Contact:
Elizabeth Blevins, Director, Office of Communications
Phyllis Noah, Communications Coordinator
Office: (740) 351-3810; FAX: (740) 351-3179; Cell: (740) 464-4854
940 Second Street – Portsmouth, Ohio 45662
E-mail: eblevins@shawnee.edu or pnoah@shawnee.edu
Web site: www.shawnee.edu

            SOMC is donating a pulmonary function machine to Shawnee State University for students in the Respiratory Therapy program. The equipment includes a computer on wheels, an exercise bike and other accessories needed for testing. When the equipment was purchased new, it was about $40,000.
            “We don’t have the funds to buy the expensive equipment to put in our labs for our students to use,” Amy France, director of the Respiratory Therapy program at SSU, said. “We teach our students with textbooks and a spirometry but when they go out in the workforce and they see computerized equipment, it can be very intimidating for them.”
            The pulmonary function machine will be used to teach the students stress testing and metabolic testing. Stress testing allows the respiratory therapist to monitor a patient’s cardiac and oxygen levels to help determine their cardiac function and look for abnormalities.
            These tests help physicians determine the unknown cause of chest pain in particular patients and also those who become short of breathe easily or while exercising.
            “We are really excited and grateful to receive this equipment from SOMC,” she said. “This will really give our students an opportunity to learn hands-on.”