BROOKINGS – Brookings Health System’s respiratory care department recently invested in a new, state-of-the-art Hamilton-T1 transport ventilator. The new ventilator will allow care teams to easily transfer critical patients, such as those with severe pneumonia from COVID-19, who need additional breathing support.

A transport ventilator is a portable, mechanical device that takes over the work of breathing when a patient is unable to breathe on their own. The new transport ventilator can provide invasive ventilation through a breathing tube, non-invasive ventilation through a face mask, or high flow oxygen therapy.

“Our new transport ventilator’s capabilities give our care team more options to support critical care patient ventilation,” said Respiratory Care Director Lynne Thompson, RN. “We no longer need to always rely on ambulance crews from Sioux Falls or other large facilities to come to Brookings to transport a patient who requires non-invasive ventilation. Instead, our ambulance team can now quickly and safely transport a patient to another facility while providing optimal respiratory support.”

The transport ventilator’s mobility also allows for safe and timely transfers of critical patients between hospital departments when diagnostic imaging, surgery or another service is required.

Brookings Health System’s respiratory care team evaluates, treats and cares for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. As a part of Brookings Health System’s multidisciplinary care team, respiratory therapists help treat both outpatients and inpatients. For more information on respiratory care services, visit brookingshealth.org/Respiratory.