Thomas Nelson Responds to Regional Healthcare Needs with College Donation

Based upon the experience of College officials, and their regular contact with community healthcare partners and the rapid increase in presumptive cases and potential exposures to the COVID-19 virus, Thomas Nelson Community College quickly recognized that Peninsula healthcare facilities and emergency responders were on pace to rapidly deplete their onsite and readily available cache of critical personal protective equipment (PPE).

Therefore, early last week, Thomas Nelson officials reached out to local healthcare and emergency response agencies to determine the criticality of the need. While seeking guidance for prioritizing agency and facility needs, the College immediately began donating available N95 respirators, isolation gowns, and medical grade exam gloves.

The supplies were sourced from the College's previous provision of services and current public safety and allied health programs, currently being delivered through distance education. Thomas Nelson continued to work with the Peninsula COVID-19 Regional Operations Center, as well as the Peninsulas Emergency Medical Services Council as the Peninsula transitioned to a regional resource request and fulfillment process.

In just over a week, Thomas Nelson donated all non-allocated PPE to directly support the response efforts of local emergency responders, as well as healthcare facilities during this unprecedented health emergency. Thomas Nelson prides itself on being the Peninsula's Community College, and these simple, but critical steps to aid our community partners in their time of need is simply Thomas Nelson's way of putting the "C" in "Community" college.

In total, Thomas Nelson was able to provide nearly 350 N95 masks, more than 400 isolation gowns and 5,000 exam gloves to support the Peninsula's emergency responders and healthcare providers. Thomas Nelson's support does not stop there, officials maintain daily contact with the appropriate Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) in the Regional Operations Center, as well as local fire and rescue agencies to provide resource information as the College is notified by vendors of available supplies of critical PPE.