Cole County Commission sponsors grant to help secure ventilators

March 25, 2020 at 5:55 a.m. | Updated March 25, 2020 at 12:23 p.m.

by Jeff Haldiman

FILE - In this May 25, 2005, file photo, Lovely R. Suanino, a respiratory therapist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, N.J., demonstrates setting up a ventilator in the intensive care unit of the hospital. U.S. hospitals bracing for a possible onslaught of coronavirus patients with pneumonia and other breathing difficulties could face a critical shortage of mechanical ventilators and health care workers to operate them. (AP Photo/Mike Derer, File)
FILE - In this May 25, 2005, file photo, Lovely R. Suanino, a respiratory therapist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, N.J., demonstrates setting up a ventilator in the intensive care unit of the hospital. U.S. hospitals bracing for a possible onslaught of coronavirus patients with pneumonia and other breathing difficulties could face a critical shortage of mechanical ventilators and health care workers to operate them. (AP Photo/Mike Derer, File)

[<a href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/health/" style="color:#33AEFF">access the News Tribune Health section</a>]

 

The Cole County Commission has approved helping to sponsor an effort to get 125 ventilators to help COVID-19 patients across Missouri.

Commissioners signed paperwork Tuesday to join the Missouri Association of Councils of Government in this effort, which will allow the Missouri Department of Economic Development to use $2.8 million in Community Development Block Grant funds to purchase 125 ventilators.

Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman said Gov. Mike Parson approached them Monday about being the local sponsor they needed to make this happen because Cole County is the seat of state government.

Western District Commissioner Kris Scheperle said this requires the county to set up a non-interest-bearing bank account, but once the money is received it will be put in the account then turned over to MACOG to purchase the equipment. He believed the money could be in the account as soon as today.

Once the ventilators arrive, the Missouri Department of Transportation will distribute them based on need. Commissioners were not sure how fast the ventilators could arrive and be distributed. It is also not known if Cole County would get any of these ventilators.

Scheperle said the goal of this effort is to provide hospitals and first responders with the necessary equipment to perform life-saving measures.

"Whether or not we receive these resources doesn't matter," Scheperle said. "Our goal is to help out fellow Missourians and be a good partner during this time."

Upcoming Events