2025 OAHE Spring Conference Agenda

What’s New in ‘26: Major changes in the 2026 FGI Guidelines

SESSION DESCRIPTION 

The first edition of the Facility Guidelines Institute’s FGI Facility Codes™ will be released in early 2026. This marks the first time that the documents formerly known as the FGI Guidelines will be published as the FGI Facility Codes™ and associated FGI Handbooks™. This discussion will provide an overview of this shift as well as technical changes to all of these documents. 

We will discuss key factors that influenced changes across the 2026 documents. Topics include a new approach to project planning decisions: examining compliance at different phases of construction projects; determining the appropriate room use; and new tool for guiding the discussion around operating room vs. procedure rooms. We’ll review two new facility types in the Outpatient document: a short stay center for patients receiving post-care after outpatient surgery and free-standing crisis behavioral health facilities. We’ll look at a new section for medically complex patients who also have behavioral health needs and new protections for patients and staff. The presenters will discuss the topic and task groups’ efforts to comprehensively evaluate the sections on build infrastructure: plumbing, electrical and communications. Included in the discussion will be a review of the major changes to the Residential Guidelines, with a particular focus on hot topics like room capacity, room size and dining facilities. This discussion will provide an overview of changes to the Guidelines, the design standards most often employed by medical planners, designers, and owners of hospitals, outpatient facilities, and residential care settings.  

   Learning objectives

1. Objective 1: Explain the shift from the FGI Guidelines to the FGI Facility Codes and FGI Handbooks.

2. Objective 2: Explain how changes in the 2026 Guidelines will impact the design of clinical spaces in health and residential care facilities.  

3. Objective 3: Identify the new clinical and patient care spaces that will be included in the 2026 Guidelines documents. 

4. Objective 4: State how using the 2022 Guidelines for a project can provide a safe and effective patient care environment at a reasonable cost. 

Speaker: Tina Duncan, HKS Architects

• Tina Duncan is a partner and Director of Codes and Standards at HKS Architects in their Dallas office. Tina focuses on the technical aspects of healthcare design and understanding how regulatory requirements will affect the built environment. She has over 23 years of experience as an architect and healthcare planner which enabled her transition into the complex field of codes.  She is a board-certified healthcare architect (ACHA), chair of the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Codes and Standards committee, president of Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI), member of the FGI Health Guidelines Revision Committee, member of the International Code Council and NFPA, a certified building official, a certified accessibility reviewer, member of the Dallas AIA Codes and Standards committee and member of the North Texas Council of Governments. She also co-authored the American Society of Healthcare Engineering’s, Design and Construction of Hospitals Checklist, co-edited Planning, Design, and Construction of Health Care Facilities, 4th and 5th editions by JCR and served as the chair for Weather and Man-Made Event Resiliency within the FGI Emergency Conditions Committee.  She understands the importance of code and regulation compliance while looking beyond the immediate to seek a creative and appropriate solution using the underlying principles and intent. 

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Joint Commission Updates for LSC, EOC, EM

Learning Objectives: Review The Joint Commission's Survey process updates and outcomes for Environment of Care and Life Safety Standards.

Topics:

• TJC Roadmap & SAFER
• EC & LS Scoring Trends
• What’s New & Focus Areas for LSCS
• Survey Process and Document Review Updates
• CMS Validation Process
• EC & LS Areas of Focus (Construction Type, Barriers, Kitchen Sprinkler Obstructions, RPTs, Critical Area Ventilation)

Speaker: Jim Grana

Jim Grana is a Field Director (FD) in the Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations at The Joint Commission. In this role, he manages and supports The Joint Commission Life Safety Code Surveyors, implements and evaluates the accreditation survey process and performance, and serves as faculty for educational programs throughout the U.S. He is a technical content specialist for the Environment of Care, Emergency Management, and Life Safety chapters for all Joint Commission accreditation manuals.
Mr. Grana formerly served as a Physical Environment Specialist (PES) in the Standards Interpretation Group (SIG) at The Joint Commission for over 3 years. In this role, he supported accredited organizations and Joint Commission Surveyors as a resource for questions and interpretive guidance regarding the standards.
Mr. Grana has over 10 years of health care experience starting in facilities maintenance as a mechanic before transitioning into management as a Safety Manager, and then a Facilities Manager in the Chicagoland area. In addition to facilities safety and plant operations, Mr. Grana has a strong background in planning, design, and construction, and has served as an Assistant Project Manager on health care capital improvement construction and renovation projects.

