Lesley & Associates, Inc.

April 25, 2009 11:58 pm

— CUMBERLAND — On a weekend in November that has yet to be determined, the Western Maryland Health System will close two hospitals and move everything — beds, stethoscopes, pens, thermometers, tongue depressors and sick patients — to a new facility on Willowbrook Road ... in one day, two days at most.
A 24- to 48-hour, industrial strength relocation such as this takes much planning, said Jo Wilson, the system’s vice president in charge of the pills-on-wheels episode. “Good planning makes the execution of the move a non-event,” Wilson said Tuesday.
Since March 2007, Wilson and others have traveled to places such as Texas, Missouri and Ontario to talk with hospital administrators who have already been down, or were currently going down, this same road.
“We found that the hospital in Waco was in a situation like ours, being the only hospital within 45 miles,” Wilson said. “On the other hand, the hospital in Independence, Mo., was surrounded by 23 other hospitals so that if a patient was having bypass trauma, some other facility could provide care.”
Wilson pointed out that the local system almost daily deals with patient transport, such as sending someone to Ruby Memorial in Morgantown, W.Va.
“The difference this time will be that we transport a lot of patients over a short period,” she said. Wilson anticipates that 25 ambulance companies will be needed to make that happen. Local police agencies will be asked to help, perhaps providing escorts or traffic control.
“Patients will be taken on one route to the new hospital, equipment (such as ventilators) on a second route and employees on a third route,” Wilson said. “We don’t want any one of those to be backed up by a bottleneck in front of them.”
A specialty company offering transport of premature babies will be hired to move those young patients if any exist at the time. Bids have been sought for firms that move hazardous materials.
“We really can’t put a cost on the move at this time,” said system spokeswoman Kathy Rogers. “There are a lot of costs that are not yet known.”
For example, some requests for proposals to moving companies have not yet gone out.
“Our goal is to make sure doctors are not the least bit distracted by this move, that they can devote their time to medical care,” Wilson said. “We will have pertinent new fax numbers in hand for them if they need to prescribe a certain medicine to a department. Volunteers will be in the new hospital to direct them to the appropriate locations.”
WMHS has hired Lesley & Associates of Houston, Texas, to plan the move to the new regional hospital.
“We are just about to reach our 25th year (of moving companies),” said President Patsy Lesley by phone Tuesday. Lesley has traveled to Cumberland on numerous occasions for two years preparing for the move.
“This will be one of the largest hospital moves for us in terms of square footage and number of patients,” she said.
Hospitals are dynamic places, Lesley pointed out.
“The hospital move in Waco was to start at 6 a.m. on a Saturday. When we went to bed Friday there were 86 patients. When we got to the hospital Saturday morning there were 100,” she said.
At WMHS, the average daily census during March was 208.
Lesley said the checklist in preparation for the move is 60 pages with a type size of only 8 points, but that WMHS is sailing through it.
“You have an incredible group of people that we work with,” she said. “Everyone in the organization (WMHS) is aware of everything that has to happen.”
Area Boy Scouts will act as patients on a dry run at the new hospital before it opens.
Wilson said each Boy Scout will wear a badge identifying that person as a heart patient or an orthopedic patient or some other kind of patient. Each will then proceed through the care system at the new hospital, including being served meals.
“It’s a great opportunity for community service to the health system,” said Don Olsen, executive director of BSA Potomac Council. “We are looking forward to helping them put the new system to the test.”
Wilson said the new hospital will be open by Thanksgiving.
Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.

Photos

Construction continues on Western Maryland Health System Regional Medical Center on Willowbrook Road in Cumberland. Patients, equipment and hospital employees will be relocated to the new facility from the Braddock and Memorial campuses via three separate routes.

Pictured Friday afternoon, WMHS Memorial Campus on Memorial Avenue in Cumberland. The daily average number of patients served by WMHS in March was 208.

Pictured Friday afternoon, Western Maryland Health System’s Braddock Campus on Seton Drive in Lavale. The daily average number of patients served by WMHS in March was 208.

