Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) is purchasing additional ventilation equipment to address shortages within the hospital. The hope is to also solve the problems that have been experienced in trying to find beds at surrounding hospitals for patients in need of higher levels of care during spikes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need more ventilation equipment,” said Bob Hart, Trauma Program Manager. The district is facing other shortages too, he told the Crook County Commissioners during their regular meeting, but ventilators are the priority.

Hart explained that there are var...