Energy savings of up to 15%

Advantages of PCM ceiling panels stem from the fact that they support thermal comfort with no mechanics, energy expenditure, or fossils fuels to burn! A valuable, sustainable solution for a world prioritizing decarbonization, ceiling panels with PCM technology can reduce energy costs and consumption by as much as 15%.* By enabling energy savings, these ceilings offer advantages including:

• Reduced reliance on fossil-fuel powered HVAC systems
• Less wear on HVAC systems — critical to facilities with aging systems and strict budgets
• Improved thermal comfort — especially well-suited for changing climates or environments with daily hot-cold fluctuations
• Ability to enhance indoor environmental quality with features like acoustical sound blocking and absorption
• Easy installation and little-to-no maintenance

Energy-saving ceiling products also fit into the thermal comfort portion of the WELL Building Standard and can contribute to energy and atmosphere credits for LEED.

Up to 50% in tax credits

While the above advantages can work to help a facility realize ongoing savings related to lower energy consumption and less reliance on mechanical heating and cooling — a project owner can get a “head start” on cost benefits because PCM ceiling panels qualify for certain tax credits. Projects utilizing energy-saving ceiling panels may qualify for Investment Tax Credit (ITC) 48E, which was introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and offers tax incentives for investments in clean energy technologies. Because of their thermal energy storage properties, most projects using PCM ceiling panels may qualify:

• Up to 40% federal tax credit
• Additional 10% tax credit if the project is deployed in an “Energy Community.” (i.e., a Brownfields site or fossil-fuel-dependent community)

When investing in energy-saving ceilings for a project, consider a solution that helps you maximize tax savings opportunities. For example, when installing an Armstrong Templok Energy Saving Ceiling, the ceiling panels, and associated grid, trim, and labor all qualify for tax credits under ITC 48E. Moreover, these panels are made in the U.S.A. of domestic and global content, meeting a requirement for additional tax savings.**

Qualifying energy saving ceiling projects include those of taxpayers and non-taxpaying entities and span multiple sectors, including:

• Public — such as government entities
• Private — corporations, healthcare facilities and others
• Education — K-12 and higher education
• 501 (c)(3) charitable organizations

The list of ideal projects is extensive and includes K-12 schools, public and private universities, dorms, museums, hospitals, nonprofit offices/facilities, military bases, courthouses, faith-based buildings, convention centers, and arenas — to name a few. In addition to getting information from the ceiling manufacturer, it’s important to consult your tax advisor to confirm qualification of your project.

More affordable, more sustainable

Thanks to tax credits, the use of energy-saving ceilings could make your next construction or renovation project more affordable. And, with PCM technology helping reduce energy costs, the impact on your bottom line won’t stop there. You can learn more about energy saving ceilings and related tax credits by visiting Armstrong Ceilings.

Notes:

• *Cooling energy savings according to research estimates measured in lab tests. Results may vary.
• ** This article lists various federal tax credits and deductions that your project may qualify for when purchasing Armstrong TEMPLOK Energy Saving Ceilings. Please consult your own tax attorney or advisor.
• LEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council; WELL Building Standard is a trademark of the Well Building Institute.

The post Enjoy tax and energy savings with the right ceiling solutions appeared first on FMLink.

May 12, 2025 — Every day, in every hospital across America, care teams work to provide safe, high-quality care to each and every patient. Part of that work includes continually identifying what drives better outcomes, and then implementing changes to improve patient care.

AHA’s Insights Report series features learnings gained in collaboration with data partners to better analyze hospital and health system progress on patient safety. In September 2024, AHA partnered with Vizient to release a report, New Analysis Shows Hospitals Improving Performance on Key Patient Safety Measures Surpassing Pre-pandemic Levels, showing that numerous outcome measures of health care quality and patient safety — including mortality and healthcare-associated infections — are improving while hospitals care for more patients with significant health care needs.

This latest Insights Report, called Improvement in Safety Culture Linked to Better Patient and Staff Outcomes, was created in collaboration with Press Ganey and highlights progress on additional outcome measures of patient safety including some that reflect the ongoing work nurses lead to protect patients. In addition, Press Ganey’s comprehensive data shows clear improvement on the experience of both patients and the health care workforce. It also shows improvements in safety culture, which is a leading indicator of better safety outcomes and better experiences for patients and staff.

