Today marks our first employee spotlight! Over the next few months, we will be releasing bi-weekly blog posts, highlighting each member of our medical equipment planning team. Through these employee spotlights, we hope to show what makes Maia unique: our people.

The first employee being showcased is Laura LeTang. Laura attended North Dakota State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management. She has been in the medical equipment planning field for 6 years. She joined Maia in 2018 which makes her the longest employee! Read below to learn more about Laura:

When did you join Maia and what made you join?

My first ever project in medical equipment planning included working alongside Melody at a different firm. Once the project wrapped up, Melody reached out to me about joining her team. I joined the team as the first hire in 2018. Maia has been a perfect fit for me, allowing myself to grow alongside the company.

What is your favorite aspect of Maia?

One of my favorite aspects of the company is the ability to work from home. As a parent of two young children, the flexible hours allow me to be available when needed. I can easily work around school drop off and pick up, early dismissals, appoints, and other aspects of parenting.

What are some of your personal hobbies?

I am a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism and a fiber arts enthusiast. Some hobbies of mine include weaving, sewing, and embroidering, and I have done some natural fabric dying too. I am currently in the process of learning spinning and am always seeking out new techniques. The thing I love most, though, is spending time with my family. Whether it is enjoying the outdoors through camping, fishing, or swimming, or staying indoors and watching anything Star Wars, Harry Potter, or the MCU. If I am spending time with my family, I am happy.

What is your favorite part of medical equipment planning and do you have a favorite project you have worked on as of yet?

Since becoming a medical equipment planner, I love the uniqueness that comes with every new project. However, my favorite part of medical equipment planning is the Design Development stage. I love working through the equipment requirements and workflows to produce a functional solution. Each project comes with its own set of parameters. Producing ways to meet these requirements is what brings joy to my everyday responsibilities. I also get excited about the constantly evolving healthcare field. The adaptability of the field to fit the needs of the population brings variability into my job.

In all the projects I have worked on, my favorite has been a renovation at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. During this project, the hospital renovated a neurology/ICU unit into a shared cardiac and progressive care unit (PCU) floor. Even though it was a shared space, each unit required very different patient monitoring systems and equipment. On top of the coordination and operational logistics that comes with planning a shared space, the cardiac unit was moving from an existing location. The equipment transportation created another level of complication and coordination with the clients. It was paramount to ensure all equipment needs were met for both units. Seeing the internal workings of this project and working through the complex elements that came with it is what made this project my favorite.

Why do you think medical equipment planning is important?

A common theme in what I see in my work is variability and flexibility. This is the reason I believe medical equipment planning is an important part of any healthcare construction project. As medical equipment planners, we bring a different set of knowledge to the table through our databases and previous project experience. We understand the needs and functions of the various departments and room types and the equipment that comes with it. The relationships we build between our clients also allows us to have a firm understanding of what equipment standards are in place. We also build on lessons learned throughout the entire project from schematic design all the way to installation.

The next employee spotlight will be featuring Adam Hurst. Click here to read about his extensive knowledge in medical equipment planning and to learn a little more about him!