YRMC receives lifesaving equipment from Arizona Native American tribes

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Yuma Regional Medical Center is receiving a lifesaving donation from the Cocopah and Quechan tribes. The tribes have donated ten ventilators.

This donation brings YRMC's total number of ventilators to 51, according to Dr. Robert Trenschel, President and CEO of the hospital.

The new ventilators will make a great difference in the quality care the hospital provides, especially as more people catch the virus.

The Cocopah and Quechan Tribes belong to a statewide network of tribal organizations, which saw the need for Arizona hospitals to receive more ventilators during the Coronavirus pandemic.

"They didn’t have the resources, of my understanding, to utilize them so they don’t need them to us and we care for them all the time; the Quechan the Cocopah. They use our facilities they use our hospital and  we’re very fortunate that they choose to do that. So this just demonstrates to us the strength of that partnership and the trust they have put in us,” said Dr. Trenschel.

These ventilators ultimately coming from the federal stockpile and granted by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. Arizona tribes received a total of 100 respiratory devices.

There are as many as 15 Coronavirus patients on a ventilator, right now in the hospital.

Distribution of the ventilators to Arizona tribes was overseen by the Arizona Department of Health.