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ASHE's ICRA 2.0

Speaker: Lela Luper

For seventeen years, Lela has been an infection preventionist in the rural hospital and ambulatory care setting providing her with the skills, critical thinking, and leadership abilities to promote infection prevention initiatives and patient safety. Lela contributed to the development of the Roadmap for the Novice Infection Preventionist. 

In 2015, she was recognized locally with the Spirit of EPIC award. Lela received the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year in 2011 and was named the March of Dimes Nurse of the Year finalist for 2015.
Ms. Luper received her Bachelors of Science degree from East Central University. She has been certified in infection prevention and control since 2004.

Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-based Fire Protection Systems in Healthcare

Speaker: Colin McKay 

Abstract: Navigating all of the required inspections and tests for sprinkler systems can be challenging. This presentation seeks to narrow the scope and focus on the inspections and tests that can have the most impact; both for the life of the system and for compliance needs.

Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this presentation, attendees will be able to:
• Recognize the difference between inspections and tests
• Identify the fire protection systems common in a healthcare facility
• Develop a testing plan for a building's fire protection system
Understand the inspection/test results of more common fire protection systems

Speaker Bio: Colin is the Market Director for Midwest Healthcare in the Jensen Hughes Healthcare Serviceline based out of Cleveland, Ohio. He has nearly 20 years of experience in healthcare compliance, inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection systems, and supporting compliance with local, state, federal and Joint Commission/DNV standards and regulations. Colin oversees and conducts on-site Life Safety Assessments, provides code consulting, fire procedure development & training, and assists with emergency management programs supporting Jensen Hughes’ healthcare clients throughout the United States.
Colin is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and Certified Fire Inspector (CFI-1) by the National Fire Protection Association and is a certified Fire Door Inspector, and is a Certified Healthcare Operations Professional (Basic) CHOP-B through DNV.

Colin currently serves on the NFPA 101/5000 Technical Committee for Healthcare Occupancies (SAF-HEA), is involved with the NFPA’s Certification Advisory Group to the Certified Fire Inspector curriculum, as well as holds the position of Board Member on the NFPA Healthcare Section Executive Board. Colin holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Cleveland State University.

2:00-2:30 p.m. 

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Visit with Exhibitors 

Sustainable Processes for Managing Life Safety Barriers
Speaker: Mark Izsa, STI Firestop

Course Description:
Healthcare facilities are dynamic environments where fire, smoke, and acoustical barriers are essential for life safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency. This course provides a comprehensive approach to ensuring barrier integrity from design through operations, emphasizing standards, risk assessments, best practices, and sustainable firestopping solutions.

Participants will explore the role of passive fire protection in healthcare settings, gaining insights into construction processes, tested assemblies, and the impact of High Traffic Openings (HTOs) created by moves, adds, and changes in technology infrastructure. The session will introduce the Barrier Management Program (BMP) and demonstrate how preconstruction risk assessments (PCRA), along with tools such as fire-rated pathways, help facilities maintain compliance, streamline inspections, and reduce long-term costs.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand how a clear fire, smoke, and acoustical barrier management standard benefits facilities across the building lifecycle.
• Explain why fire-rated barriers are essential for life-safety and code compliance.
• Recognize the importance of conducting preconstruction risk assessments (PCRA) for firestopping prior to construction.
• Explain the impact of frequent cable penetrations and the need for fire-rated pathways as a long-term solution for managing moves, adds, and changes.
• Identify systems, products, and tools for barrier compliance across all phases of a building's lifecycle - from design to operation.

Speaker Bio: Mark Izsa manages the regional healthcare efforts for Specified Technologies, Inc. (STI Firestop) in the South Atlantic US and is responsible for meeting with and providing support to hospital facilities and owners using STI materials. He presents to interested clients and provides several levels of training to installers of STI materials including healthcare end users to contractors.

Mark’s other responsibilities include exhibiting at and attending industry events such as ASHE tradeshows, meeting with facility PD&C to discuss the benefits of standardizing STI on upcoming projects, and site visits to provide technical support.

Mark has been with STI for 20 years, having started as Territory Manager in NJ & NY, then moving into his role as a Regional Healthcare Manager ten years ago.

Mark has been in the construction/manufacturing industry for 30+ years. He attended Montclair State University-NJ and majored in Business Management. Mark is STI Firestop FIT LEVEL 2 certified and an ASHE Certified Health Care Physical Environment Worker.