Česky
What does the maintenance department take care of in the hospital?
The Maintenance Department takes care of the operation and maintenance of the hospital's indoor and outdoor areas, including all the detached outpatient clinics in Hostomice, Jince, Zbiroh, Radnice, Králov Dvůr, Žebrák and Zdice. We also provide maintenance of the sampling points at covid-19 and apartment buildings for NH employees. We provide operation of electrical equipment, boiler room, technical medical gases and air conditioning. We are responsible for preventive maintenance and inspections of equipment, instruments and machinery. We also perform some electrical, plumbing and masonry work. It's a really diverse range of activities. Since last year, we have also been taking care of the Diagnostic Centre of the Hořovice Hospital in Prague - Nové Butovice.
What professions and workers can you do without?
Electrician, plumber and locksmith. These are three professions that are crucial for the hospital's operation. Another profession is a bricklayer and a yard crew that takes care of the greenery and cleaning on the hospital grounds.
However, everyone in the team has to be able to do everything, and we have to be substitutable because of the emergency services. There are now 12 of us on the ward, but it's still not enough. We need to strengthen the team, especially with electricians, who are in short supply.
What is a typical working day like in your department? What do you deal with every day?
Our working day starts at 6am, when we meet and divide up the work. Some of the tasks come through the Helpdesk app, which all employees have installed on their computers, and through which they send us requests. Some tasks have to be done regularly every day, such as checking the status of medical gases. However, most of the work only shows up during the day. The most common accidental situation that we have to deal with is getting off the lift.
What mode do you work in? Does someone always have to be available day and night?
We work 24/7. Most start at 6:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. There remains an afternoon shift that is always staffed by one person all week from 9:30am to 6:00pm. This is followed by the on-call shift, which runs from 2:30pm to 6:00am. The electrician is on call 24 hours a day. I have to say, we're a really great bunch now. Even if the guys are not on call and a major emergency happens, they are able to come in and deal with it.
Is this job professionally demanding, for example, given the technical equipment of the hospital?
You have to learn it all. When I started here, I had finished school as an electrician, but the real work in practice was completely different. I had to learn everything about medical systems, medical gases, wiring in a hospital. It doesn't seem like it to you, but when you understand all the specifics of working in a hospital, it's a lot different. I think it would be worth considering opening up a degree program in healthcare electrician as well.
"Hospitals are changing before our eyes. You have to learn new things all the time."
How long have you been employed at Hořovice Hospital and what do you think has changed the most in that time?
I have been working in the maintenance department for 11 years and as maintenance manager for just over a year. The hospital has changed before our eyes in that time. I see it mainly in terms of technical equipment and new technologies. You always have to learn new things.
What do you like about the job and what is the most challenging thing you have to deal with?
I like working with people, which is what this job allows me to do. I also like that every day is different, the variety of work. You also look forward to work because there is a great group of colleagues.
The most challenging thing is the mental strain. When you get a call that the power's out. It can happen that the generator doesn't come on, and you have to deal with these situations quickly. There are days when you get 90 calls a day.
What is your relationship with Hořovice Hospital?
I was here at the hospital when I was 15 years old, working in the kitchen. My grandmother worked in the laundry. I've worked here my whole professional career so far.