	NEWS
	WMHS plans 1-2 day move Michael A. Sawyers Cumberland Times-News April 25, 2009 11:58 pm — CUMBERLAND — On a weekend in November that has yet to be determined, the Western Maryland Health System will close two hospitals and move everything — beds, stethoscopes, pens, thermometers, tongue depressors and sick patients — to a new facility on Willowbrook Road ... in one day, two days at most. A 24- to 48-hour, industrial strength relocation such as this takes much planning, said Jo Wilson, the system’s vice president in charge of the pills-on-wheels episode. “Good planning makes the execution of the move a non-event,” Wilson said Tuesday. Since March 2007, Wilson and others have traveled to places such as Texas, Missouri and Ontario to talk with hospital administrators who have already been down, or were currently going down, this same road. “We found that the hospital in Waco was in a situation like ours, being the only hospital within 45 miles,” Wilson said. “On the other hand, the hospital in Independence, Mo., was surrounded by 23 other hospitals so that if a patient was having bypass trauma, some other facility could provide care.” Wilson pointed out that the local system almost daily deals with patient transport, such as sending someone to Ruby Memorial in Morgantown, W.Va. “The difference this time will be that we transport a lot of patients over a short period,” she said. Wilson anticipates that 25 ambulance companies will be needed to make that happen. Local police agencies will be asked to help, perhaps providing escorts or traffic control. “Patients will be taken on one route to the new hospital, equipment (such as ventilators) on a second route and employees on a third route,” Wilson said. “We don’t want any one of those to be backed up by a bottleneck in front of them.” A specialty company offering transport of premature babies will be hired to move those young patients if any exist at the time. Bids have been sought for firms that move hazardous materials. “We really can’t put a cost on the move at this time,” said system spokeswoman Kathy Rogers. “There are a lot of costs that are not yet known.” For example, some requests for proposals to moving companies have not yet gone out. “Our goal is to make sure doctors are not the least bit distracted by this move, that they can devote their time to medical care,” Wilson said. “We will have pertinent new fax numbers in hand for them if they need to prescribe a certain medicine to a department. Volunteers will be in the new hospital to direct them to the appropriate locations.” WMHS has hired Lesley & Associates of Houston, Texas, to plan the move to the new regional hospital. “We are just about to reach our 25th year (of moving companies),” said President Patsy Lesley by phone Tuesday. Lesley has traveled to Cumberland on numerous occasions for two years preparing for the move. “This will be one of the largest hospital moves for us in terms of square footage and number of patients,” she said. Hospitals are dynamic places, Lesley pointed out. “The hospital move in Waco was to start at 6 a.m. on a Saturday. When we went to bed Friday there were 86 patients. When we got to the hospital Saturday morning there were 100,” she said. At WMHS, the average daily census during March was 208. Lesley said the checklist in preparation for the move is 60 pages with a type size of only 8 points, but that WMHS is sailing through it. “You have an incredible group of people that we work with,” she said. “Everyone in the organization (WMHS) is aware of everything that has to happen.” Area Boy Scouts will act as patients on a dry run at the new hospital before it opens. Wilson said each Boy Scout will wear a badge identifying that person as a heart patient or an orthopedic patient or some other kind of patient. Each will then proceed through the care system at the new hospital, including being served meals. “It’s a great opportunity for community service to the health system,” said Don Olsen, executive director of BSA Potomac Council. “We are looking forward to helping them put the new system to the test.” Wilson said the new hospital will be open by Thanksgiving. Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com. Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc. Photos Construction continues on Western Maryland Health System Regional Medical Center on Willowbrook Road in Cumberland. Patients, equipment and hospital employees will be relocated to the new facility from the Braddock and Memorial campuses via three separate routes. Pictured Friday afternoon, WMHS Memorial Campus on Memorial Avenue in Cumberland. The daily average number of patients served by WMHS in March was 208. Pictured Friday afternoon, Western Maryland Health System’s Braddock Campus on Seton Drive in Lavale. The daily average number of patients served by WMHS in March was 208.

WMHS plans 1-2 day move