Welcome to Spring 2017!  As the winter months are falling behind us, VSHE is looking forward to what the spring and summer has instore for us. Your VSHE Board is working to make the 9^th annual VSHE Conference a memorable one. Again, we will be holding the conference at the King’s Mill Double Tree Hotel in beautiful and historic Williamsburg, VA.  Plan to attend now and make your reservations.  May 8-11, 2017 are the dates.

 Three great keynote speakers are going to bring us updated information.  Mr. Chris Bailey of VHHA will update us on "Healthcare in Virginia".  Mr. George Mills, The Joint Commission, will update us on the survey process and other impacts.  Mr. Shay Rankhorn, ASHE Region 3 Director, will provide information on ASHE, advocacy and other key issues that affect us. A stellar line-up!

The VSHE Board would like to thank everyone who submitted abstracts for consideration this year.  Thirty-seven abstracts were submitted.  To provide a wider range of training topics, VSHE has expanded the breakout sessions from two, to four.  We hope that this provides more choices attendees.

Are you looking for the hardcore training?  The 2017 VSHE Conference will again have the ASHE training for Certified Healthcare Facility Manger (CHFM), Certified Healthcare Construction (CHC) and Healthcare Construction Certification (HCC).  Now is the time to sign up.

The VSHE Board thanks all of our annual sponsors, conference sponsors and exhibiters.  Without them, our conference would not be a success.  For those attending the conference, please stop and speak to all the sponsors/exhibiters, and let them know how much they are appreciated!

ASHE:  ASHE provides yet more opportunities for training and impacting our profession this year. Are you a member of NFPA?  This year, NFPA 99 and 101 will be on the docket for review and changes are coming.  These changes can affect us.  ASHE is encouraging all healthcare engineers and ASHE members, with NFPA membership, to attend the Annual NFPA Conference in Boston in June.  If you are attending, please go to the ASHE website to let them know.

The Annual ASHE Conference is being hosted in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana August 6-9 this year.  This is another great opportunity to network with other healthcare engineers, see current technology at the exhibition hall, and hear from other agencies that affect our profession.  If you can attend, it is a great experience.

VSHE strives to grow through improving communications and educational opportunities.  Besides plans for this year’s conference, join the District education programs on GoToMeeting.  Also, join us on Facebook, Twitter and Linked In.  The success of VSHE is dependent on its membership and your involvement.  VSHE appreciates all its members.  Looking forward to seeing you in Williamsburg.

~Rick Sanders CHFM, CHEP
VSHE President 2016-17

All of you should have received the slides from the first quarter ASHE Advocacy Liaison Webinar. Five topics were covered: the NFPA Technical Meeting, Joint Commission 2017, LS and EC elements of performance, Energy and Water Surveys, Frequently Asked Questions Life Safety and Emergency Preparation and WMTS update. If you have not received the slides from the Webinar they can be found on the ASHE web site under “advocacy”. 

 The main topic of the webinar was the NFPA Technical Meeting June 4 - 7 in Boston. If you have been an NFPA member since December 2016, you are eligible to vote at this meeting. ASHE strongly encourages members to attend the meeting and vote with ASHE on issues impacting healthcare. If you are planning to attend this meeting, ASHE asks that you register with ASHE so that they can communicate with you on votes and meetings during the session. The ASHE registration site is in the slides from the WEBINAR. 

At this year’s 9^th Annual VSHE Conference, May 10 and 11, our programs will cover numerous code and standards issues. And we will have experts available to answer your questions. Looking forward to seeing you in Williamsburg.

~ Bob Reardon
 VSHE Past President

The 9^th Annual VSHE Conference is almost here. A current snapshot of the conference shows great opportunity for the 200+ registrants in areas of education, networking and “the future”. Our programs are designed to help you understand the current as well as future vision and direction of healthcare design trends, regulations and infrastructure components.

The registrant mix of specialty component vendors, contractors, professional engineers and architects and over 15 Health Systems will surely provide each attendee with a deeper perspective of what we are all working to continuously understand and improve, the Patient’s Environment of Care and provision of efficient, effective, reliable infrastructure for today and into tomorrow.

Specialty courses in Healthcare Construction (CHC, HCC), Infrastructure and Fiscal Management (CHFM) are filling up fast, and are well worth the time investment. Having completed the classes myself, I can attest that they are a strong ‘tool’ in my own toolbox, continuing to illustrate their usefulness daily in working closely with clinical staff, facility managers, contractors, infection control officers and regulatory agencies. If you are still thinking about attending the conference, or sending others to attend, please consider this great opportunity for exposure to the many industry professionals already registered to attend who will be sharing ideas and “lessons learned” about ongoing and completed projects,  and even those folks planning for upcoming needs.

We look forward to experiencing with you the continuous evolution within our Healthcare Industry!

The VSHE Membership continues to grow in numbers across all of our districts. What is it that attracts our members and brings added value to their career and professional development? Whenever I ask someone why they joined our organization they usually respond with an answer that pivots on one of the following points:

 1. Education- Our members like the fact we provide them with educational programs to gain industry knowledge and gain CEU’s throughout the year.

