PORT ANGELES — Olympic Medical Center commissioners have approved infrastructure improvements at the Port Angeles hospital including new automatic exterior doors and automation of the blood bank.
The commissioners also have approved an agreement with a new oxygen supply company that is expected to save OMC about $350,000 over a seven-year period.
Five new doors will replace aging doors on the ground level of the hospital at 939 Caroline St., Darryl Wolfe, OMC interim chief financial officer told commissioners Wednesday evening.
“We originally budgeted for three new doors in 2016 for a total of $59,620,” he said.
“As we looked into that, the vendor gave us an opportunity to replace all five of our end-of-life doors for $70,514. This was introduced at the April 6 meeting and also discussed in budget committee.”
The newest doors being replaced were installed in the early 1990s, he said.
Eric Lewis, OMC chief executive officer, said the current doors “operate too slowly and there is no more spare parts.”
The new doors will offer enhanced safety, and spare parts will be available to service them if they malfunction, he said.
“This is a great deal,” he said.
Blood bank automation
During the meeting, the commissioners approved the purchase of equipment that will automate blood work services, which will improve patient safety and streamline operations, said Scott Kennedy, OMC chief medical officer.
“This is a good time to bring automation in,” Kennedy said.
The cost to purchase the equipment is $91,500 — not including tax — with an annual maintenance cost of $12,000 a year, Kennedy said.
The cost has been budgeted for 2016, he said.
Bulk medical oxygen
Switching oxygen-handling services from Air Liquide America Corporation to Praxair will save about $50,000 per year over the next seven years, Wolfe said.
The estimated cost for the switch is about $150,528 over seven years, he said.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
