Richardson upgrading heating, cooling system
Richardson Medical is proud to announce being awarded a Delta Regional Authority grant in the amount of $266,822.00 by North Delta Regional Planning and Development District.
The grant was designated to replace fan coils air conditioning and heating units. A request was submitted to the DRA in October 2018. In October 2019 it was approved. The project was started in March 2020. The total amount was distributed in phases. As phases were completed, RMC funded then the DRA grant would reimburse.
“We started this project in the early days of the COVID19 outbreak and quarantine,” RMC administrator James W. Barrett Jr., said. “As it happened, patient load was down for a while and we were able to shut down rooms in order to work in them without disturbing patient care. We also had to work around our COVID Unit when there were empty rooms in there. Patient care and safety comes first. Dragging the project out was non-negotiable.”
The project was completed in December 2020. Director of maintenance Waymond Hales praised his staff for their hard work and dedication to completing the job.
“I have a wonderful team who stepped up and worked hard while taking care, not only of the fan coil project, but also of other daily needs which arise on a daily basis in a facility like this,” Hales stated.
Richardson Medical Center was built in 1971. In order to put in new fan coils, the old had to be removed. Leaking units were removed and cleaned out to make way for the new. New duct work, grills and ceiling tiles were installed in each room. The new units are in the West Wing Med-Surg area, ICU and the entire basement.
“We in Louisiana understand the, sometimes drastic, temperature changes even in a 24 hour period,” Barrett said. “Every room now has the ability to switch from heat to cold as needed while controlling the exact temperature of the room also. Now patients have the luxury of being able to keep their room where they want it. Before, maintenance would have to be called out, sometimes at night to switch the entire facility over to heating or to air conditioning, with no ability to regulate the exact temperature. This was a big problem that is now resolved thanks to this DRA grant.
“We appreciate our wonderful working relationship and support from the North Delta Regional Planning and Development District. Executive Director Doug Mitchell and Director of Regional Development Tracy Ausberry were especially helpful throughout this entire process.”