Seeing the images and hearing of the suffering in Ukraine, Doylestown Health medical staff wanted to do something meaningful to help. When the staff learned of a Ukrainian hospital asking for donations of medical supplies, they jumped into action from across Doylestown Hospital and started collecting new and gently used medical supplies that can be put to use immediately for the people of Ukraine.
There were so many supplies gathered — in the thousands — that when a truck was arranged to pick up the donations on Monday, another truck had to be ordered to gather the rest. The supplies will fly directly to Lviv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 9.
Some of the thousands of medical supplies include:
- Defibrillators
- An electrocardiogram machine and electrodes
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Platelet incubator
- Hemostats
- Wound care supplies
- Phlebotomy supplies
- Scalpel blades
- Sterile gowns and hats
- Insulin
- Syringes and safety needles
- Percutaneous Sheath Introducers (PSIs)
Desire to Help
This collective donation effort is the result of the staff in Sterile Processing Department, Medical Research, Pharmacy as well as Laboratory and Clinical Engineering departments.
“Everyone has been thinking about Ukraine non-stop,” says Christine Roussel, PharmD, BCOP, BCSCP, Senior Executive Director of Pharmacy, Laboratory and Medical Research. “All it took was for a list of supplies requested by a Ukrainian hospital for us to jump into action. Every department that was asked to support instantly did the needed work. So everything was ready to go within two days.”
Close to Home
Separately, Oleg Vinnikov, MD, a hospitalist at Doylestown Hospital, who is originally from Maldova with close family in Ukraine, was contacted by a Ukrainian-American friend who was coordinating a similar effort through Germantown Academy and needed medical supplies. Dr. Vinnikov immediately contacted Christine and Scott Levy, MD, Chief Medical Officer, about the donation effort and they wanted to help in that effort as well.
“War is always bad,” says Dr. Vinnikov. “But I feel like what’s happening now in Ukraine is like it’s next door because we’re so connected through the internet and cell phones.”
He explained that some of his family members are living in bomb shelters and other family members were able to escape to Poland. “It is hard to imagine people you grew up with hiding in bomb shelters, and streets you walked multiple times being in ruins,” he adds.
He was able to receive the donated medical supplies within a day after his request and they’re already headed to Ukraine. He says he is so thankful and feels his efforts are the least he can do.
Christine reports that many more Doylestown Hospital associates have expressed wanting to help. So the next step is gathering and sending over more over-the-counter medications and wound care supplies to Ukraine.
About Doylestown Health
Doylestown Health is a comprehensive healthcare system of inpatient, outpatient, and wellness education services connected to meet the health needs of the local and regional community. The flagship of Doylestown Health is Doylestown Hospital, a not-for-profit, community teaching hospital with 247 beds and a medical staff of more than 435 physicians who provide the highest quality care in over 50 specialties. Renowned locally, regionally, and nationally, Doylestown Hospital provides superior healthcare and offers advanced surgical procedures, innovative medical treatments, and comprehensive specialty services. Now in its 100th year of service in central Bucks County, Doylestown Hospital is proud to educate and train the next generation of physicians through its family medicine residency program. Ranked as one of the World’s Best Hospitals by Newsweek and 8th in Pennsylvania, Doylestown Hospital is distinguished in both infection prevention and patient experience. Doylestown Hospital is the only hospital in Pennsylvania to achieve 16 consecutive ‘A’ grades for patient safety from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.
