Curious about the health care physical environment? Join John Williams and Bridget McDougall for serial fun on a serious topic as they discuss the FGI Guidelines and design and compliance issues with some of the world’s top health care thinkers and designers. Explore the history of the minimum standards and intent between the lines of the code.
New episodes can be found on all major podcast outlets on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month.
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Introduction 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 … Continued
May 10, 2024
Introduction 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 building codes, emphasizing the importance … Continued
April 12, 2024
Introduction 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 she explains technical nuances, from distinguishing between … Continued
March 22, 2024
Introduction “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 … Continued
March 8, 2024
Introduction 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 value of including infection … Continued
February 23, 2024
Introduction 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 … Continued
February 9, 2024
Introduction Every hospital, outpatient, and residential facility you’ve stepped foot in or driven past started with an idea. On today’s episode, Ken Cates, co-founder 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 way of … Continued
January 26, 2024
Introduction 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 … Continued
January 12, 2024
About this Episode Meet hosts 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 who are the types of folks this podcast is geared towards? In this brief introductory episode, John and … Continued
December 22, 2023
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