Key insights

Data in the Improvement in Safety Culture report show that:

1. Hospitals are performing at or better than pre-pandemic levels on multiple measures of quality and patient safety, including patient falls and pressure injuries (i.e., bed sores) that reflect work led by nurses to care for patients.
2. Millions of patients report that their overall care experience is improving.
3. Press Ganey data from more than 1 million members of the health care workforce show a rebound from pandemic lows in engagement, resilience and safety culture.
4. Patient safety, patient experience, workforce experience, and well-being are all tied together by a hospital or health system’s culture of safety. Across clinical settings — the single largest driver of a patient’s reported experience of care is how well their care team members work together. Better teamwork has long been shown to drive better outcomes.

Evidence in key areas show care is getting safer

The Press Ganey National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) dataset reflects quality measures reported by 25,652 units across 2,430 inpatient acute care hospitals. Analysis of four key measures in NDNQI data includes catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), patient falls that result in harm, the number of patients who develop hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI), also known as bed sores. The analysis shows the incidence of all measures have declined since their pandemic peaks, with nearly all measures across all units back to or better than pre-pandemic levels.

Patients say their care experience and perception of safety are improving

Press Ganey works on behalf of 75% of U.S. acute care hospitals and medical practices across the country to survey patients regarding their care experiences and gain insights into how hospitals are working to deliver safe and effective care. Included in the surveys are questions that explicitly ask patients about their perception of staff’s efforts to keep them safe, along with questions about other facets of care that contribute to greater safety, such as teamwork among staff, attention and responsiveness to patient needs, and communication between patients and members of the clinical care team. Importantly, the data for this report, based on responses from 13 million patients, show steady gains in their perceptions of both experience of care and safety of care after a drop due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show hospitals and health systems are on the path to returning to pre-pandemic levels of safety.

One of the key factors driving improvements in patients’ perceptions of care is the teamwork of their caregivers. Across clinical areas — inpatient and outpatient, surgical and medical, emergency and scheduled — the single largest driver of a patient’s likelihood to recommend a hospital, facility or provider is perception on how well their care team members work together. Better teamwork has long been shown to drive better outcomes.

What earns patients’ confidence and loyalty?

Patients are attuned to team dynamics and interpersonal competencies.

National analysis of key drivers of likely to recommend by setting

Similarly, patients who perceive that their care was safe are 2.5 to 3 times more likely to recommend their hospital to others. Their perceptions of safety are based on their own interactions with hospital team members, their observations regarding practices such as handwashing and cleanliness, and how they see team members interacting with one another to deliver care. Specifically, when asked about their confidence in the care they received and their willingness to recommend a hospital to others, patients ranked hospitals more highly when they perceived the hospital team to be working well together and to be attentive to the patients’ needs and questions.

Workforce experience and well-being are improving

At its core, health care is a uniquely human experience centered around people caring for other people. This is why hospitals and health systems pay close attention to and invest in the well-being of their workforce. An energized and engaged workforce improves the care provided to patients, the physical and psychological well-being of patients, and how patients perceive the work to keep them safe. As the enormous strain of the COVID-19 pandemic recedes, the health care workforce is beginning to rebound as well. Press Ganey data from 1.7 million members of the health care workforce show a rise in their reported experience and resiliency. A resilient workforce is essential in health care, given the complex and high stakes nature of the work.

Hospitals that score higher on team member engagement surveys also see higher patient experience scores reported from patients. This correlation gets more pronounced every year, with the top performing quartile of hospitals on staff engagement in 2023 scoring in the 80th percentile on patients’ likelihood to recommend.

Safety culture is essential

A critical factor in generating both better patient outcomes and care teams’ engagement in their work is a strong safety culture. A strong safety culture supports the teams through the demanding tasks associated with care delivery and makes a noticeable difference in how patients experience their care, leading to safer care and a more resilient care delivery system.

A culture of safety is an environment in which everyone, including patients and families:

• Can speak up when they see something that might not be right
• Is confident that improvements occur when issues are reported
• Is dealt with fairly and compassionately when an error occurs
• Experiences effective teamwork and communication

An organization’s safety culture is assessed with evidence-based survey tools, such as the instrument Press Ganey developed, which gather responses from over 1 million hospital staff each year. The Press Ganey data show a positive relationship between the level of care team engagement in their work and the hospital scores for patient safety culture. When caregivers feel that they are supported, working with an effective team and doing meaningful work, they are more likely to be deeply engaged in their work.

Opportunities to enhance safety culture

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals’ performance in both safety culture and quality and safety metrics have rebounded and begun to plateau. Resources and teamwork remain areas with the greatest potential for growth. While prevention and reporting experienced an increase previously, the recent downward trend highlights the need for ongoing prioritization.

