The first VOCSN V+Pro critical care ventilators produced by General Motors and Ventec Life Systems in Kokomo, Indiana are being delivered to hospitals in Chicago at the direction of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The shift in production is 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 are set to receive theirs Friday afternoon. A third shipment from GM-Kokomo will be delivered to FEMA at the Gary/Chicago International Airport on Saturday for distribution to other locations directed by the Fed.
The combined teams at GM and Ventec Life Systems have sourced thousands of parts, transformed GM’s advanced electronics facility in Kokomo for medical device production, and 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.
The White House had high praise for the quick turnaround. According to Assistant to the President Dr. Peter Navarro: “Not only has GM and Ventec 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. 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!”
It is very good to see positive comments from the White House after such a severe tongue-lashing earlier. Many times chastising statements are made but never a compliment after the work is well done I am always glad to see public praise for exceptional work. So I applaud the WH for their comment and I especially salute GM for an amazing job.
Trump is vulgar and a chronic criminal, I would not hold my breath till he starts
sending 3am texts out blasting GM….or someone. He always belittles as a self defense strategy. I used to think he was not narcissistic
but crazy, but he.s not crazy , he.s just a wanna be oligarch
with bad straw hair and. true evil in his mind. I wonder if he will hit a billion in skimmed off tax payer funds before he.s ousted. I always knew the dumbing down of our tattered education would have consequences and it did…..it produced millions of Americans so dumb they can.t see a monster right in front of their noses.