Many places are struggling during the COVID-19 crisis, but during a pandemic, a hospital has particularly difficult challenges.

Fortunately, many groups have come out in support of Upper Peninsula Health System-Marquette, including Northern Michigan University. NMU donated two drying ovens and developed acrylic canopies that reduce the spread of COVID-19.

As Jen Laurin, sterile processing manager at UPHS-Marquette, noted, the “cohesive response” is amazing.

“Now is the time for us to commit to each other, not just in words about being U.P. strong, but to also show it, and we are,” Laurin was quoted as saying in Thursday’s Mining Journal.

Moral support, of course, is important, but so is technical support, especially with something as unknown and unprecedented as the coronavirus.

The ovens help in the reuse of N95 masks. Once they’re used, they’re placed inside an oven to be sterilized and later reused.

The acrylic hoods cover patients being intubated in the emergency department and elsewhere.

Those hoods already have been distributed at UPHS-Marquette as well as other Upper Peninsula hospitals.

The good works aren’t stopping here. A team now is looking at how the design can be modified to help anesthesiology, cardiology and EMS provider, and is in talks with medical professionals in Ann Arbor and Minneapolis to offer them protection too. The team also is offering free access to plans when another hospital requests it.

This is a great example of how innovative technology is being used to protect people during a very scary time.

The community already has stepped up to print 3D frames for face shields, so this is another example of people using their special skills and suitable equipment to help people in need.

We hope this collaboration sparks other people to use what skills they have during the COVID-19 pandemic.