2. Professional Networking- The peer to peer relationships provide our members with the opportunity to share knowledge and experience.

3.  Advocacy- Our members want, and need, to know the latest trends and changes associated with regulatory standards and best practices.

Take a few moments to introduce a friend or colleague to VSHE and encourage them to get involved so they don’t miss out on the value and benefit of being a VSHE Member.

Regards!
~ Jerry Baker
VSHE Membership Chair
​

Greetings! As the conference grows closer, the Blue Ridge District has been gearing up for an exciting year. The transition of leadership is upon us with nominations for Blue Ridge District Chair & Co-Chair. Please get your nominations in by April 15^th.

It is with great sadness that we will be saying goodbye to our long standing colleague and Blue Ridge District Membership Chair, Laura Gallagher with Dusty Ducts. Laura will be transitioning out of her role with Dusty Ducts this year in an effort to pursue a career of passions close to the heart. I’d like to thank Laura for her tremendous support of VSHE throughout the years, and wish her the best in her new endeavor. Make sure to swing by the Dusty Duct’s booth at this May’s conference to wish Laura your best as she moves on to greener pastures!

Currently under discussion is the Blue Ridge District statewide broadcast meeting in which we are discussing a presentation focusing on either NFPA 99 or NFPA 80 updates. Other topics are being considered as well. We would love to hear from you! Please email me at dchenderson@carilionclinic.org with your thoughts, feedback and suggestions. They are greatly appreciated!

In an effort to improve opportunities within the healthcare facility skilled trades market, our Blue Ridge District will be focusing on developing partnerships with local vocational programs at both the high school and collegiate levels. Our goal is to increase opportunities for young, developing student technicians by providing them with exposure to our area healthcare facilities. Through this initiative we hope to nurture the development of a secession plan capable of sustaining the skilled trades necessary for healthcare. This will be a multi-year, on-going initiative. Let me know if you would like to be involved!

If you haven’t already, please make sure to register for the 9^th Annual VSHE Statewide Conference May 8^th – 11^th in Williamsburg, VA. There are limited scholarship funds available to healthcare members to help offset the costs of the experience. Please reach out to me if you are interested in taking advantage this opportunity. See you in Williamsburg!

Best,
~ Dylan C. Henderson
VSHE Blue Ridge District 2016-2017 Chair

VSHE is on the move! We are seeing good membership and sponsor numbers. This just goes to show that we have good people and good training sessions. Keep up the good work!

The next VSHE annual conference will be held May 8-11, 2017 in Williamsburg. Conference registration opened in January.

The last Central District meeting was on January 26, 2017 at the VCU Community Memorial Hospital in South Hill. Luke Miller of Praxair updated us on the new 2012 NFPA 99 Medical Gas standards. I presented a leadership video by Simon Sinek that focused on leadership that makes us feel safe and the impact on our productivity. The med gas presentation is on www.vshe.org in the “Central District Meeting” section under “Events”. The link below will get you to the Simon Sinek video. Also, all of the leadership videos will be posted in the Central District portion of the website.

Rick Sanders and I have been reaching out to local tech schools to increase awareness of our group and the industry at large. In February, VCU Health hosted HVAC and Electrical students from the Hanover Technical Center.  They toured the VCU Health physical plant; and the tour and information were well received. If you have any connections or ideas about how to mentor young high school kids to prepare them for the future, please contact a VSHE Board Member. We would love your involvement.

VSHE website has been updated to reflect more accurate information. We are also on Facebook and Twitter too. Login and join us in cyberspace. 

As I tell people, “we are not just mechanics anymore”. We as an industry design, build and maintain millions of dollars of equipment and infrastructure. The ‘old Plant Ops guy’ has crawled out of the boiler room and now controls big equipment by typing data into a computer. Reach out to your comrades in our field and encourage them to join us in our quest to better the healthcare environment. 

If you or someone you know would like to help plan, organize or be involved with any of the VSHE events, feel free to contact me for information. I am also open to suggestions on topics for quarterly meetings.

Respectfully,
~ Joe Auricchio, BS, CHFM
VSHE Central District Chair
(804) 828-6308

Thank You to Midwest Firestop for an informative presentation at our Hampton Roads District meeting on March 23^rd.  We were able to enjoy the company of many of our local members, and broadcast the presentation across the state with our GOTOMEETING broadcast connection. The presentation is being posted on the VSHE website. VSHE’s next meeting will be in June. Announcements will be sent to your Inbox with the details.

Have you registered for the annual conference in Williamsburg? Another promising event is in the works, with a Golf Championship closing out the week. Need education? VSHE Conference education courses include the CHFM, CHC, and HCC courses. We look forward to seeing everyone there.
And Thank You to our sponsors!

Are you familiar with Triple Aim?  The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) created framework that describes the approach for optimizing health system performance.  IHI believes new designs must pursue three main dimensions: First, improving the patient experience of care; second, improving the health of populations; third, reducing the per capita cost of health care (IHI, 2017).  Do you see how healthcare engineering fits right inside the bullseye of each of these dimensions? 

