April Employee of the Month: “I can see that we make a difference.”

Bruce Smith says, “A hospital building operates differently. There are a lot of things you have to take care of.”

Ten years ago, Bruce joined Boone Hospital Center as a mechanic in the plant operations department. His primary role is to provide regular, preventive maintenance to the sterile processing equipment in the hospital’s central services area and operating room, making sure that a multitude of machines are kept in good working condition, ordering parts, making repairs and quickly responding to any issues. It’s a critical task – keeping the equipment running smoothly avoids unnecessary delays in an area that works round the clock to treat patients.

Additionally, he makes repairs around the hospital, including patient rooms, staff offices and other facilities. Bruce says, “I do a little bit of everything. It’s not just one thing continuously every day. I might fix plumbing, lights – it’s diverse.”

Bruce says he enjoys working alongside his colleagues in the maintenance department. “We’ve got a really good team of fellow workers,” he says. “I couldn’t do what I do without them.”

He also enjoys the diversity of tasks and the opportunities his job provides every day for him to get to know other areas of the hospital and the staff who work there, to see how Boone Hospital Center’s many parts work together to treat patients.

“I like seeing whatever everybody does. I can see that we make a difference in people’s lives,” he says. “It’s quite amazing here at Boone.”

Bruce lives in Columbia with his wife Patti, with whom he’ll be celebrating an upcoming anniversary. When not making repairs in the hospital, he can be found making repairs at home or for friends and family, tending to his vegetable garden or working on his Corvette.

Congratulations, Bruce!