In the Season 3 opener of Between the Lines with FGI, cohosts John Williams and Marissa Lamperis Kastrinos sit down with Jonathan Flannery, MHSA, CHFM, FASHE, FACHE, senior associate director, American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) and Mark Mochel, MBA, CHFM, SASHE, ACABE, strategic account executive at Brightly, A Siemens Company, to unpack one of health care’s most overlooked challenges—deferred maintenance. Together, they explore how proactive infrastructure investment can enhance patient safety, reduce long-term costs, and foster collaboration across design, construction, and operations. With real-world stories and strategic insights, listeners will learn how facility managers, architects, and clinical leaders can turn maintenance planning into a vital component of care delivery. 

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

Brightly, A Siemens Company: Software to create more secure, efficient, & compliant facilities.

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s3-e1-safe-by-design-proactive-maintenance-for-code-and-care/

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In this episode of Between the Lines with FGI, cohosts John Williams and Marissa Lamperis Kastrinos are joined by ASHE’s Leah Hummel and Chad Beebe for a conversation recorded live at HFIC. The discussion focuses on the Joint Commission’s upcoming consolidation of standards, set to take effect in 2026, and what these changes mean for health care facilities. Leah and Chad explain the addition of the new National Performance Goals chapter, the Commission’s unique ability to respond quickly to critical safety concerns, and how high-profile incidents can influence survey priorities. They also introduce ASHE’s new survey readiness course, which aligns current and future Joint Commission standards with NFPA, CMS, and other accrediting body requirements.  

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s3-kickoff-whats-new-with-joint-commission-recorded-at-hfic/

Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ 

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In this episode, Toby Gilk returns to discuss the intriguing and complex world of MRI technology. Learn about the role of superconductivity in MRI machines, the potential hazards of quench pipes, and the importance of proper design to prevent catastrophic failures. Toby explains how superconductivity allows MRI machines to operate efficiently without continuous power but also introduces risks if not managed correctly. Hear about real-world examples of quench pipe failures and the engineering solutions that mitigate these dangers, and gain insights into the latest advancements in MRI technology and how they impact safety protocols in healthcare facilities.

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2-e8-mri-quench-pipes-engineering-challenges-and-safety-solutions

Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ 

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In this episode of Between the Lines with FGI, host John Williams interviews Christoph Lohr, vice president of technical services and research at IAPMO and the plumbing task group chair for the 2026 Health Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC). Their discussion explores the complexities and challenges of plumbing systems in health care facilities, emphasizing the importance of water quality and safety. Christoph also highlights the collaborative efforts between IAPMO and FGI to improve plumbing standards and codes. Listeners will gain insights into the critical role of plumbing in health care and the ongoing efforts to enhance system resiliency and efficiency. 

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2-e7-plumbing-standards-and-health-care-facility-design/

Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ 

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In this episode of Between the Lines with FGI, cohosts John Williams and Bridget McDougall sit down with Dr. Marie Martin from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to discuss the critical topic of safe patient handling and mobility. Dr. Martin shares her journey and insights into the development of guidelines and practices that ensure the safety and well-being of both patients and caregivers. Learn about the importance of accommodating individuals of all sizes in health care environments and the innovative solutions being implemented to address these needs. This episode is packed with valuable information for anyone interested in health care design and patient safety. Tune in for an engaging and educational conversation! 

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

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This episode of Between the Lines with FGI focuses on optimizing surface materials in health care and residential care design. Cohosts John Williams and Bridget McDougall discuss the importance of surface materials in health care settings with Laurie Waggener, the Director of Research for Healthcare at Page. Laurie explains her role in ensuring evidence-based architectural processes and shares insights on the impact of surface materials on patient care, including durability, maintenance, and safety. The discussion also covers the use of UVC radiation for disinfection, the importance of consensus decisions with clients, and how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced surface testing. The conversation underscores the need for materials that balance aesthetics, functionality, and safety in health care environments. 

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2-e5-surfaces-in-health-care-settings-evidence-based-design/

Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ 

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After listening to this episode, you’ll understand why guest Tobias (Toby) Gilk says, “The physics associated with MRI scanners is so otherworldly and so profoundly different from our daily experience interacting with the world that everything seems magic associated with this particular imaging modality.” The profound differences with MRI don’t stop with just the physics; there are a host of built environment considerations for the spaces that house MRIs as well as operational implications for patient and staff safety. Toby gives a quick lesson on how MRIs work, shares a story of how tragedy led to codified safety measures, and answers John and Bridget’s questions about the whys behind the codes.

Sponsored by:

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2e4-mri-safety-and-the-built-environment-tobias-gilk/

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There’s a seismic shift happening in the codes and standards development legal landscape as courts back away from the longstanding precedent of protecting copyrights. As a result, some entities now post what was protected content, seemingly in partnership with standards development organizations, in order to sell their own products. In reality, standards development organizations like FGI have no oversight on how their code content is used outside of its own platforms and publications. CEO Heather Livingston discusses FGI’s unusual approach to making sure that everyone involved in health and residential care design and construction has access to accurate and complete code requirements straight from the source. 

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2e3-changes-ahead-intellectual-property-rights-and-the-future-of-the-guidelines/

Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ 

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Woven into any patient’s health care experience is the environment in which they are treated. Questions about cleanliness and quietude appear on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey; the results of which determine how much funding is provided (or removed) from health care facilities by CMS.  

In this episode, recorded at ASHE’s Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference last month (July 2024), guests Jeff O’Neill and Kathy Easter, both of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, engage in discussion about where the patient experience and the Guidelines (soon to be the FGI Facility Code) intersect.    

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities 

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2-e2-built-environment-impacts-on-operations-and-the-patient-experience

Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ 

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This is your chance to weigh in! The change in title from the 2022 Guidelines for Design and Construction documents to the 2026 FGI Facility Code documents is one of several changes you will see during the 2026 draft public comment period (now through September 30, 2024). For this episode, John Williams and Leah Hummel sit down with Bridget McDougall for an overview of the draft changes discussed as part of a presentation they gave at the Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference in Anaheim, CA. From new chapters to revised requirements, hear about the language that you have an opportunity to comment on before the next edition is published in early 2026. Note: This episode was recorded on July 20, 2024, while at ASHE’s Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference in Anaheim, CA.  

Sponsored by:  

American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE): Optimizing health care facilities  

Link to show notes: https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/s2e1-whats-new-in-the-2026-fgi-facility-code-drafts

Learn more about AIA self-reporting LUs: https://fgiguidelines.org/aia-self-reporting-lus/ 

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