Revision Process

Each edition of the Guidelines is reflective of a 4-year revision cycle guided by the work of the Health Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC). The HGRC brings together some of the best minds in health care to debate, discuss, and revise the documents with input from the public gathered during the proposal and comment periods. Read more below about the HGRC, the revision cycle, and the public’s role.

Health Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC)

The Health Guidelines Revision Committee is a multidisciplinary consensus body consisting of roughly 100 clinicians, administrators, architects, engineers, and representatives from authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). Applications for HGRC membership are accepted at the beginning of each 4-year cycle.

The HGRC is subdivided into three document groups—one for each of the Guidelines documents—allowing for specific focus on hospital, outpatient, and residential facility needs. Smaller topic groups are formed at the beginning of each revision cycle to address topics identified by the HGRC Steering Committee (e.g., behavioral health, emergency conditions, infection prevention, long-term acute care facilities). Topic groups work throughout the revision cycle to consider how the defined topics are addressed across the Guidelines documents and whether or not the content needs revision.

HGRC members are responsible for reviewing and voting on all submitted proposals and comments in addition to approving the final Guidelines manuscripts before publication. FGI remains incredibly grateful for the time and dedication given by each HGRC member to maintain and improve the Guidelines documents.

Submit Proposal

HGRC Members

Two opportunities for public input

The Proposal Period

There are two opportunities for Guidelines users to contribute to development of the 2026 Guidelines. The first is a public proposal period from February 1 through June 30, 2023. FGI and the HGRC encourage the public to review the 2022 Guidelines documents during this time and submit proposals for any desired change to the language. A solid substantiation for the HGRC to consider is requested with each proposal.

Upon the closing of the proposal period, the 2026 HGRC will review and vote on each proposal, and accepted proposals will be incorporated into the 2026 draft Guidelines for public review.

The Comment Period

Proposals approved by the HGRC and incorporated into the draft 2026 Guidelines documents will be released for public comment from July 1 through September 30, 2024. During the comment period, FGI and the HGRC encourage the public to review the changes accepted by the HGRC as a result of the proposal period and provide input where additional changes may be needed. Please note that new proposals are not allowed during the comment period and will be held for the 2030 revision cycle. Users of the documents are also encouraged to leave supporting or opposing opinions on others’ submitted comments. At the close of the comment period, the HGRC will review and vote on all comments, after which approved comments will be incorporated into the 2026 Guidelines.

Final Vote and Publication

After all comments have been voted on by the HGRC, a final draft of the 2026 Guidelines documents will be created. HGRC members will cast final votes on the manuscripts, and FGI’s editorial team will begin the process of preparing the 2026 edition of the Guidelines for publication. Guidelines enthusiasts can expect to see digital and paperback versions of the 2026 Guidelines in April 2026.