As health care facility management professionals, we contribute directly to the patient’s experience through maintaining the physical environment of care. Our efficient operation of the systems under our care can reduce utility costs, which contributes to lower operating costs for the hospitals. When community members seek our services we deliver the best care possible and impact the populations we serve. Facility managers across the country have taken aim to achieve efficient operations. Many have turned to ASHE for guidance, and many have turned to their local chapters, such as VSHE, to learn how to make improvements.  Other resources are available too.

ASHE is a fountain of information for the healthcare facilities manager. From codes and reference info to just being connected to your peers, ASHE Membership connects the healthcare facility manager to more than 10,000 other facility managers nationwide. Being connected helps bring new, innovative “best practices” right to your computer screen. ASHE Webinars are free, all you have to do is register in many cases. The C-Suite is beginning to take an extraordinary interest in our field. Members of executive teams across the county are engaging their facility managers as they hear about “Energy 2 Care”, new code adoptions, and new standards surrounding important topics, such as water quality management.

Take the time to engage the experts in your field, be ready to respond to the C-Suite, and remember that your best foot always needs to be out front. Whether you’re installing a modernized tube system, changing a chiller, or painting the loading dock, your work makes a difference and teams deserve recognition. ASHE and VSHE have “recognition” programs to highlight the achievements of your teams. Take time now to keep track of accomplishments and be prepared to nominate your team and facility for recognition.

~ Robert Richards
VSHE Hampton Roads District Chair
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Hello from cyberspace, VSHE Members!

Now that our new website has been active for 4-5 months, let me know what you think. Improvements?

We launched our Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Please make sure you “Join, Like and Follow” us on all of our social media platforms. You can find or search for us using the name Virginia Society of Health Care Engineers, or www.vshe.org.

Our new social media platforms allow us to bring immediate awareness to our ever-changing and fast-paced industry. Please share any new and exciting updates via our social media outlets.

Also, take a closer look at the RESOURCES section on our website. We have a spot for JOB POSTINGS. Send us any info you have on your employment needs and we will add it to our website.

Please do not hesitate to email us with your thoughts and feedback.

~Brandon Galbreath
VSHE IT Chair

VSHE is now accepting nominations for the 2017-2018 VSHE Board of Directors and District Leadership positions.  The election will be held at the 9th Annual Conference & Golf Invitational which will be held in Williamsburg, Virginia, May 8-11, 2017.

Nominations are due by April 15, 2017. 
Email your nominations to Geoff Pierce, VSHE Secretary by clicking below.
 

The following positions are open for nomination:
State:

• President-Elect

Note:  The requirement for the President-Elect position is as follows: Any VSHE Healthcare member in good standing whose membership is current.
​State:

• Secretary
• Treasurer

Note:  The requirement for the Secretary and Treasurer positions is as follows: Any VSHE Healthcare or Affiliate member in good standing whose membership is current.
District:

• Hampton Roads District Chairperson
• Hampton Roads District Co-Chairperson
• Central District Chairperson
• Central District Co-Chairperson
• Blue Ridge District Chairperson
• Blue Ridge District Co-Chairperson

Note:  The requirement for the District Chair and Co-Chair positions is as follows: Any VSHE Healthcare member in good standing whose membership is current.
Descriptions of duties:

State President-Elect: Attends annual conference planning meetings, works with State president on leadership transition activities, executes state award programs and coordinates future planning. Assume all duties and responsibilities of the office of president in the absence or incapacity of the president. Coordinates state education programs and assists with district education programs.

State Secretary: Perform such duties as requested by the president consistent with the policies and other commitments of the corporation. The Secretary will be custodian of all valuable papers, except financial, of the corporation. He or she shall attend and keep minutes of the state meetings.

State Treasurer: Shall be custodian of funds, account books, and any other financial papers of the corporation. All receipts shall be deposited in the bank of deposit prescribed by the Board of Directors within one (1) week of receipt. The treasurer and/or other persons designated by the Board of Directors shall have authority to sign all checks, drafts, or notes drawn by the corporation.

District Chairperson:  Normally presides at all district meetings. It shall be this person’s duty to exercise general supervision over the district activities.  The district shall keep the Board informed of activities in their district, and shall express any questions, ideas, concerns their districts may have to the Board. One individual shall be elected for the Hampton Roads district, one individual shall be elected for the Central district, and one individual shall be elected for the Blue Ridge district.

District Co-Chairperson:  Shall assume all duties and responsibilities of the office of District Chairperson in the absence or incapacity of the chairperson.  The Co-Chairperson shall serve on all district committees that are not represented by any other district officers.  The Co-Chairperson may be invited to sit in on the State Board meetings as the need arises. One individual shall be elected for the Hampton Roads district, one individual shall be elected for the Central district, and one individual shall be elected for the Blue Ridge district.

More than 3,200 professionals gather on-site each year to get vital information on health care compliance, codes and standards updates, emerging trends, and best practices for efficiency, sustainability, emergency preparedness, and other pressing topics in the field. Attend the ASHE Annual Conference and Technical Exhibition to connect with colleagues in the field and "reach new heights" in your role as a health care facility management professional.