Press Ganey’s data establish how closely all of these outcomes — patient safety outcomes, patient experience, workforce engagement experience and resilience — are tied together by a hospital or health system’s culture of safety.

A continuous journey to improve

Improvement is a continuous pursuit, and hospitals have been and will remain deeply committed to advancing the safety and quality of their care, the way in which patients experience care, and the well-being of their care teams. By improving the patient and workforce experience, identifying and addressing risks to patient or staff wel-lbeing, improving communications and understanding of what patients and their families value in their care experience, and implementing innovative strategies, hospitals will continue to demonstrate their commitment to patient safety.

One of the key goals of the American Hospital Association’s Patient Safety Initiative is to help hospitals and health systems improve the culture of safety. Launched in 2023, AHA’s Patient Safety Initiative catalyzes hospitals’ and health systems’ collective expertise and momentum for improvement and focuses on 1) safety culture, 2) identifying and addressing disparities in health care outcomes, and 3) the well-being of the workforce.

Through the work of the Patient Safety Initiative, hospitals and health systems are using safety improvement strategies that have a history of success, as well as trying new and innovative approaches to further enhance their work.

To help leaders and boards learn from their counterparts in other hospitals and health systems, AHA has produced the Leading for Safety video series hosted by former Chair of the AHA Board of Trustees Mindy Estes, M.D., and featuring leaders from hospitals and health systems that have been recipients of AHA’s Quest for Quality award. The AHA’s Safety Speaks podcast series also features many quality and safety leaders talking about their innovative approaches to safety.

The post Improvement in healthcare safety culture is linked to better patient and staff outcomes, finds AHA appeared first on FMLink.

All NeoCon CEU Sessions, on-site and virtual, are $50 each or $45 each with a purchase of 5 or more sessions. Virtual CEUs will be available June 9 through October 1, via the NeoCon CEU Hub. You can continue to register for additional CEUs through October 1.

Each session is 60 minutes. Sessions are approved for 1 CEU for Designers and 1 LU for Architects. Certificates are available post session after completing a 10-question quiz.

Healthcare topics are addressed in these NeoCon virtual sessions in these tracks: Healthcare/Facilities Management/Wellness:

Communication and Innovation in Complex Facility Projects: Discover how the University of Texas MD Anderson’s Cancer Center, one of the world’s largest and most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention, planned for future growth and expansion. This panel discusses the complex nature required to move 1,400 employees to pave the way for urgent expansion projects. Discussion will focus on mastering change management, stakeholder engagement, and effective communication strategies in a dynamic, complex project environment. Learn to recognize when processes are ineffective, when to pivot, and how to leverage tools for rapid collaboration and clear communication. This panel will share insights into balancing multiple project constraints–such as fast-track scheduling, multiple end-user group integration, high level decision-making, and furniture reuse–transforming these challenges into a catalyst for innovation, revealing sustainability strategies hidden within the project’s core objectives.

Designing Therapeutic Environments for Eating Disorders: This presentation demonstrates an evidence-based integrated design approach in transforming a 1988 adult psychiatric unit into an eating disorder treatment center that reinforces the methods of Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital in Tulsa, OK. This facility requiring reimagining traditional behavioral health spaces to address the unique challenges of eating disorders treatment. The renovation showcases specialized environments balancing clinical necessity with hospitality-inspired design, creating spaces that promote healing while maintaining essential safety protocols. Unlike typical behavioral health units, this facility emphasizes a spa-like atmosphere while accommodating extended stays. The project exemplifies how thoughtful design can support complex treatment protocols while creating dignified, healing spaces that aid in successful recovery and reintegration.

Empathy Meets Innovation: Transforming Homes into Care Hubs: With an aging population and rising chronic diseases, homes are becoming primary care hubs. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognized the challenge of ensuring safe and reliable care in homes. Current home health technologies offer fragmented solutions. By integrating medical, digital and physical infrastructure, homes can better support health. FDAs Home as a Health Care Hub initiative, facilitated by HKS, reimagines the home as a nexus of health and wellness. The team leverages evidence and stakeholder engagement to understand needs of people with diabetes. At the core of this initiative is the Idea Lab, that includes discovery documents synthesizing clinical, technology and housing insights, along with empathy-building tools, and Lilypad(TM) Virtual Reality platform to illuminate the lived experiences of those with diabetes. This work emphasizes collaboration among designers, technology innovators and health providers to create homes for seamless, integrated experiences.

