At the start of COVID-19, there were a lot of changes made at Springfield Masonic Community (SMC). Through agility and the ability to be flexible with resources, SMC was able to support and protect residents and staff while preventing any major infection outbreaks. This was no small feat, and it took the efforts and support of everyone from management to frontline caregivers to residents.
One of the first things that was done was the installation of a temporary guard shack by placing a shed at the campus’ driveway entrance. Since early 2020, the guard shack has been staffed 24/7 to screen every resident, employee, and visitor coming onto the campus for symptoms of COVID. Part of the screening process includes getting each person’s name and temperature, as well as the purpose of each guest’s visit. Through surveying residents, campus leadership discovered that even though the campus is safe, residents appreciated the added security the guard shack offered beyond just screening for illness.
With the input from residents, leadership knew that SMC needed a permanent solution because the guard shack had already been in place for longer than it was designed to last. The solution? A permanent electric gate.
In November 2022, construction was started to install an electric gate system at the main (and only) entrance at SMC, creating a more efficient and permanent solution. When it’s done, there will be a dedicated ‘fast lane’ for employees and residents to get in by swiping a keycard. Visitors will be able to use an intercom system to buzz in from the gate and be connected to someone over video that will be able to open the gate. This is the same system that’s already being used to gain access to any buildings at SMC, so it should be a smooth transition.
This project was a big undertaking that required a lot of planning and a lengthy construction process. Progress has been made steadily, and the gate is on track to be completely operational by the end of February. Residents, staff, and visitors will all reap the benefits of the gate as soon as it is up and running.
