Message from the President

Perhaps you’ve seen the common “Pardon our Dust” sign—it’s often located near a facility where construction or renovation is taking place. Given what is happening to the Lab and Tower parking lots at the Medical Center in St. Joseph, that sign seems completely inadequate.

The site preparation for the new Pavilion is well under way. You’ve likely seen the huge piles of dirt, giant excavators, and front loaders working where 400 cars used to park. They are digging holes, changing grade, moving dirt, and relocating and upgrading the sewer and other utilities before actual construction begins.

On December 29, I visited the construction zone. I traded in my suit and tie for my Wrangler jeans, Carhartt jacket, and hardhat. The crew was generous enough to let me operate their heavy equipment. I love my machines but I would trade, in half-a-heartbeat, my John Deere and Bobcat for either one of those big Caterpillars.

But that was last year.

This year, in addition to beginning to build a brand new Pavilion, we will also begin a brand new business venture. This new venture is not aimed at taking better care of our patients and their families. This venture is all about doing our best to take better care of you, our team members. For the next three years, or so, we will be in the transportation business. And we are going to do our very best to do it exceptionally well.

Rich Mathews, Director of Safety and Security, and a very talented team of Lakeland leaders (Daniel Bacchiocchi, Jim Wasserman, Megan Yore, Sandi Plank, Susan Leach, and Tracy Braman) are working to help you arrive and leave the Medical Center safely and efficiently.

Part of the plan is to ensure convenient offsite parking and comfortable and timely transportation is available to and from the Medical Center in St. Joseph. That door-to-door service begins January 16.

Another part of the plan is to make sure there is enough onsite parking for those who need it most. That includes those who leave the facility well after dark, those who must come and go multiple times each day, and those with mobility challenges.

As we work on rebuilding the parking lot near the Emergency Department and continually dwindle down available parking in the other lots, we are encouraging team members to relocate meetings off campus and to carpool when coming to the Medical Center.

And of course, we need to make sure the parking garage is strictly reserved for guests, volunteers, radiation therapy patients, and limited physician and handicapped parking. Please watch for announcements and details on Pulse NewsLink, in your email, and from your manager.

Despite all the effort and planning, we know there will be inconveniences. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding. We are doing everything we can to make sure everyone, including senior leadership, takes their turn parking offsite.

P.S. Be aware that from our vantage point in administration, either Nancy, my executive assistant, or I can easily identify you if you are tempted to use the old Lab lot to park your vehicle. Of course, that’s not why Nancy gave me those binoculars for Christmas!