In partnership with Stantec, our electrical engineering vendor, the A-Wing switchboard replacement project at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (PRMCE) Colby Campus is the recipient of the 2022 American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) Vista Award.
The A-Wing project received the award for the Infrastructure category, which recognizes an organization that has either modified or replaced a portion of a facility’s utility generation, distribution, or control systems and involves significant project planning.
The electrical service, transformers, and switchgear that power the A Wing were initially installed in the 1960s. The A and B wings of the hospital house 113 patient rooms and 14 departments, which also includes the hospital’s main lab and pharmacy. After over 50 years, the equipment was outdated and finding replacement parts was challenging. Additionally, there was concern about the safety of facility teams operating the equipment, limited space to perform work and, most critically, the risk of a major power failure to the campus.
The project team had the challenge of phasing the work to replace equipment in a functioning hospital without disruption in service and delivery of care. The team surveyed every device connected to power in the three affected wings across eight floors, constructed between 1924 and 1981. All circuiting and circuit labeling was verified. A detailed, department-by-department plan was developed for switching equipment between normal and emergency power circuits as each was powered down, including review by ministry leadership, clinical leadership, Safety & Security, and IS. Detailed Methods of Procedures (MOPs) were developed. These documents served as a single reference, containing the tasks of all team members to ensure coordination and that no steps were forgotten. Portable temporary generators were brought into bridge gaps during nine major power shutdowns.
The project was of such scale and complexity that retired construction manager David Wachob was persuaded to return to work part-time to assist with the project. David had retired several years ago after 20+ years managing construction projects at PRMCE. Peter Smeltz, manager, facilities engineering, was the lead, providing detailed in-house knowledge of the electrical system. David led the development of the MOPs and the verification of circuit and equipment locations. Jim Grafton, design and construction manager, handled the business of the project, including contracting, cash flow projections, recordkeeping, and eBuilder maintenance. The project also benefited from detailed electrical knowledge gathered by Stantec, particularly Maureen Jackson, principal, who had originally planned the project during construction of the D Wing Tower approximately 10 years ago.
The team was successful in executing nine major electrical shutdowns, including switching of all devices between power sources, without any major incidents, injuries, communication interruptions, or damage, and without the need to vacate any patient rooms.
Project team
RESO
- Pete Smeltz, manager facilities engineering
- James Grafton, design and construction manager
- David Wachob (retired) design and construction manager
Vendor Partners
- Stantec – electrical engineering contractor
- VECA Electric & Technologies
Related
Like and share the congratulatory LinkedIn post from Alex Herr, RESO VP
Hear IS & RESO EVP/CIO BJ Moore’s shout-out to this award-winning team on our March 28 Open Forum