2020 Hometown Heroes

2020 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 14, 2020 Page 91 “Tara Morris, one of our full-time Nursing Faculty, is also working in the ER at ALMH,” O’Connor said. “She told me they needed any supplies possible.” Aware that healthcare workers have been needing to ration and recycle their protective equipment (PPE), O’Connor began gathering the medical supplies that her department no longer required, then donated them to local hospitals. “I was also contacted by Laurie Round, the Chief Nurse Executive at Advocate BroMenn regarding supplies,” O’Connor states. “We collected N65 masks, surgical masks, protective gowns, safety goggles, assorted other PPE like booties and hair covers, and gloves from the [HCC] labs,” O’Connor added. “I think we donated about 400 gowns and 500 masks.” OSF St. Joseph in Bloomington-Normal also received PPE supplies from Heartland’s Health Sciences department. Many hospitals and healthcare providers are seeking donations to help protect healthcare professionals, their patients, and the community. Items the public can contribute include hand sanitizer, goggles/safety glasses, single-use gloves, and disinfectant wipes. The public should contact any healthcare provider before making a donation at their site. [Steve Fast Director, Public Information Heartland Community College]