What does your current role entail?
Our team covers multiple healthcare facilities, ensuring fire systems are operating as they should. I’m currently in training, shadowing more experienced team members. As a new employee I’m not working on the fire systems yet, but I do other things while I’m working on my certifications and license, so a teammate and I go to different clinics in our state to tag devices and get them ready for inspections.
There are two areas of responsibility within the fire team: the alarm side and the fire sprinkler side, each ensuring those components are working properly. Some of our team members specialize in one or the other, but I am being trained on both types of systems. Two of us new hires are just starting our careers here, and I’m excited to learn all sides of the business. We take turns shadowing teams on the alarm and fire sprinkler sides, constantly checking pipes, fire pumps, valves, smoke detectors and other elements to ensure they are ready in the event of a fire.
Medxcel is a place where I can grow. I have a long career ahead of me here and have much to learn, but I’m so excited. It will take me years to work on my certifications but I love it here.
Describe the path you took to arrive in your current role.
I moved to Oklahoma a year ago from California. In California I worked chasing down fires, working alongside The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. There’s no shortage of fires in California. My town (Paradise, CA) burned down in 2018 — it was one of the biggest structural fires in the country. Since then, I had been leaning towards fire safety. When this job opened up, I thought, “That job sounds perfect for me!"
What is the best part of your job?
I've been loving every bit of it. I like getting to meet everyone and interacting with all of the clinics and hospitals. I've already met so many people; I know them by name now. You see people from every department going through the halls. The people here are my favorite part.
What kind of training and development have you received at Medxcel?
A lot of hospitals and clinics don't have their own fire team dedicated to just one building. Luckily, the main hospital we serve is large and we have a couple of experienced team members there who are training us. Our manager is supporting us in taking classes to help us prepare for our certification exams. Two of us are new here and we're starting from the bottom; everyone's been super helpful. It's awesome. Medxcel is helping with training, preparing for our exams, and will pay for our certifications and exams.
How would you describe the Medxcel culture?
Medxcel and the people at the hospital feel like a family. I love how closely knit everyone is and I really love that aspect of the culture.
How do you feel your team impacts patient care?
We work in the background and a lot of people don’t realize what we do here. We try to stay inconspicuous and out of the way of patients and clinicians. Sometimes we have to get up into the ceiling to do our work and get into places that are near the patients and hospital workers. But I know that when it comes down to an emergency, everyone wants us there, making sure everything is in working order and ready in case of a fire. I love working in the background, knowing that what we do keeps the buildings and the patients safe.
Would you recommend working at Medxcel?
I recommend it. I’ve been working here for about six months and I absolutely love it. I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of what I can do at Medxcel but I love my role and I love everyone here. I’m learning so much and I haven’t felt overwhelmed at all. Everyone is so helpful and the benefits here are really great. Of all the jobs I’ve ever had, Medxcel has the best benefits package.