A life-saving collaborative network: repairing ventilators in Brazil

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the formation of an inter-organizational collaboration network that made it possible to repair 2,516 mechanical respirators that were inoperative in Brazil during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative approach was used in a single case study with semi-structured interviews. The interviewee selection process was non-probabilistic through snowball sampling.FindingsThe results suggest that society, through different social groups with their different roles, can organize itself quickly through the formation of collaborative networks, and this organizational configuration can be an alternative for facing crises where actions isolated would be insufficient or slow to urgently address complex situations.Practical implicationsThis paper aims to (1) demonstrate that society, through different social groups with their different roles, can organize itself quickly through the formation of collaborative networks;(2) favor the understanding and dynamics of the formation of a network;and (3) contribute to a possible replication of this initiative in future contexts.Originality/valueThe case portrays an unprecedented formation of a collaboration network involving more than 144 organizations that mobilized quickly in a complex context of a pandemic and that generated remarkable results through the reintroduction of equipment that were responsible for the preservation of thousands of lives during the year from 2020.

Perspectives of dairy employees at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: A survey of health risks and educational needs.

Our objective was to understand dairy employees' perceptions and educational needs at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A bilingual (English and Spanish), anonymous survey targeted at dairy employees was circulated nationwide via university and allied industry media outlets. Responses (n = 63) from 11 states were received (May-Sep. 2020). Respondents worked in herds ranging from 50 to 40,000 animals in size. Dairy managers (33%) responded mostly to the English survey (52%), whereas entry-level workers (67%) chose the Spanish format (76%). Survey results highlighted different perspectives, educational needs, and preferred sources of information between English- and Spanish-speaking dairy workers. Overall, 83% of the respondents were somewhat concerned or very concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents (51%) indicated that their main concern was "to bring the virus from work to home and make my family sick." Most dairy employees (83%) perceived that their employers were somewhat or very concerned about the pandemic. Respondents (65%) indicated that COVID-19 informative training was provided at the workplace, but training was more frequently undertaken among dairy managers (86%) than entry-level workers (53%). Most trainings (72%) were limited to posters on walls. The preferred means of information delivery was through in-person meetings at work (35%), with YouTube (29%) and on-demand videos (27%) as second and third options. The main source of information regarding the pandemic was social media (52%). Frequent handwashing (81%), limiting on-farm visits (70%), limiting agglomeration in break rooms (65%), hand sanitizer use (60%), and social distancing (60%) were the most common safety measures implemented at the workplace among the options given to respondents. Few respondents (38%) indicated that face-covering was required at work. Successful emergency plans on dairies should consider the outreach needs and preferences of dairy workers.

Perspective of dairy producers from California, Idaho, South Dakota, and Washington: Health and business implications of the COVID-19 pandemic during the second wave.

The aim of this study was to document California, Idaho, South Dakota, and Washington dairy producers' perspectives on the health and business implications of COVID-19 during the pandemic second wave. Dairy producers were reached by a 14-question anonymous mail survey during June and July of 2020. We obtained 226 responses (response rate: 9.3% CA, 8.6% ID, 31.4%, and 10.0% WA). Responses were grouped by state (CA: 48.7%, ID: 15.9%, SD: 21.7%, or WA: 13.7%) and dairy size [based on number of cows; small (<100): 14.1%, medium (100-499): 27.7%, medium-large (500-1,999): 33.2%, or large (≥2,000): 25.0%]. Survey responses were summarized, and multiple correspondence analysis was used to map responses and identify data clusters. At the time of the survey, some respondents suspected (3%) or had confirmed (9%) COVID-19 cases on their premises. Respondents were somewhat or very concerned about the health (75%) and business (92%) implications associated with COVID-19. Producers were concerned about the health of their families, employees, and employees' families; having to reduce production; workforce shortage; limited goods availability; and lack of services. Producers perceived that their employees were somewhat or very concerned (74%) with the pandemic. There was COVID-19 safety information or training provided (78%) or intended (4%) in English (22%), Spanish (23%), or both (55%). The focus of training was as follows: how to remain healthy at work (91%) and at home (60%), what to do if a worker gets sick (77%), and sick leave information (54%). Nevertheless, 18% of the respondents answered that training was not going to be provided. The following control measures implemented: providing hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes (78%), instruction on frequent hand-washing (76%), social distancing (59%), prevention of employee gatherings (54%), providing and requiring the use of face masks (49%), and limiting on-farm visitors (44%). Multiple correspondence analysis showed that concern with health risk and business impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as mitigation and response strategies implemented, varied based on respondent's dairy size and state. The greatest concerns were reported by producers from California and large and medium-large dairies, whereas the fewest concerns were reported by producers from small dairies. Results from this survey highlighted the health and business concerns of dairy producers from California, Idaho, South Dakota, and Washington during the COVID-19 pandemic and the mitigation efforts adopted. In conclusion, mitigation measures were adopted by most dairy producers but in various degrees. Dairy industry service providers and educators were secondary educational resources during the pandemic; thus, future efforts toward centralized access to dairy specific bilingual educational materials are suggested.

Splitting Ventilator Valve Concept Used In The COVID-19 Treatment Through Additive Manufacturing Technique

Due to COVID-19 outbreak, many sectors around the globe have been facing the most diverse crisis. Regarding the health system, hospitals all over the world have been going through, among so many challenges, shortage of resources that could, if available, help them on the fight against COVID-19, and even save the lives of their patients. This review paper aims to offer for both healthcare providers and patients, better conditions when fighting the disease, regarding the actual primary care shortage, and addressing a splitting valve concept coupled to the mechanical ventilators in the most severe cases. The automated valve development with a monitoring and analysis system for pulmonary mechanics will stablish the database parameters of patients with COVid-19 and SARS, in order to assist the medical team in the treatment of diseases and the average evolution of the clinical condition of patients at an early stage, contributing to a reduction in the time of hospitalization and treatment and mortality. These information is saved on a database shared with other hospitals, allowing a search for matching patients;with similar or same pulmonary compliance, gender, height, weight, respiratory frequency and, in most severe cases when the patient needs mechanical ventilation, the availability of the nearest treatment is verified viewing immediate care. Regarding the mechanical ventilator device usage, the automated valve views engaged to a human-machine interface from the systems hardware allows the treatment of multiple patients, under the same ventilator, in an individualized way. To achieve that, pressure transducers and controllers of flow and temperature will continuously monitor the adequate flow of air and pressure to each patient that are under the same ventilator. Moreover, when monitoring each patient among the health units and hospitals integrated to the system, the medical team is helped defining the best strategy to the treatment stage and, by these means, the use of mechanical ventilator by the CoVID-19 patient is amplified, allowing to attend more than one patient who will need mechanical ventilation with SARS an accuracy treatment and monitoring method.