FGI Bulletin #22
Thank You from FGI
As we close out 2023, FGI’s Board of Directors and staff extend our heartfelt gratitude to members of the 2026 Health Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC) as well as the subject matter experts (SMEs) and topic group members. Revision of the Guidelines documents is only possible because of the expertise, commitment, and hard work of these individuals.
For all you’ve done so far this cycle and for your dedication going forward, we warmly thank you and look forward to our continued collaboration in the coming year!
Announcing a New Podcast Series: Between the Lines with FGI
While the importance of the Guidelines for Design and Construction documents cannot be disputed, most folks don’t view them as an entertaining summer read. That doesn’t mean the stories between the lines of the code aren’t engaging, informative, and even entertaining!
Join 2026 HGRC Chair John Williams (also FGI’s newly named vice president of content and outreach) and Bridget McDougall (FGI associate editor) 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 thinkers and designers. Through casual conversations, each episode of Between the Lines with FGI explores the history of the minimum standards and intent between the lines of the code. Got an idea for an episode topic? Write to us at podcast@fgiguidelines.org.
With a January 2024 launch expected, look for specific podcast-related updates on LinkedIn and FGI’s website. Between the Lines with FGI will be found wherever you get your podcasts. Interested in sponsoring Between the Lines with FGI? To learn about sponsorship opportunities, reach out to Moira Cleary at moira@fgiguidelines.org.
Ellen Taylor Receives FGI Pioneer Award
About FGI’s Pioneer Award: Sometimes, if we are lucky, an individual or organization in our midst, inspired by the vision of a new path, embodies the pioneering spirit and perseverance to pursue that path. The dedication and passion of these few ignites others to new levels of performance; they are the pioneers and adventurers who lead us to a preferred future. The Pioneer Award of the Facility Guidelines Institute honors select individuals and organizations of outstanding character who influence or create the future of health and residential care facility design and construction through their contributions and support of the mission and vision of the Facility Guidelines Institute.
FGI is proud to announce that Ellen Taylor, PhD, AIA, MBA, EDAC, is a recipient of the FGI Pioneer Award. Ellen was presented the award on November 6, 2023, by FGI CEO Heather Livingston and HGRC Chair John Williams at the Healthcare Design + Expo Conference in New Orleans.
“I worked closely with Ellen when I was chair of the 2010, 2014, and 2018 HGRC,” says Doug Erickson, FGI CEO emeritus. “She proved to be a critical force in moving the standards forward in telemedicine, patient falls, and other elements of the safety risk assessment. Ellen significantly raised the bar on the use of research and evidence when creating new or revising existing Guidelines text.”
Throughout her career, Ellen has been an unwavering advocate for improving health and residential care facility design standards through evidence-based design. In 2011 she joined the HGRC, where she quickly demonstrated how a strong understanding of research can positively impact the planning, design, and construction of health care facilities. Ellen is the principal author of the safety risk assessment requirements that appear in the Guidelines. As a direct result of her efforts, the design community now recognizes risk assessments as the foundation for understanding how the built environment should respond to hazards.
As a vice chair of the HGRC, Ellen deftly applies her insight and influence to encourage the exchange of diverse perspectives, advance new ideas, and build consensus. With more than 35 years of experience in the areas of architecture, research, and business, Ellen is currently vice president for research at the Center for Health Design, leading the Center’s research team. She is a registered architect and member of the AIA who was recognized by Healthcare Design as the HCD10 Researcher in 2017, an award recognizing significant contributions to the industry. An internationally recognized writer and speaker, Ellen has led many grant-funded research programs and published numerous peer-reviewed papers. She works tirelessly to further the exchange of ideas through her roles with the Center for Health Design, the AlA Academy of Architecture for Health, and the editorial advisory boards of the HERD Journal and the American Journal of Infection Control.
Introducing FGI’s New Managing Editor
FGI is pleased to announce that Barbara Stretchberry has been appointed managing editor. Barbara’s primary responsibilities are to oversee day-to-day operations of the FGI editorial team, manage the schedule and activities of the HGRC, and take responsibility for creation of the 2026 Guidelines documents, including managing the editing of drafts and final manuscripts and directing design, layout, and printing. In addition, she will spearhead development of a new handbook companion to the Guidelines documents.
