From Preparation to Action – Navigating COVID-19

Project News

Our resources have enabled us to be part of the solution and provide quick response to Franciscan Health for various COVID-19 response needs. We’ve moved quickly from preparedness to action in a matter of days to help fight against this public health crisis. We are proud to be a community health resource in this fight against the spread of COVID-19.

1. Temporary Triage Facilities
The TTF’s include infection control systems, finishes and seating for patients at the recommended 6’ spacing. The TTF’s have controlled access points and designated paths for patients to return to their car or to another facility dependent on the level of care required. Strategically locating the TTF’s outside of the facility’s Emergency Department provides controlled and rapid triage screenings in an expeditious and safe manner. These facilities are being built in roughly five days.

2. Converting to Isolation Rooms
Tonn and Blank is working on converting standard patient rooms to negative air rooms to prepare for the influx of COVID-19 patients. Our team is fabricating plywood window inserts, installing an exhaust fan, and building a melamine box was built around the box. The rooms are tested to verify negative air.

3. Face Shields
Tonn and Blank has produced 1,000 face shields from a prototype created by John Hopkins Hospital. Tonn and Blank will work with furloughed Omni Fitness Center staff and Tonn and Blank superintendents to produce roughly 10,000 shields a week.

4. Safety Glasses
To address the increasing concern of available PPE for Franciscan’s medical staff, Tonn and Blank’s sheet metal shop created a prototype for safety glasses. The frame will be made by Tonn and Blank, and a custom die head will be fabricated which will allow for the lens to be stamped out. Tonn and Blank can produce 1,000 of these glasses a week, if needed.

5. UV Sterilization Robot
Tonn and Blank developed a UV sterilization robot which can be utilized to sterilize N95 masks so they can be reused safely. It was designed with safety controls to prevent UV exposures to humans. A Wi-Fi connected tablet controls the robot, as well as measures and records amount of UV delivered in order to ensure proper sterilization.

6. Hand Sanitizer and Masks
Through our contacts, Tonn and Blank has secured 160,000 surgical masks and two pallets of hand sanitizer for Franciscan’s use. Tonn and Blank coordinated pick up and delivery. We’ve also purchased a hand sanitizer from Journeyman Distillery which will be used on Tonn and Blank jobsites thereby preserving the hospitals’ supplies.