(1/18/2021)
2020 presented many challenges for healthcare facilities across the globe with the impact of COVID-19. While it wasn’t easy, our teams banded together to achieve new successes. Looking back at the last 12 months, we wanted to share some of our most memorable 2020 highlights with you - from constructing new building projects, to fighting COVID-19 along the seasonal flu and everything in between - and share what’s in store for us in 2021.
Looking Back at 2020 Successes
Even before the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States in February, our facilities teams were focusing on compliance education to avoid any miscommunications that could arise. By prioritizing compliance, Medxcel associates were able to quickly adapt to new changes in regulations. Having a plan in advance and regulating standards internally is key to preventing mistakes and avoiding costly fines. Read more about the key steps to educating facility staff on our blog
here. With many new healthcare professionals entering the field in 2021, training staff on compliance changes will continue to be important.
When COVID-19 began to spread rapidly in March, our associates jumped into action to implement the emergency management plans already in place. By having a team of emergency management (EM) professionals, our facilities were able to immediately assess the situation and work to contain the spread. Converting rooms and placing signage, tissues, masks and hand sanitizer in common areas were some of the initial steps taken in combating COVID-19. Read more
here on how we prepared for this pandemic and other infectious disease threats.
Throughout the year, new construction projects continued to be developed safely, providing new spaces for the treatment of patients. Construction management is at the foundation of all facilities, and if computers, HVAC systems, MRI and X-ray machines, and much more aren’t working properly, the whole hospital could be affected. That’s where our team comes in. By constructing functional buildings and maintaining them, our team is able to disprove many of the myths surrounding construction management. Check out this blog post
here to separate construction myths from facts.
Finding the right balance of full-time employees (FTEs) and contractors became a greater challenge for healthcare facilities this year, especially with the shifting needs due to COVID-19. In 2021, finding the perfect ratio will still be a challenge with every hospital having drastically different needs. We shared on our blog earlier this year how to find this perfect balance, which you can read
here.
Some of our greatest accomplishments this year can be shown in the dedication presented by some of our most talented employees. This year, Medxcel Property Manager Josh Ruth was recently recognized through one of Medxcel’s customers by the
Living Our Values Every Day (LOVED) committee for his work and actions in our company and our community. Additionally, Medxcel Regional Manager of Planning, Design and Construction Jeremy Fortier was granted
Senior Status by the American Society of Healthcare Engineering (SASHE), which is awarded to individuals who advance the field of healthcare engineering and facilities management.
As the winter season approached this year, facilities nationwide were not only preparing for the cold weather, but also surges in COVID-19 patients
and the seasonal flu. With winter now in full swing, our facilities were ready to face both in order to keep our patients, visitors and staff warm and safe this snow season. Get insight into how we prepared for this winter on our blog,
here.
Looking Ahead to 2021 and Life Beyond COVID-19
We’ve rung in the new year, and now our teams at Medxcel are hard at work implementing plans for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to our emergency management teams, we began preparing for the logistics of a COVID-19 vaccine distribution throughout most of last year. Our teams were practicing everything from transportation of the vaccine, to distributing and storing it in order to ensure the vaccine was safe and could not be tampered with. Because of the hard work and preparation of our associates, our facilities have been receiving and administering the vaccine safely and effectively since mid-December.
Looking ahead to life beyond COVID-19, we anticipate the number of cases and spread of the disease to decline as individuals gain immunity from the vaccine. Continuing to practice social distancing and healthy handwashing habits has already contributed to a mild flu season, and we continue to encourage these practices in the new year.
We’re looking forward to new accomplishments in every area of healthcare in 2021, including advances in telehealth, new design and construction projects, updated consulting practices and more. At Medxcel, our services will continue to guide everything we do, as we grow and optimize the maintenance and operations of facilities across the country. While we don’t know what the rest of 2021 will hold, you can rest assured that Medxcel will help your facility be prepared for whatever’s next.
We celebrate all our healthcare heroes for their incredible, unprecedented accomplishments this past 2020, and we are looking forward to a brighter 2021. Thank you to all of our associates for your dedicated service.
Want to learn more about how Medxcel can benefit your facility in 2021? Contact us at
info@medxcel.com or 855-633-9235.