Sapphire magazie Stevenson Memorial Hospital facitlies

     But it is also a building that requires constant maintenance to keep both the physical structure intact and services running smoothly. With 68,000 feet of floor space that contain a myriad of rooms, hallways, and maintenance areas, and a host of unseen wires, pipes, heating vents, and plumbing that support the building infrastructure, keeping it all in working order takes a team of knowledgeable staff. "Currently there is 34,235 square feet that is used for patient care, or around 50 per cent of the total building," explains Mike Bendell, Stevenson's Manager of Facilities Management. That includes patient waiting rooms, examination rooms, and treatment areas.
     The grounds also include the Mary McGill Mental Health building which adds another 7740 square feet and three floors that must be maintained with 50 per cent of that building dedicated to outpatient mental health services. Mike has the responsibility of ensuring the facility and supporting services are always up to standard. Telephone systems, food services, electrical, security, and construction, and also outdoor maintenance of the 8.9 acre grounds surrounding the main hospital buildings, are under his supervision.
    A recent project was the re-design of the main lobby area to create easier access for registration. The project was completed in May 2011.
    "We made changes to triage, and combined the registration, switchboard, and booking areas to make it one central location," Mike explains. "This creates an easier flow for people coming in. We used mostly modular furniture to create an easier flow of traffic."
     The landing pad that everyone sees when they enter the upper level parking lot also creates some challenges when trying to bring a full-sized air ambulance into a confined urban area.      "We have a clearly defined process inspected and governed by Transport Canada,” he explains of the procedures involved with a landing and take-off. "The most we've had is three in one day, although sometimes we don't get one in for two weeks."
     The Hospital was built prior to the days of air ambulance service so the landing area was created on the east side of the building - an area that still has parking spots for hospital visitors surrounding the yellow-circled landing pad.
     "In almost every occurrence with the helicopter, it is us initiating the call," Mike says, "so we have plenty of warning. We have to relocate vehicles if they are parked in the way. "
     On a personal level, Mike's involvement with Stevenson has been a life-long story - literally. Born in Alliston, he spent the first few days of his life in the same hospital he now maintains.
    "The day I was born, I was transferred from the old hospital building to the nursery in the new hospital. And all my children were born here too."
     After almost half a century of service, the Hospital is feeling the squeeze of urban development and population growth.
     The emergency room was designed to accommodate 7,000 visits per year but now sees more than four times that volume.
     Hospital administrators are looking to the future and planning for continued growth in the region.
      Stevenson's continued success as a health-care facility relies on its committed and skilled support staff to keep the building and services at optimum efficiency.