Mercy Health to Deliver Examination Tables to Developing Countries

Midmark Corp. recently partnered with Mercy Health, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, to deliver nearly 300 used examination tables to 10 areas of Africa in need of medical equipment.

In 2016, Midmark began consulting with Mercy Health to rethink the outpatient experience with the focus on driving a more consistent patient and staff experience across the healthcare system. The teams from Midmark and Mercy worked together to evaluate a wide range of workflow and technology improvements, assessing the impact of each on people, process and space. This initiative resulted in new standards for patient positioning equipment, which led to the replacement of more than 475 exam tables. Additionally, changes were made to digital diagnostics devices, medical-grade casework and point of care computer workstations to improve the patient experience and create efficiencies for clinicians and providers.

In May, nearly 300 old exam tables from various Mercy Health locations, including Cincinnati, Lima, Lorain, Springfield, Urbana, Tiffin, Toledo and Youngstown, Ohio, as well as Irvine and Paducah, Ky., were removed and shipped to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda and other regions in Africa in desperate need of medical equipment. The remaining tables that were replaced were recycled within the Mercy Health system for new projects, replacements and the like. 

Amy Hausfeld, executive director of multispecialty practices, Mercy Health Physicians - Cincinnati, commented, “While working to improve the experience of our patients with updated exam tables and other equipment, we were delighted to learn that we could partner with Midmark to donate our former exam tables to areas in dire need of medical equipment. It’s very pleasing to know that the exam tables have continued purpose and a new life helping with patient care in Africa. This is right in line with Mercy Health’s mission to help the poor and under-served.”

To ship and distribute the used equipment, Midmark worked in collaboration with World Vision, a humanitarian organization dedicated to assisting children, families and their communities worldwide. Midmark’s collaboration with World Vision dates back to 2005 when it began donating quality, easy-to-use medical and dental equipment to clinics in remote areas of developing countries. Midmark also partners with World Vision to assemble caregiver kits with basic medical and safety supplies to help volunteers care for patients with diseases such as HIV and AIDS.

“At Midmark, we believe all people deserve quality healthcare, and we are committed to doing our part to make this happen by helping get equipment where it is needed most,” said Mitch Eiting, global community relations manager for Midmark. “We are very grateful to World Vision for helping us make this possible.”

World Vision National Director for Corporate Engagement, Larry Noble states, “World Vision communities are so grateful for donors like Midmark who practice innovation business solutions with providers like Mercy Health. They enable us to demonstrate compassion, commitment and quality of service to communities on the margins. When we come together to solve a business need AND provide for those in need it’s a true WIN-WIN-WIN.”