Morgan County EMS, with support from the Morgan County Commission and funding through the federal CARES Act, has purchased four Hamilton T1 ventilators to add to emergency medical care in the county.
“The Hamilton T1 is a field-capable ventilator that delivers hospital-quality respiratory support in the challenging prehospital environment,” explained Kevin Duckwall, Morgan County EMS Executive Director.
The equipment allows EMS providers to administer BiPAP therapy to patients in respiratory distress — a treatment not previously available in the field. According to Duckwall, BiPAP offers greater comfort than the CPAP systems traditionally used in prehospital care, often resulting in better patient compliance and improved outcomes.
The ventilators also provide patient-specific volumes and rates of ventilation without requiring constant manual operation, allowing EMS personnel to focus on other critical, life-saving procedures, Duckwall said.
After a successful application supported by recent clinical research, Morgan County EMS received approval from the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services to use the Hamilton T1 during cardiac arrest incidents.
Morgan County EMS is currently the only agency in the state authorized to use ventilators in this way.
“These ventilators are a major step forward in our ability to care for patients in the field. They bring hospital-level technology directly to the patient’s side at the scene of an emergency, improving outcomes and expanding what our crews can do during emergencies,” said Duckwall. “With this investment, Morgan County EMS continues its mission to provide the highest standard of emergency medical care to the residents of Morgan County.”
Morgan County EMS provides 24/7 emergency medical response and care for the county under a contract with the Morgan County Commission.