Evidence Based Design in Healthcare: The “Evidence Based Design in Healthcare” CEU is about several areas of information coming together to make the best-informed decision for your facility. It takes into account evidence based medicine, research informed manufacturing and data driven decision making into a complete healthcare strategy for your upcoming project. One must make decisions using current best evidence and past projects to inform and influence the upcoming space. There are 4 levels of Evidence Based Practice discussed (1- Best Practice Model, 2-Hypothesis and Measurements, 3- Presentations and Magazine articles, 4-Peer Reviewed Scholarly Publication) and an easy to follow checklist on understanding these levels of using EBD for your facility. Not all levels are required for every project. Very few are at a Level 4 but most fit into Level 2. Knowing if you are actually creating a Healing environment is done by measuring & interpreting the results. This is what is Evidence Based Design in Healthcare is all about.

From Underutilized to Unmatched: High-Impact Clinic Design: Can strategic planning and innovative design transform constrained spaces into high-performing, world-class healthcare environments? In this session, you’ll learn how UW Health and Flad Architects turned a compact, underutilized hospital space into a high-impact home for the renowned Pleasant T. Rowland Transplant Clinic. By repurposing 16,000 sf of space, consolidating services, enhancing patient experiences, and fostering operational efficiency, this project demonstrates the power of thoughtful design and planning. The presentation highlights a data-driven, collaborative process that integrates phased planning and aligns stakeholder priorities with strategic goals to create flexible spaces that adapt to growth, integrate technology, and optimize resources. Attendees will gain practical, inspiring insights into how robust data gathering and analytical tools, combined with nimble planning, can align spaces with evolving needs while unlocking opportunities for future innovation.

Benchmarking Healthy Materials: An overview of an internal benchmarking process built to comply with AIA Material Pledge Standards and the Common Material Framework, this course will highlight ways that Stantec has been extracting data from Revit projects to understand how healthy material standards are being used throughout the portfolio of projects across various markets. This presentation will provide a high-level overview of the internal process developed to show how firms can document compliant materials being used and how we can help supplement other tools in the industry to capture interior finish specifications with our process.

Get to the Point: Safety, Cleaning and Materiality: What does “safety” mean to your team related to product selection? Besides its importance in planning, design and construction, safety is a crucial element in every product’s service life: once specified and in place in your project, how long do you (and the C-suite) expect it hold up? 7 years? 10 years? What happens if it only lasts 6 months because it was improperly cleaned or maintained. Who pays for the replacement? What happens if products are trashed sooner because they became an infection control hazard? Join this expert panel as they focus on the safety aspects of healthcare materials and cleaning/disinfecting protocols that should be understood during the selection process to help increase the service-life of each. View the overlooked connection between safety and performance as they relate to durability, sustainability, infection prevention, testing, comfort, aesthetics and overall service-life. Learn how help prevent premature failures.

Top 10 Keys to Holistic Healthcare Design: Healthcare Design is complex, technical and challenging. Yet, it is fascinating, human-centered, research-based, and ever changing. Hospitals are buildings with multiple needs and uses where the opportunities to enhance the user’s experience through holistic design are endless. As an industry that actively uses research to improve guidelines, designers are continuously challenged to excel and innovate not only on their final product, but also through their process. So, what does the concept of “Holistic Healthcare Design” really mean? The list below highlights Ten keys to enhance the process and elevate design: 1. Visioning – Finding Purpose 2. Decision- Making 3. Collaborative Design Integration 4. The power of Community Engagement 5. Safety – the undercurrent of every decision 6. Surviving cost analysis 7. Building consensus using Design Tools 8. Empowering of Wayfinding 9. The Magic of FF&E 10. Flexibility & Adaptability – the only thing constant is change.

The post Education for healthcare FMs and designers at NeoCon 2025 ranges from therapeutic settings to clinic design to holistic approaches appeared first on FMLink.

By Sara Marberry  — Since the current U.S. president took office in January, chaos has reigned. The administration’s push for deregulation and new financial incentives could ease some red tape and open up funding opportunities. But then there’s the fine print: labor shortages, tariffs on materials, slashed federal grants, and policy pivots that make long-term planning difficult.

For those of you in planning, designing, and constructing healthcare facilities and senior living communities, this new policy landscape probably feels like a rollercoaster ride.

Anxiety is high. Uncertainty is real. And many of us are asking: When will the chaos subside?

