Program Coordinator Jennifer Jackson-Stevens (right), Clinical Coordinator, Don Bellerive (left) with loaned respiratory care equipment.

When Northern Essex Community College’s respiratory care program had to move to remote learning, it created an opportunity for its valuable equipment.

As of last week, eight pieces of mechanical ventilator equipment where loaned by Northern Essex Community College’ s Respiratory Care Program to three local hospitals for use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lawrence General Hospital, Lowell General Hospital, and Holy Family Hospital are all recipients of the loaned equipment. NECC stepped into action when local respiratory care hospital department directors, who also serve on the Respiratory Care Advisory Committee, reached out to the Northern Essex requesting that the program loan the mechanical ventilators while the college was participating in a remote learning plan, which meant the equipment would be sitting idle.

Program Coordinator Jennifer Jackson-Stevens, NECC’s respiratory care program director, Don Bellerive, the program clinical coordinator and Erin Colstad, simulation center coordinator, prepared the ventilators for transport to the various hospitals which were responsible for transferring the equipment.

“Many COVID-19 patients are requiring the assistance of mechanical ventilators when they are in the acute phase of the respiratory disease to help them breathe,” said Jackson-Stevens. “These mechanical ventilators at the previously mentioned hospitals will be operated by many of NECC’s respiratory care program’s alumni, who have earned their Associate Degree in Science in Respiratory Care at NECC.

Northern Essex offers an Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care. For information on this program visit the program page here or contact Jennifer Jackson-Stevens at jjacksonstevens@necc.mass.edu