Behind the Scenes - Robert Wright
Most of us are aware of the skill, commitment and compassion it takes to be a frontline caregiver in a healthcare system. However, equally important is the critical work supporting those at the bedside. In this series, MLH is spotlighting the invaluable work performed by our Associates every day.
Robert Wright starts his work after the sun sets most nights. He’s worked at Methodist South Hospital for nearly 11 years, almost three of those as a stationary engineer.
Each night, he walks through the hospital's front door and takes the elevator down to the basement. After the elevator doors part, he heads through “the shop” – which houses a few tables, computers and office chairs – on his way to the engineering plant, where the constant whirl and buzz of activity indicates the massive machinery is still running smoothly.
Robert and his team of engineers are in charge of the underground plant that provides the services a hospital needs to operate 24/7.
His night starts with routine safety checks – ensuring the industrial size boilers have sufficient water and that the machines are running at the correct temperature.
These machines, which include systems that provide running water to the entire hospital, are critical to every area of the facility, from patient rooms to operating rooms.
February 2021 brought one of the biggest challenges Robert and his team at South have ever faced. A record amount of snowfall crushed the Mid-South with icy conditions.
The consistent, below-freezing temperatures caused an emergency situation across the city as dozens of frozen water pipes burst, shutting off running water to some areas of the city. It was all hands on deck for the engineers at South.
“Our biggest concern was dialysis patients,” Robert said, remembering the storm that caused pipes across the city to burst.
The team did everything they could to ensure the hospital could still operate as normally as possible.
“We kind of fought through it. We had a big gigantic water tank delivered and hooked up to our system to take our equipment off of the city water so we could get our building water pressure up,” he said.
Engineers and every member of the Methodist Le Bonheur Facilities teams often work behind the scenes. But, they play an indispensable role in our organization. For Robert and the engineering team, their priority is always the patient and ensuring that all who come to Methodist South experience the high-quality care and service MLH is known for providing.