Likely not anytime soon. And there’s not a lot we can do about it.

So, to provide a little distraction and make you laugh, here’s the best healthcare design joke I know. In fact, its the only healthcare design joke I know.

I’ve shared it before, but it’s still funny.

Doctors were asked to contribute to the planning and design of a new medical center. Their responses?

• The allergists voted to scratch it.
• The dermatologists preferred no rash moves.
• The gastroenterologists had a gut feeling about it.
• The neurologists thought the administration had a lot of nerve.
• The obstetricians were laboring under a misconception.
• The ophthalmologists thought it was short-sighted.
• The orthopedists issued a joint resolution.
• The pathologists said, “Over my dead body!”
• The pediatricians said, “Grow up.”
• The proctologists said, “We are in arrears.”
• The psychiatrists thought it was madness.
• The surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.
• The radiologists could see right through it.
• The internists said it was a hard pill to swallow.
• The plastic surgeons thought it put a whole new face on the matter.
• The podiatrists called it a big step forward.
• The urologists warned it wouldn’t hold water.
• The emergency physicians said it needed resuscitation.
• And the cardiologists? They just didn’t have the heart to say no.

Laughter really is the best medicine, right? If you know another healthcare design joke, please share it in the comment box below!

See the original article as well as more insights on Sara Marberry’s Blog.

This column originally ran on Sara Marberry’s Blog on April 18, 2025. Marberry is a healthcare design expert with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare and senior living design industry, who has written/edited five books and is a regular contributor to Healthcare Design magazine. Marberry also is a former Executive Vice President of the nonprofit Center for Health Design.

The post Marberry: And now for a little healthcare humor amidst the chaos appeared first on FMLink.

May 10, 2025 — Every day, healthcare workers bravely serve our communities, providing lifesaving care often under stressful circumstances. It is unacceptable that these dedicated caregivers regularly face the threat of violence while working to help patients heal, says the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Ensuring a safe working environment for health care providers must be a national priority. Acts of violence not only jeopardize the physical and psychological health of victims, but they also disrupt patient care and contribute to staff burnout and workforce shortages. Protecting the health care workforce is important for their safety and for the overall quality of care. 

That’s why AHA is grateful to Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Angus King and Representatives Madeleine Dean and Mariannette Miller-Meeks for their leadership in introducing the Save Healthcare Workers Act (H.R. 3178/S.1600). This bipartisan legislation would make it a federal crime to assault a hospital staff member on the job. Over the years, hospitals and health systems have implemented numerous protocols to stem workplace violence, but they need help.

By enacting federal protections, Congress can create a powerful deterrent against workplace violence in hospitals and increase penalties for those who harm our caregivers. AHA urges Congress to support this legislation and stands ready to work with them to ensure it becomes law without delay.

The post AHA applauds introduction of federal Save Healthcare Workers Act, urges Congress to pass into law appeared first on FMLink.

The Center for Health Design’s internationally recognized Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) program awards a credential to individuals who demonstrate an understanding of how to apply an evidence-based process to the design and construction of all settings that contribute to health, safety and well-being, including measuring and reporting results.

Having the EDAC certification shows your clients and team members that you have a method for developing design solutions that are rooted in research to help achieve the desired goals and improved outcomes.

The updated digital study guides offer several new features, including:

Highlighting and note-taking — Engage with the material in a more interactive way.

Chapter-based navigation — Easily find content with a structured format replacing the previous single-running PDF.

Improved accessibility — Zoom up to 400% while maintaining text clarity.

This integration allows design professionals to access essential industry resources in one place, helping them create safer, more effective healthcare environments.

Those purchasing Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) Study Guides via The Center for Health Design website will now be redirected to FGI’s website for purchase and access. Existing users on MADCAD can continue their subscription until its term ends, after which they can transition to FGI’s digital subscription.

The post Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) healthcare design study guides are now updated and interactive appeared first on FMLink.

By Eileen McMorrow — NeoCon, the world’s premier fair for commercial design, is pleased to announce a powerhouse jury for the 2025 Best of NeoCon Awards. Now in its 35th year, the industry-leading competition features an on-site panel of top architects, designers, facility managers and business media who will conduct an in-depth review of the latest solutions shaping contract environments. Broad in its reach, the program brings together multidisciplinary professionals across workplace, healthcare, education, retail and hospitality sectors to evaluate 40 plus categories — from furnishings and architectural products to surface materials and more. 

