and Human Services delivers 18 different health care and social service programs in nursing, medical radiography, home support care, mental health and addictions, dental hygiene and more to over 1,000 students each year.

Camosun College has campuses located on the Traditional Territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. Established in 1971, the college serves 19,000 learners a year in certificate, diploma, bachelor's degree, post-degree diploma and continuing education programs.