In his role with the engineering department at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside, Zach Bryant’s primary focus is on the energy plant, which he calls “the heartbeat of the hospital.”
However, on July 4 of this year, Zach experienced a role reversal when he suffered a massive heart attack. The hospital was now focused on his heartbeat.
“I owe my life to people of this hospital system,” he shares.
As we celebrate Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week, Zach shares more about his role and his experience as a patient in the hospital. Learn more about him and his role in this Q&A.
Q: What kind of support did you receive from the hospital after your heart attack?
A: Without the people in this ministry, from the environmental services department to my cardiologist, I wouldn’t be able to say, “Thank you” to all of you. To the small group I directly work with, I can’t express enough gratitude. They visited, covered shifts and allowed me the time to recover so I could come back quicker. I owe them the most appreciation for the friendship and laughter they have and continue to give.
Q: Describe some of your main job responsibilities throughout a given day.
A: The focus for me daily is the energy plant and internal projects. The energy plant is the heartbeat of any facility and ours provides everything from suction in the operating room to the hot water in the bathroom. The leadership that this department has is what makes us all successful though. As a department and individually we are not only allowed but expected to think outside the box. With that known, we have been able to come up with and implement new or updated systems throughout the hospital.
Q: How critical is facilities management to patient care?
A: The engineering department is critical for every person who steps in the building. Somedays we seem like the annoying ones just setting off fire alarms over and over. We do these things though to make sure something as simple as a door closing properly to allow every opportunity for a safe outcome for patients, visitors and staff. Almost every service in the hospital is, in a way, affected by this department, and we strive to make it a positive effect every day.
The theme of this year’s Health Care Facilities and Engineering Week is “Engineered to Make a Difference,” and Zach is one of many who make a difference. We celebrate the important role that our facility team members have in ensuring a safe and efficient environment for all patients, residents, visitors and staff within our hospitals.
Learn about the health care services we offer at Bon Secours.
