CHICAGO, April 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The first
VOCSN V+Pro critical care ventilators produced by General Motors
and Ventec Life Systems in Kokomo,
Indiana are being delivered by UPS to Franciscan Health
Olympia Fields in Olympia Fields,
Illinois and Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago at the direction of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency. The milestone shipments are putting
important tools in the hands of frontline medical professionals
treating patients seriously ill with COVID-19.
Franciscan Health Olympia Fields received their shipment early
Friday morning and Weiss Memorial will receive theirs Friday
afternoon. A third shipment from GM-Kokomo will be delivered by UPS
to FEMA at the Gary/Chicago International Airport on Saturday for
distribution to other locations where the need is greatest.
The deliveries are the culmination of a partnership between GM
and Ventec Life Systems that began with a phone call exactly one
month ago. Since then, the combined teams have sourced thousands of
parts, transformed GM's advanced electronics facility in
Kokomo for medical device
production, contracted with the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services to provide 30,000 ventilators by the end of August and
launched mass production. More than 1,000 men and women from the
Kokomo community will be building
ventilators.
"The passion and commitment that people at GM, Ventec and our
suppliers have put into this work is inspiring, and we are all
humbled to support the heroic efforts of medical professionals in
Chicagoland and across the world who are fighting to save lives and
turn the tide of the pandemic," said GM Chairman and CEO
Mary Barra.
Said White House Assistant to the President Dr. Peter Navarro: "Not only has GM/Ventec and
the UAW set a new Trump Time standard in rapid industrial
mobilization – just weeks from site construction to ventilator
production – the GM/Ventec ventilators are now rolling off the
line, and on the wings and tires of Big Brown-UPS. And through the
seamless coordination of FEMA, these lifesaving devices are equally
rapidly being delivered to hospitals in need in Chicago and Gary. A patriotic White House
salute to the full power of private enterprise joining hands with
the full force of the federal government to fight the invisible
enemy!"
"Patients deserve access to the best technology to keep them in
the fight as their bodies combat the virus," said Ventec Life
Systems CEO Chris Kiple. "Critical
care ventilators deliver precise airflow to protect the lungs,
include accurate monitors to assess patient well-being, and most
importantly, they include advanced controls that help respiratory
therapists and physicians wean patients off ventilators as fast as
possible."
"UPS always stands ready to meet the urgent needs of the
American people, and we are proud to be selected to make this
historic delivery," said UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney. "This monumental effort is a
testament to the unbridled ingenuity and innovation of American
companies. In the words of our founder, determined people working
together can accomplish anything; and GM, Ventec and UPS have
accomplished this together with the speed, quality and exacting
precision that the world expects from America's private
sector."
"For a community hospital that was already struggling with
budgetary constraints prior to this crisis, these ventilators are a
much-needed infusion of critical resources to care for our
patients, which includes a significant elderly population," said
Mary Shehan, CEO of Weiss Memorial
Hospital. "We are extremely grateful for the support and to all
those who are rallying to ensure that our frontline caregivers have
the necessary supplies to care for our patients. We need all the
help we can get now to rise to this unprecedented challenge."
"We have healthcare heroes who are on the front lines in this
pandemic and we're grateful to know there is support to attain more
of the essential resources they need to care for the most
critically ill patients," said Allan M.
Spooner, president and CEO of Franciscan Health Olympia
Fields. "Every single one of these ventilators will make a
difference in the lives of critical COVID-19 patients and our other
patients with acute respiratory illness. We are grateful and
inspired by the ingenuity and dedication of everyone behind this
truly lifesaving gift."
Photos and video of the first shipments as well as additional
information about the historic partnership between General Motors
and Ventec Life Systems can be found at www.VentecGM.com.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company
committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for
people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its
joint venture entities sell vehicles under
the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun and Wuling brands.
More information on the company and its subsidiaries,
including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and
security services, and Maven, its personal mobility brand, can
be found at http://www.gm.com.
Ventec Life Systems is redefining respiratory care
to improve patient outcomes and reduce caregiver challenges from
the hospital to home. Ventec's leading product, VOCSN, is the first
and only Multi-Function Ventilator that seamlessly integrates five
devices - a critical care Ventilator, 6 L/min equivalent Oxygen
concentrator, touch button Cough assist, hospital grade Suction,
and a high-performance Nebulizer - into one integrated respiratory
system that is lightweight and mobile. VOCSN is fully customizable
to meet patient needs for pediatric and adult patients. Learn more
at VentecLife.com and connect with Ventec on Facebook,
LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics,
offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages
and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying
advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of
business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries
and territories worldwide. UPS was awarded America's Best
Customer Service company for Shipping and Delivery services by
Newsweek magazine; Forbes Most Valuable Brand in
Transportation; and top rankings on the JUST 100 list for
social responsibility, the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index,
and the Harris Poll Reputation Quotient, among other prestigious
rankings and awards. The company can be found on the web
at ups.com or pressroom.ups.com and its
corporate blog can be found at ups.com/longitudes The
company's sustainability eNewsletter, UPS Horizons, can be
found at ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter. To get UPS
news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter. To ship with UPS,
visit ups.com/ship.
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SOURCE General Motors Co.