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October 05, 2013 12:00 AM

Outliers: Students put cast-off medical equipment, supplies back to work

Modern Healthcare
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    Medical Outreach Group
    Medical Outreach volunteers collect used equipment to aid the poor.

    Andrew Michail, a 20-year-old pre-med student at Wayne State University, wanted to make a difference in the lives of low-income patients whom he helped during volunteer stints at medical clinics in Detroit.

    He noticed many clinic patients were in dire need of medical equipment—wheelchairs, walkers, canes and oxygen tanks—and other materials such as diabetes-testing supplies, meters and syringes for insulin. The Detroit medical clinics that served the poor also needed equipment such as EKGs, heart defibrillators, blood pressure cuffs and medical beds.

    “Even though I had knowledge of the poor situation in the city, I did not know it was as bad as it is,” said Michail, a junior who hopes to attend Wayne State's medical school after graduation.

    So in 2012, Michail founded the Medical Outreach Group with students from other universities in Southeast Michigan.

    The purpose and business plan of Medical Outreach is simple: Seek donations and solicit old or unneeded medical equipment and supplies from physician offices, hospitals or individuals, and match the donations with needy organizations and people.

    So far, Medical Outreach has donated more than $80,000 in supplies to several clinics in Detroit. Donors include McLaren Clarkston (Mich.) hospital; Beaumont Cardiovascular Specialists in Farmington Hills; and Sinai-Grace Hospital, Detroit.

    “Medical centers place ads on Craigslist or throw things away,” Michail said. “We find out from them if they have old stuff they want to donate.”

    While some hospitals have donated, Michail said he is making a push to persuade more hospitals and large physician organizations to donate.

    “One problem we face is they don't know who we are,” Michail said. “(Hospitals) tell us they donate (for uses) outside the U.S. We tell them there are many needs here in Detroit.”

    Follow Outliers on Twitter: @MHOutliers

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    • Blogs
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    • Events & Awards
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        • Nominate/Eligibility
        • 100 Most Influential People
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        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Excellence in Governance
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top Innovators
        • Diversity in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
          • - Leaders to Watch
        • Women in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Women Leaders
          • - Women to Watch
      • Conferences
        • Digital Health Transformation Summit
        • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Virtual Briefings
        • - Hospital of the Future
        • - Value Based Care
        • - Hospital at Home
        • - Workplace of the Future
        • - AI and Digital Health
        • - Future of Staffing
        • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
      • Webinars
    • Multimedia
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
      • Sponsored Video Series - Checking In with Dan Peres
    • Data & Insights
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      • Hospital Financials
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