Kodiak's hospital runs on power switches nobody makes parts for anymore

The automatic transfer switches at Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center are about 27 years old and out of production. When one needs a part, crews scavenge it from equipment at other sites. If a switch fails, staff may have to move the hospital onto backup power by hand.

Kodiak Island Borough has taken over managing the project to replace them, moving it away from Providence to better line the work up with the hospital's lease and the borough's longer-term plans for the building.

The job replaces four transfer switches and removes two redundant ones serving the elevators. The new equipment does not fit where the old equipment sits, so the project adds a heated, secured enclosure outside. Design services alone run $151,155.

The hospital stays open through construction, with outages phased and scheduled in advance. Providence has said it matters that contractors have hospital experience, both for infection control and for ordering equipment that takes a long time to arrive.

Who pays for what is not settled. Board member Doug Mathers asked at the June meeting: "Who's in charge for paying for what?"

The borough's review board approved advancing the design that night and is scheduled to review the completed drawings Sept. 10.