San Ramon Regional Medical Center:

Dec. 4, 2009

Deadline Approaches for California Seismic Rehab Compliance

San Ramon Regional Medical Center, One of the First to Comply, Explains How

The clock is running out. The deadline to comply with California Senate Bill 1953, which established seismic readiness standards for more than 450 California hospitals by 2013, is fast approaching. Yet many hospitals in the state have yet to begin seismic upgrades, says Steve Barnum, Director of Plant Operations at San Ramon Regional Medical Center, San Ramon, Calif., one of the few hospitals to come into compliance.

“You can hope for an extension or you get going with required seismic rehab. “It's a difficult process, but the right firm can make it much less painful. Hire smart and it's possible to come in on time and on budget,” Barnum advises.

San Ramon, a 123 bed advanced acute care hospital which opened in 1990, recently completed a non-structural (NPC-3) retrofit throughout the facility. The project involved firmly bracing fire sprinkler and medical gas systems to withstand a major earthquake. Additionally, suspended ceilings were anchored with the addition of steel compression posts, and vital laboratory and pharmacy equipment were secured using flexible fastening systems.

The project, which was conducted in stages and scheduled individually from department to department, was successfully completed in part thanks to a rigorous selection process to find the right construction firm for the job.

“We knew we needed a contractor experienced in specialized hospital construction and that this had to be a closely monitored collaborative effort. Taking the facility off line during the rehab was not an option,” said Barnum.

Once the decision was made to undergo compliance, Barnum and his team began to vet potential contractors. A short list of firms was prepared based upon their reputations, ability to self perform, recommendations from other area hospitals, and coverage in various health care trade publications.

“We also wanted a firm with the right chemistry because we knew these people would be constantly underfoot as the hospital remained fully functioning,” said Barnum. When selecting a construction firm for seismic rehab, Barnum suggests setting the following criteria:

Are they self-performing? Hospital construction requires a specially trained workforce that places the needs of the patients first and foremost. Is the firm experienced in infection control, particularly rigorous Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) guidelines? Are they ready to do what it takes to get the job done, yet with a minimum of change orders? Is the firm self-directed or do they require extraordinary supervision? Are they willing to have two shifts committed to quick turnarounds and late night maneuvering to meet deadlines?

Barnum also recommends reviewing references, and not just those provided by the candidate firm. “Take the initiative to interview their other clients, especially those not on the firm's own list of references.”

In early 2008, San Ramon retained Essrig Taylor Construction, Inc. (www.etcusa.net), of San Diego, specialists in hospital seismic mitigation. Chris Taylor, executive vice president, credits the assignment to the company's self-performing team focus on getting the job done, often working overnight to get an individual department completed within just 48 hours. “We often have plumbers helping electricians, and electricians working on concrete pours - multi-tasking like this is rare when jobs are subbed out.”

Taylor also points to ETC's strong commitment to quality control. “A supervisor is always on site checking to make sure the job is done correctly the first time,” he said.

San Ramon's Barnum adds, “In the end, the experience with Essrig Taylor was so successful, some of our staff hosted an ice cream and pizza party in their honor to celebrate completion. They defy the stereotype of the typical construction worker. Our clinical directors and staff have never been more complimentary of any contracting service.”

Based upon its work in seismic rehab, Essrig Taylor has since been assigned other projects at the hospital, including construction of the 2,500 sq. ft. Breast Center at San Ramon which opened in November 2009 and features two new digital mammography units and a state-of-the art biopsy table. The company also replaced two rooftop industrial boiler units, and installed over 40 new electric fire/smoke dampers at the site. In addition, the Essrig Taylor team conducted educational seminars at the hospital using its Quake Cottage, the world's first mobile earthquake simulator (www.quakecottage.com).

As a result of this process, San Ramon Regional is now strongly braced and can exceed any maximum anticipated seismic event in California. The hospital is not only much better prepared for a seismic event, it has been recognized as a point of refuge by county emergency services officials.

For more information, visit San Ramon Regional Medical Center website at sanramonmedctr.com