TD Safely Supports West Texas Hospital During Height of Pandemic

By Caroline Jerome

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, one West Texas hospital treated 90 percent of COVID-19 cases in the Midland/ Odessa metro area. Many hospitals reserve their top floor for storage space, but with a massive number of patients coming through the doors, this hospital set out to create a sterile critical care patient floor as quickly as possible. TD stepped in to support this fast turnaround while keeping patients and work crews safe throughout the project.

TD SCOPE

Roughly 40 TD skilled technicians were brought in to transform the ninth floor of the hospital in six months. Working six days a week, the team completed all areas of the project on time, adding 48 beds for critical and progressive care in the Critical Care Unit. TD brought in more than 43,000 pounds of ductwork and 27,750 linear feet of piping to work around an existing storm drain and two air handlers. To support the expedited schedule, TD’s Dallas manufacturing shop preassembled sink risers and shower valves for all bathrooms on the floor.

“There were a lot of challenges and pressure on this project, and our team had the courage to do the job with excellence,” said TD Senior Superintendent Randy Smith. “They knew it was an important job for the community and they worked hard with a mission-first mindset.”

TD SAFETY

One of TD’s core values is to “fiercely protect the safety of all Partners,” of critical importance when working on a health care facility amid a global health crisis. TD employees on-site used badges to enter the building and completed a health questionnaire and mandatory temperature checks before working. Workers also wore masks and practiced social distancing.

“The ninth floor expansion and renovation at this hospital placed our Partners (employees) near direct exposure of many COVID-19 cases during the first peak of the pandemic,” said TD Safety Manager Cameron Williams. “That challenge, along with limited resources due to supply chain bottlenecks, limited in-person interaction from other parties due to social distancing, and many other unforeseen factors, proved difficult for our Partners. However, the project team pulled together and stepped up in a big way to battle through one of the toughest projects to date to support our communities in a time of need.”