Tim Keenan, CHFM, CBET, administrative director of support services and facilities, St. Anthony Hospital (Lakewood, Colo.)

WHO HE IS: With 28 years of experience in the healthcare industry, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology from Colorado Technical University, and other accreditations such as ASHE Certified Facility Manager and Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician, what truly defines Keenan is his passion to create healing environments. This goal has driven his career, which includes the development and implementation of many programs and technologies to improve patient outcomes and increase patient safety, with his ideas established as best practices within the corporate structure of dozens of hospitals. In his current role, he oversaw St. Anthony Hospital’s four-year, $430 million replacement project as well as a 29-bed expansion—each with a design emphasis on patient comfort, safety, sustainability, and sound reduction.

YEAR IN REVIEW: In September 2016, Keenan opened a 36-bed Innovation Unit, an operational acute care unit in the hospital, that serves as a physical representation of his quest to continually improve the patient environment. He spent countless hours collecting and analyzing data from patient complaints, repair requests, patient fall reports, and HCAHPS results to drive the design alongside feedback gleaned from listening sessions with designers and nurses. The result includes fall prevention measures, such as an additional light in the patient bathrooms, replacement of compact fluorescents with LEDs so lights turn on more quickly, and a night light moved closer to the bathroom wall. Additionally, dimmable cove lighting and wall sconces were installed in the corridors to improve patient sleep, ceiling tiles were upgraded to a 0.95 NRC rating for noise reduction, and a custom air diffuser was placed below the edge of ceiling tiles to eliminate the collection of dust on edges. Also in 2016, Joint Commission surveyors recognized Keenan’s quality and completeness of paperwork, attention to detail, and creativity in emergency preparedness drills, and owner Centura Health awarded him with its first Mission Spirit Award for his diligence in ensuring St. Anthony Hospital adheres to the health system’s mission and core values.

WHAT’S NEXT: In the coming year, Keenan expects to earn ASHE Construction Manager Certification as well as the new Life Safety Certification from NFPA. At St. Anthony Hospital, he’ll oversee the build-out of a new MRI suite, outpatient wound care center, and a logistics center—each designed with his learnings as a basis for achieving the optimal environment. The hospital will also roll out a continuous energy monitoring program to further reduce energy consumption as well as care process improvements to enhance patient safety.