February 1, 2018 | Allen Van Driel, CEO
DEDICATED PEOPLE
Over the past year (or more) nearly every column I have written for this newsletter had in one way or another focused on the construction of our replacement hospital. As I have repeatedly highlighted, there are about a gazillion (is that a word?) details about the project that have to be considered, coordinated, and implemented.
We have been blessed with very talented folks from Health Facilities Group, our architectural firm. They developed the design for the project, fleshed out the details of the plans, and now help supervise the construction. No detail is too small for their attention. Is the slope of the floor in the shower in the patient rooms exactly right? How close to the edge of the roof can the air handling units be without requiring safety features to protect the maintenance staff after the building is completed? How do the colors of the flooring blend with the color of the walls and the furniture we select? What is the exact placement of all of the electrical supply conduits for the CT scanner? Is there sufficient radiation protection in the walls of all of the rooms in the imaging area? These and many, many more details are things they have paid attention to, and they have done very well with the attention to detail.
The construction management firm, Hutton Construction, has taken the plans developed by HFG and translated them into a building. They have put every aspect of the building and grounds out to bid, considered the bids, and determined which subcontractor should be hired for each aspect of the project. They have very talented Construction Superintendents who supervise the actual work being done. Which of a dozen or more subcontractors working on site on any given day needs to have priority to work in a specific room? Does the electrical cabling need to be done before the plumbing is done? When does the heating and cooling piping get installed? Exactly where do the access control points for electronic door latches get placed so they are most convenient for the staff that will use them after the building is complete? How can they coordinate the priorities of these various subcontractors to create the most efficient progress on the project? These construction professionals have done a masterful job of keeping track of all the details and people, all the while maintaining an environment of safety on the site. Occasionally they have to make unpopular decisions in the interest of safety, but they do it with a calm, professional approach.
But, the individuals I really wanted to highlight regarding the building project are the Board of Trustees. The Board is appointed by the County Commissioners to be responsible for the overall function of Smith County Memorial Hospital. Since the hospital was originally opened in 1951, the Board of Trustees have maintained a lease arrangement with Great Plains Health Alliance to operate the hospital. So the Board is responsible for the facilities and strategic vision, while GPHA is responsible for the day to day operation. It was through the efforts and vision of the Board of Trustees that a decision was made to develop plans for renovating the aging physical plant of the hospital. It was through their efforts that the community was educated about the need, so that support for the project could be garnered. They made, or approved, thousands of decisions in the planning stages of the project. They also have spent countless hours learning about various aspects of the building, from accessibility requirements, to fire code standards, to how various pieces of financing will work, and many more. But one of the most amazing aspects of their involvement has been exactly that – Their involvement. Their willingness, interest, and dedication to the project. These five people, giving their time with no reimbursement, taking time from their jobs and families, have contributed in a massive way to the success of the project. I have personally been involved in construction or renovation projects at two other hospitals. I have spoken to dozens of other hospital CEOs who have been involved in building projects. I have had numerous conversations with the architects and construction staff building our hospital. In none of these other projects has the Board of Trustees been as deeply, meaningfully, and constructively involved in the project as ours are. Some, or all, of them attend every single construction coordination meeting. They provide input, suggestions, questions, and decisions that help shape the final project outcome. I know that I am extremely thankful for their energy, attention, time, and dedication. I can only hope that the community recognizes their efforts.
The five members of the Smith County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees are Kenton Weltmer (Chairman), Bruce Hardacre (Treasurer), Bret Strine, Jim Sweat, and Dr. Joe Barnes. Each of them brings a different perspective and a different expertise to the discussions and to the project. They all approach it from the perspective of being good stewards of the community’s resources, and they are looking for the best outcome for the community in a hospital that will serve (hopefully) for as long as the present one has. When you meet any of these members of the Board of Trustees on the street or at school events or at church, PLEASE take a moment to say thanks for their efforts and dedication. It won’t be enough recognition, but it will be a start.