National Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week: A Spotlight on Providence Care

It’s no question that Canada’s healthcare organizations could not function without facilities teams. Just thinking about maintenance to water, heating, and cooling systems alone, reminds us there are so many things going on behind the scenes. And all of these things play a role in the safety of our staff, patients, and clients. 

When it comes to HIROC, people know us as their insurer and partner in safety, but some may not realize that as a one-stop-shop, we provide best-in-class service and coverage for things like property, equipment breakdown, auto, construction projects and more. As such, we’re proud to work with healthcare facilities teams across the country – these teams keep sites open and safe. So, from all of us at HIROC, thank you! 

In honour of National Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week, we connected with Chris Mackey, the Director of Facilities Management at Providence Care – a provider of specialized care in aging, mental health, palliative care and rehabilitation in Kingston, Ontario. For those who don’t know it, the organization is made up of more than 20 community programs, Providence Manor long-term care home, Providence Care Hospice, Providence Transitional Care Centre, and Providence Care Hospital.

About Chris Mackey, Director of Facilities Management …

Mackey tells us with pride that he’s been working in healthcare for 22 years, 13 of those at Providence Care. He’s a member of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES), he currently serves as Vice Chair of the Ontario Chapter of CHES.

About the Facilities Management Team at Providence Care….

As the Director of Facilities Management at Providence Care, Mackey’s portfolio is large. Mackey oversees building systems and infrastructure (HVAC, emergency power, life safety systems, security systems, medical gases), maintenance for both medical and non-medical equipment, as well as security and emergency preparedness, regulatory compliance, environmental services, supporting planning for capital projects and space utilization, and more.

As an organization that spans multiple sites – so too does the team. On any given day, Mackey connects with his managers at the sites to get a grasp on what’s happening. 

Let’s hear about some recent successes of the team…

Providence Care recently completed construction of a new 10-bed hospice house, the first of its kind for the community. Providence Care’s AB Smith Homestead House provides 24-hour, compassionate care for individuals during end-of-life in a home-like environment. It features private suites, family gathering spaces, a spiritual room and a large kitchen to foster a sense of home and community. 

Mackey and his team are also heavily involved in the redevelopment of the Providence Care long-term care home, Providence Manor, including relocating from its downtown Kingston location to 1200 Princess Street.“I get involved in those projects right from the very beginning, when the planning gets started. We found that the best way to ensure a successful project is to ensure that multiple stakeholders are involved in the planning process,” says Mackey. 

Their focus on energy efficiency….

When we spoke with Mackey, we could tell how proud he is of his team’s commitment to energy efficiency and carbon reduction. “By optimizing energy use and minimizing our carbon footprint, we not only reduce operational costs but also create safer, cleaner environments for patients, staff, and the communities we serve,” he said. 

Providence Care Hospital has recently been awarded the prestigious 5% Club Award by Greening Health Care, recognizing their achievement in reducing total energy consumption for the hospital by more than 5 per cent from its baseline year, just three years ago. 

“5 per cent doesn’t sound like a lot but when it comes to energy savings, it’s a lot – that’s a major milestone.” 

Mackey shared that most organizations see their energy creep up over time, not down. He said one way they’ve achieved this is by leveraging the tools Greening Health Care provides to analyze the organization’s usage and data, and make improvements. 

The team is also exploring the feasibility of installing a 500-700kW solar photovoltaic plant on the roof of Providence Care Hospital. 

How does Mackey support his team’s learning and development…

All Providence Care Facilities Management Team members are members of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES), which is adding exposure to training the team may not otherwise get in a healthcare environment. They are also looking at training for Canadian standards relevant to healthcare, such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and infection control. All of these opportunities help Mackey and the team manage the organization’s facilities in line with current best practices. 

You can imagine with all of this on the go, Mackey and his team are busy but they are still so driven. We jokingly asked him how he keeps it all together. He said, “I learned how to meditate a few years ago and it helps!”

To the facilities teams of all our Subscribers across Canada, THANK YOU for the work that you do!

By Michelle Holden, Lead, Communications and Marketing at HIROC