Tell us about your role as Maintenance Mechanic.
I work at a smaller facility, so it’s different from my previous positions where areas are more defined. In small hospitals like this one, the team all jumps in together to get the job done. We have cohesion here. I’m usually the first responder, being able to say “Hey, there's a work order that's my alley.” I know when a request is not the electrician's job or the powerplant operator’s job. My time in the industry has made it easier to identify.
What path did you take to arrive in your current role?
Prior to Medxcel, I worked as a technician at a property management group. It was just the property manager and me, so basically, I was on an island by myself. When another company took over, I’d move around from building to building in the portfolio.
After having to take a pause, I returned to the workforce in a security position at a hospital. While there I met the Medxcel team and decided to come on board as a maintenance mechanic. Two years later, I pursued a different career choice at another company and then, COVID hit. Life changed again when I took time off to care for our newly adopted grandson with special needs.
Once my wife and I settled into a new normal with our grandson, I saw the maintenance mechanic opening at this facility and contacted Medxcel. During my interviews, we talked and just hit it off. They said I’d be a great fit and hired me. We have a really good group of people here, and my return to Medxcel has been working out for me.
What is the best part of your job?
The best parts are Medxcel’s paid time off, work-life balance, and welcoming atmosphere. I can come to work and don't have to feel pressure from home. I typically don't have to work weekends. There’s plenty of PTO, unlike other places where you must earn your time off by the hour. It’s nice to not have to worry about that.
Our team eats lunch together every day. Sometimes we'll all chip in and get pizza, and it's a family atmosphere. That goes for our patients too. When I'm passing through the hallway and someone is looking for which way, which door, or which direction to go, they can ask me. I'm like one of the greeters that says, “You can go to this floor and it's down that elevator there.” When I retire, I’m going to be a hospital volunteer.
How does your work impact patient care?
When new associates come on board, I’ll demonstrate how to knock on a patient’s door, introduce yourself, let them know why you’re here, and how long it’s going to take to have everything needed for the repair. Communication makes a difference. It's not just about fixing things all the time. It's customer service that’s important.
How does Medxcel support your personal well-being?
Medxcel trusts that my actions will match what I say I’m going to do, and that means a lot to me. They’ve been very accommodating of my life circumstances. When I need to take time off, my team will jump in and cover for me.
Another great thing is that Medxcel helped shift my schedule when I first got hired. The adjustments allow me to get my grandchild ready and out the door, and I can still make it to work on time.
How would you describe the Medxcel culture?
Medxcel recognizes you for hard work and achievement. I got two “service excellence” callouts this year from hospital staff surveyed about their work order experience. I was really surprised because I’m just doing my job. You never know who you're going to meet, and it’s important to treat everyone with the same level of service and respect.
We have others’ best interests at heart. I once had a patient put in a work order for his room, and while I was there, he was telling me what I should do to fix the problem. In speaking with him, I discovered he was a Medxcel technician for another facility. Our hospital was looking for a maintenance mechanic at the time, and I sold him on the opportunity. I referred him as an internal career move, and he was promoted to the role.
What would you say to someone who asks you if you recommend working for Medxcel?
I recommend going to a trade school and working in this field. You’ll make just as much money without the college debt. If you are mechanically inclined and know a bit about plumbing, electricity, air conditioning, and fixing things, this is a great career.