FMC readies for Monday’s new surgical wing opening

LANCASTER – It’s moving time at Fairfield Medical Center.

Anyone who has ever moved from one residence to another would probably agree that’s it not easy. From advance planning to lifting heavy objects on moving day, it can be a tedious process.

But that’s just what is happening at FMC as workers move equipment from the old surgical wing into the new wing as part of the hospital’s $38 million expansion. The work must be finished by Monday because that is when the new wing is scheduled to open.

FMC material manager Paul Bateson said some equipment will be loaded onto a truck and moved about half a block to the new wing.

“Because we don’t want that stuff transported across the parking lot and that sort of thing,” he said. “So we’ll bring if over here (new wing) and unload it again.”

The items moving include all surgical equipment and supplies, among other things. Some of the operating tables weigh 800 to 1,000 pounds.

“But they’re on wheels,” Bateson said. “So we can bring them over. They’re a little bit challenging getting on and off elevators, and that sort of thing. They’re pretty heavy.”

The move started Wednesday with about 28 people doing the actual moving.

“It’s a major job,” Bateson said. “It’s a big thing because everything has to be cleaned and ready for surgery on Monday.”

In 2012, FMC announced plans for a two-story wing, off Ewing Street near Harmon Avenue and west of the main parking lot, which sits at the southern end of the hospital and connects to the main building.

The expansion, dubbed Project Bright, includes 10 operating rooms, one procedure room, 36 prep and recovery rooms and 30 inpatient rooms, including six surgical intensive care rooms.

The hospital plans to eventually provide private rooms to all patients because of the expansion.

Bateson said planning for the move started about six months ago.

“We have been trying to get things identified and where they’re going to go,” Bateson said. “As an example, you want one OR (operating room) over here moved to this OR over there. All of that equipment has been identified, so all we have to to do is take that room and put it over here.”

He said it took a lot of planning for the move because the medical staff members had to be included in the process.

“So it’s difficult to get everybody together on a consistent basis to plan for this type of thing,” Bateson said. “We had weekly meetings for several months.”

jbarron@lancastereaglegazette.com

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Twitter: @JeffDBarron