For many people, a hospital can be a cold and frightening place. Lorin Smith is doing what he can to change that at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Smith, the first ever Ambassador of Security Services at the hospital, is there to greet patients at the door to provide directions and event to wheel them to their appointments.

The new service has been well received by the public but is a far cry from what the former civil servant and business executive started his work life doing.

In the 1980s, Mr. Smith was the director of human resources at the Southampton Princess Hotel and for nine years after that was a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Works and Engineering. Keen on writing, Mr. Smith was also a freelance journalist and wrote for RG Magazine and .

He gave up his life behind the desk to fully devote his time to writing. ? I left the civil service to pursue my love of writing. I was going to write a book and needed the time to do research and give it my full attention,? he said.

Taking a more relaxed approach with his life Mr. Smith decided to join Safeguard Security some years ago. But it wasn?t until he was stationed at the hospital that he really learned to value his health and life.

?You can become so removed from humanity when you?re in an office,? he said. ?I feel so much more connected to people here.?

And his position helps give meaning to his life. ?I know that I am really helping people here. I may help position someone?s foot on a wheelchair because they cannot.?

The hospital created the post earlier this year and Mr. Smith is the first to have the position. It helps set the feeling of a caring environment as, stationed at the front entrance, the Ambassador greets most people.

?I think it is important to be met by someone who is pleasant,? he said. ?Many of the patients coming here can be anxious or nervous and having someone who is warm and courteous, who can point them in the right direction right away, can even help in their healing process.?

Mr. Smith said he loves his new position.

?It is something I enjoy doing and I really look forward to coming to work every day.

?It is also satisfying to see people progress in their treatment. I remember helping a young woman who was the victim of a hit and run accident. Her mother brought her to the hospital and she had a tie under her leg to lift it because it was so painful for the girl. I saw her come regularly for physical therapy and it?s good to see how she has progressed today,? he said.

As KEMH Ambassador, Mr. Smith also wheels many patients to their appointments in the various hospital departments. He said many people drop off a relative who needs to go to physical therapy or the lab for blood work or the day clinic. He gets a wheelchair and takes them directly to where they need to go.

?It also helps me to better familiarise myself with the different areas of the hospital,? he said.

Prior to his being at the main entrance, patients who needed wheelchair assistance had to wait for one to be brought from the emergency department. Mr. Smith has been using one provided by the Hospitals Auxiliary but will soon receive three new ones to help his service run more smoothly.

?I have regulars that come each week for outpatient services and I wheel them there,? he said.

His is the first face many encounter at the hospital and the last as well, but he works a weekday shift from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ?Some people are surprised to see me when they leave and ask me if I sleep here,? he said.

According to Mr. Smith the new service is a hit with the public.

?People really appreciate it,? he said, ? I?ve had so many positive comments and thank yous. There is a gentleman who drops his wife off here and one day he pulled over after dropping her off and came to shake my hand and thank me for opening the door for his wife every day.

?She works here at the hospital and he said she gives so much of herself. For him just having her car door opened for her every day was a sign that the hospital cared about her.?

And others are eager to show their appreciation too, Mr. Smith said he has been given cookies, butterscotch candy and a host of other treats.

?Bermuda has a long reputation of service and this position, much like a hotel concierge, is helpful to both locals and tourists, patients, visitors and staff,? he said.