It’s Like a House Renovation – Only a Million Times More Complicated!

George Thorne,
Director of Engineering

If you can remember where you lived in 1958 (the year MedStar Washington Hospital Center opened) or even any time in the 60s, 70s, or 80s, you’ll recall that a house or apartment was lucky to have two electrical sockets per room. That’s how things were at the Hospital Center when my father was a paint/plaster supervisor here from 1964 -1987. It’s the way things were when I joined the Hospital Center family in 1969.

How things have changed!

For the last year, as we prepared the Hospital Center physical plant for our upgraded Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system, our engineers have walked through and assessed all 926 rooms, all operating rooms, all treatment areas – and more – many, many, many times to assure everything is up to code, modernized, and ready for our new equipment.

Working with our partners in Design and Construction, and Information Technology, we have installed, upgraded or built:

• 300+ electrical outlets
• 2,668 devices (desktop computers, hand-held computers, tracking boards, monitors)
• 80+ new cabinets
• 46 new desktops with a wall-mount arm
• 68 new countertops and shelves
• Completely renovated 3 patient units

The engineers are proud to be part of this moment in the Hospital Center’s history. I think my Dad would be proud, too.

George Thorne, Director, Engineering