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 witho…

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, e…

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…

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 evi…

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 sto…

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, sta…

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 ep…

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 McDouga…

Not an ASHE member? Didn’t attend the HCFI conference? This episode is also for you! In this bonus episode (recorded at the Health Care Facilities Innovation Conference in Anaheim, California on July 21, 2024), hosts John Williams and Bridget McDougall sit down with Leah Hummel, senior associate director of the American Society for Health Care Engi…

Jane Rohde is affectionately known in FGI circles as “the mother of the Residential Guidelines.” Her passion for residential health care facility design and advocacy for the aging and vulnerable populations led to the inclusion of residential health, care, and support facilities in the Guidelines documents beginning with the 2018 edition. In this e…

Addie Abushousheh shares her insights on the evolution of residential health, care, and support facility design and construction, particularly focusing on the role kitchen and dining spaces have in enhancing residents’ quality of life. Key points include shifts in language to empower residents, the importance of various kitchen types for autonomy, …

Unless you’re an expert in acoustics, it’s likely the acoustic-related requirements in the Guidelines read like a foreign language. Acoustic engineer Mandy Kachur joins hosts John and Bridget to not only talk about the impact noise can have on patient care, but also turn a complex topic into a digestible concept. Various acoustic tables in the Guid…

In this week’s episode, Bridget and John discuss the intricacies of design and construction standards as they unravel both the misconceptions and the significance of Part 1 of the Guidelines for Design and Construction. Exploring topics ranging from risk assessments to equipment specifications, they offer valuable perspectives on navigating buildin…

In this episode, Bridget and John enter the world of electrical receptacles in patient care areas with electrical engineer expert Krista Biason. They simplify complex regulations, dig into related Guidelines minimum requirements, and emphasize the importance of inclusive planning for functional, patient-centered spaces. Krista's expertise shines as…

“We usually think of treatments being medications, devices, surgeries. But we need to realize that the environment can be a treatment, too.” Dr. Scott Zeller joins hosts Bridget and John to explore the importance of designing supportive spaces for individuals experiencing mental health crises. Learn about the innovative EmPATH model that led to the…

Infection preventionist Lela Luper joins hosts John and Bridget to explore the critical nexus of facility design and infection control in healthcare. From furr downs to fish tanks and everything in between, today’s episode illustrates the often-overlooked hidden dangers in the health and residential care physical environment. Lela underscores the v…

Tony Ruebsam, a self-described “cat herder” in the world of project management, warns John and Bridget that projects that get their start at the drawing board are missing a crucial step. Introduced to the functional program early in his career, Tony shares why he’s a firm believer in starting with the functional program before significant design dr…

Every hospital, outpatient, and residential facility you’ve stepped foot in or driven past started with an idea. On today’s episode, Ken Cates, cofounder and principal of Northstar Management Company, talks about the importance of not leaping from idea straight to design (as is often the tendency) but instead utilizing the functional program as a w…

The early stories that live between the lines of the Guidelines include an intersection with Listerine (the antiseptic mouthwash) and a document that three individuals championed to keep alive in the mid-1980s. Doug Erickson, founder and former CEO of the Facility Guidelines Institute, joins John and Bridget for a casual conversation about the orig…

Meet John Williams and Bridget McDougall from the Facility Guidelines Institute as they set the stage for engaging conversations regarding health and residential care design and construction. What are the Guidelines, exactly, and what are the stories behind them? Get ready to “read between the lines” with FGI. Connect with us on LinkedIn. For infor…