“It’s a pleasure and an honor to be a member of this extraordinary team,” says Barbara. “I’m inspired and uplifted by the dedication of FGI staff and the volunteers on the HGRC to their work. I look forward to collaborating with my thoughtful and skilled colleagues to improve the safety of health and residential care settings.”
“Barbara brings a wealth of experience in publishing, leading through strategic change, and strengthening professional relationships,” says CEO Heather Livingston. Please join us in welcoming Barbara to the FGI team.
Errata Updates
On December 11, 2023, updated errata sheets were published for the 2022 Hospital, Outpatient, and Residential Guidelines. In addition, an updated errata sheet was published for the second printing of the 2018 Outpatient Guidelines.
The most significant correction clarifies space requirements in the 2022 Outpatient Guidelines for Class 3 imaging rooms. This same correction has also been published as an erratum for the second printing of the 2018 Outpatient document.
Our printable errata sheets are helpful for those using the print version of the Guidelines. Users of the digital version can be assured that the digital view contains each correction documented in our published errata sheets. More information can be found by clicking on the errata tab on any page displaying this feature.
Remember to periodically check the Errata and Addenda page on the FGI website under the Guidelines tab so you don’t miss corrections to errors found in the documents.
Interpretation Issued for the 2018 and 2022 Outpatient Guidelines
FGI received an inquiry regarding 2018 the Outpatient Guidelines asking if a staff toilet in the staff changing area meets the requirements of Section 2.7-3.5.9.2 regardless of where in the facility the staff changing area is located. The interpretation committee considered this question and unanimously agreed that a staff toilet in the staff changing area does not meet the requirements of Section 2.7-3.5.9.2 unless the toilet room is immediately accessible to pre- and postoperative patient care areas, as required in Paragraph (1) of that section. Thus, if the staff changing area is immediately accessible to the pre- and postoperative care area, a toilet room within it meets the toilet room requirement. If the staff changing area is not immediately accessible to the pre-and postoperative area, a toilet room within it does not meet the requirement of this section.
In addition, the inquirer asked if the requirement in Section 2.7-3.5.9.2 (2) limits or constrains the location of the staff changing area to be adjacent to, or have any other spatial relation to, the PACU, to which the interpretation committee agreed there are no location requirements for the staff changing area.
This interpretation has been added to the formal interpretations published on FGI’s website. In addition, because the text is unchanged in the 2022 edition of the Outpatient Guidelines, the interpretation will be visible when viewing Section 2.7-3.5.9.2 of the digital version of the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Outpatient Facilities. This clarification will appear in the 2026 Outpatient Guidelines.
New Website Features
Full document PDFs are now available with the Guidelines for Design and Construction digital subscriptions. This has been our users’ most requested feature, and we are happy to make it possible. Open, and search to your heart’s content!
Downloadable checklists for patient care spaces in the 2018 FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals are now available to subscribers of the 2018 edition. Thanks to the support of HGRC member Bryan Langlands, FAIA, EDAC, FACHA, LEED GA; NBBJ; and FGI staff Yvonne Chiarelli, Pamela James Blumgart, Douglas Erickson, and Heather Livingston, we were able to make available 33 checklists. FGI staff is currently working on updating the checklists for the 2022 edition and hope to make them available to subscribers next spring.
2022 FGI Guidelines Adoption for Projects in Florida and Minnesota
Florida adopted the 2022 edition of the Guidelines July 1, 2023, as a reference standard in the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023). Effective December 31, 2023, 2023 projects that extend into 2024 may use the 2022 Guidelines if the 8th edition of the Florida Building Code is used. The 2022 Guidelines will be applicable to hospitals (acute, psychiatric, and rehabilitation), ambulatory surgery centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Portions of the Guidelines are applicable to office-based surgery and inpatient hospice.
Minnesota will begin requiring new construction and renovation projects for hospitals to follow the 2022 edition of the FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals on January 1, 2024.
If you know your state is close to adopting the 2022 edition, please email info@fgiguidelines.org and let us know.
