Due to the efforts of Elaine Lewis (surgical tech), Dan
Brown (facilities manager) and Ed Martin (administrator) major progress is
being made. When we arrived yesterday on
campus there was a noticeable difference.
The wires and tubes hanging all over the front of the building have been
consolidated and cleaned up, the old ambulance parked in the backyard has been
relocated, the nonfunctioning rusty water tank that was “gifted” to us after
the earthquake has been removed, and the makeshift dilapidated kitchen built by
the supreme masters in 2010 has been destroyed.
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| Rose and Elaine |
Thanks to Elaine the operating room is in impeccable
condition. I have never seen it so
organized. Not a single item is out of
place in the sterilization room, the table is not piled up with a bunch of
disorganized instruments, the sinks are clean and the shelves are labeled and
neatly stacked. Although the new
operating room is still awaiting some final touches the current operating area
is more than adequate to accommodate whatever cases need to be done. A big part of doing safe surgery is being
organized, having what you need when you need it, keeping equipment clean and
in good working condition, and effectively using what you have. More important than Elaine’s organizational
skills is her diplomacy. She has not
done all this work herself. She has
motivated the staff, built relationships, taught them what needs to be done and
shown appreciation for quality work.
They are now doing it on their own.
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| Before Elaine |
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| After Elaine and Staff |
I have not yet seen the progress inside the new operating
room but I expect that my report will be good.
Two massive medical air/suction pumps have been installed downstairs as
well as a huge circuit board. These
pumps look large enough to run the 16 operating rooms at Loma Linda University
much less the 3 at HAH. The front
entrance to the operating rooms has been remodeled and looks modern and clean.
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| Suction and Medical Air Compressors |
This week in addition to the cases that we have to operate
we plan to accomplish some administrative goals regarding the sustainability of
the orthopaedic program. Although all of
us have the common goal of continuing to offer top quality services to all, it
is challenging to find ways to increase revenues, make a budget, transact
donations and continue to host volunteers without burdening the precarious
financial situation of the hospital.
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