TCH’s Biomedical Engineering Department, which is the nation’s largest department of its kind, is responsible for the lifecycle of equipment at the hospital — everything from pre-purchase planning to maintenance and upgrades. As a result of Allison, the 18,000+ square foot department had to be completely rebuilt in its new location on higher ground: the 5th and 6th floors of TCH’s Abercrombie Building. John Weimert, assistant director of the Biomedical Engineering Department, saw a silver lining built into this project, despite its extremely bleak origins. He saw an opportunity to get the type of workbenches he had always wanted for the department.

"Our pre-flood casework benches were custom-built by a carpenter," he recalled. "They looked very nice, but they didn’t have the adaptability we needed and they were relatively expensive. And because they were built into the wall, we had been stuck living with their drawbacks as well as their benefits."

Moving onward and upward after the flood, Weimert with a group of technicians looked at a number of pre-manufactured workstation solutions in search of increased functionality, aesthetic appeal and better value.

"In all my 29 years with the hospital, I never found a manufactured workbench worth buying," Weimert related. "But when we called in 6 to 8 vendors and looked at their offerings, there was one company whose benches stood apart from the pack."

The workbenches that made such a strong impression on Weimert were from Lista International, based in Holliston, MA, a leading manufacturer of modular workstations and storage solutions. Weimert was impressed with the overall quality of the company’s products, placing particular emphasis on the benches’ structural support, sturdiness and heavy gauge metal.

There was one aspect of TCH’s old casework benches that was still attractive to Weimert —the fact that they were custom-built. By choosing Lista workbenches, Weimert felt he could still have the high level of potential customization that he and the architects were looking for.

He recalled, "I got the feeling that, with some companies, it was simply a case of ‘what you see is what you get,’ meaning my only option was to buy out of their catalog. With Lista, I showed their regional sales manager, Chuck Oliver, the actual blueprints of what I wanted, and he understood. I was able to get exactly what I wanted."

Texas Children’s Hospital purchased 50 Lista technical electronic workbenches with the Nexus accessory system, and paired each with a mobile drawer storage cabinet. Weimert’s specifications were exacting, and Lista rose to the challenge with customized solutions.

The workstations offered a unique combination of steadfast durability and security (with the benches), convenient mobility (with the mobile cabinets) and technician-pleasing flexibility (with the Nexus system).

All Lista technical workbenches can be custom-designed to suit specific applications. Cabinet pedestals are offered in a wide array of footprints and heights, with the option to included an array of different height drawers (11 different heights), as well as roll-out trays and hinged doors with shelves.

Although the basic design of TCH’s workbenches was standardized throughout the department, each technician was able to order the precise Nexus accessories he or she wanted to hold their particular assortment of tools, test equipment and personal items.

"I gave each of the technicians a form to fill out so that they could get exactly what they wanted," Weimert recalled. "The technicians loved this. It helped them to take ownership in the workbench decision."

Some of the options that varied from technician to technician included: shelving sizes, number of shelves, dry erase board vs. bulletin board, optional bin boxes, and the addition of a heavy-duty roll-out tray. The workbenches all feature plenty of integrated power sources, both built into the bench leg and above the worksurface. Each bench also has an extendable light that articulates from the Flexworks.

Available in 7 different cabinet footprints, Lista’s mobile storage cabinets also come in many configurations to match specific storage needs. TCH’s mobile storage cabinets were designed to provide an additional worksurface for technicians, but they can also roll out of the way under the bench surface when not in use. The cabinets take the place of the department’s old makeshift carts and toolboxes, which had been used to transport tools and equipment to repair or maintain large, stationary equipment such as TCH’s MRI system. Unlike the old options, TCH’s new mobile cabinets provide security, resulting in complete protection of expensive tools and parts, and easy inventory control.

Each cabinet has a separate lock, with a unique key for each technician. Each drawer is customizable to better organize the drawer contents. Weimert opted for dividers to aid in organizing specialized hand tools."The whole Lista drawer system is great for our technicians," Weimert said, "both in terms of ergonomics and ease of access."

The drawers are set up with shallow drawers holding smaller, lighter items at the top, and deeper drawers holding heavier items toward the bottom. For example, upper drawers provide a safe, secure home for items like customized electronic hand tools, hammer, pliers, and hemostats. Lower drawers hold items like drills, vises, and other power tools. Each drawer interior features a non-skid mat, which helps to keep tools in their proper place, and each drawer is completely inventory controlled. Aesthetic appeal was also a trait by which Weimert gauged his purchase decision. "I wanted products that could do their job, but I also wanted our facility to shine. Our Biomedical Engineering Department is internationally known and serves as a model for similar departments around the world. Function came first, of course, but our new workstation solution also had to be beautiful."

To this end Lista was able to exactly match TCH’s color palette. The workbenches have a gray laminate worksurface, and the cabinets feature gray drawers set against a deep blue housing. Weimert likes the look of his new workstations so much, he has even incorporated some Lista colors into the department’s walls and floors, ensuring a cohesive look and impressive image.