With insider knowledge and real-world experience in specification, design strategy and product performance, the 2025 roster includes decision-makers from Aflac, CBRE and Walgreens, and designers from Corgan, Gensler, Marmon Mok and Shepley Bulfinch, to name a few. The distinguished group will judge each entry in-person at THE MART in Chicago on June 6 and 7, before the show opens. Winners will be unveiled during a high-energy ceremony on Monday, June 9, at 7:30 a.m., kicking off the 56th edition of NeoCon.

“Each year, we select a jury with a keen understanding of how products influence the built environment,” remarks Eileen McMorrow, Director of the Best of NeoCon Program. “Their expertise — from both the interior design perspective and the facility manager and end-user experience — is invaluable in recognizing solutions that push the industry forward.”

Uniting returning and first-time jurors with a diverse range of perspectives and project experience, the delegation ensures a well-rounded assessment of every submission. Participants include Suzanne Lefebvre of CannonDesign (Buffalo, NY), Annie Portner of Gensler (Philadelphia), Brad Robichaux of HKS (Dallas), and Robin Turansky of TVS (Atlanta), alongside seasoned facility managers Lelitha Williams of Aflac (Columbus, GA), Kathryn Feddor of CBRE (Chicago), and Jennifer Leighty of Walgreens (Kenosha, WI). The full list of jurors can be found on the Best of NeoCon website.

Regarding the critical role the Best of NeoCon jury plays in recognizing standout innovations, Lelitha Williams, Supervisor, Office Design & Planning at Aflac, says, “We carefully assess each product’s potential impact on real-world applications, validating that award recipients represent the best solutions for today’s built environments and reinforce the integrity and prestige that have made these awards so respected.”

Jurors will engage in an immersive evaluation of every Best of NeoCon entry — allowing for careful deliberation, meaningful dialogue with manufacturers, and product testing. This face-to-face exchange, paired with the jury’s thorough onsite assessment, upholds the Best of NeoCon program’s reputation as the most trusted industry benchmark for design excellence.

“One of the highlights for me is meeting with the product designers and learning about their process, seeing firsthand how their vision comes to life,” notes returning juror Suzanne Lefebvre, Interior Design Leader at CannonDesign. “I value the opportunity to dive deeper into emerging trends and technologies, particularly in how they affect student and staff experiences in the academic and workplace settings.”

Awards are given for Gold, Silver, Innovation and Sustainability, and the singular Best of Competition honor. The Business Impact Awards will also return, recognizing products that drive organizational performance through smarter workflows, cost savings, space optimization and other strategic outcomes. Business Impact finalists will advance to a second round of on-site review by a panel of business journalists from Fast Company, Forbes, Newsweek, Vogue Business and Morning Brew, among other notable publications.

This year, NeoCon attendees will also be able to weigh in on innovations through the inaugural People’s Choice Awards. This peer-to-peer recognition allows industry professionals to vote for their favorite Best of NeoCon-winning products via QR codes displayed in award recipients’ booths and showrooms throughout THE MART, during the show. The winners will be revealed on Wednesday, June 11.

Submission rules, deadlines and entry fees

NeoCon exhibitors are encouraged to submit entries through the Best of NeoCon online portal. Eligible products must have entered the U.S. market since June 2024 and be on display at NeoCon 2025. Products previously entered in Best of NeoCon 2024 are ineligible. Entrants must be NeoCon 2025 exhibitors. The final submission deadline is May 20th at $1,100 per entry and the Business Impact Award opt-in fee is $250 per entry.

More details on the program and entry process can be found at Best of NeoCon.

NeoCon 2025 is open to trade, C-suite executives, and other industry-related professionals, and registration is free for all attendees. Register here. 

The post Aflac, CBRE and Walgreens FMs are among the Best of NeoCon jurors appeared first on FMLink.

It’s a digital visual delight that starts with Caramelized and travels through Darkest Denim, Limestone, Marigold and Meadow, detailing the Stinson fabric patterns in each colorway.

Don’t take our word for it, see how Stinson Studio Insights identified this year’s top color trends before Q3 is upon us!

The post Check your color currency with Stinson Color Trends 2025 appeared first on FMLink.

April 7, 2025 — Robert (Bob) R. Feldbauer, DBA, FACHE, Chief Facilities & Real Estate Development Officer for Children’s Health System of Texas, located in Dallas, has been elected National President-Elect of the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP). Feldbauer will assume the role of National President in January 2026, serving a one-year term.

This prestigious appointment recognizes Feldbauer’s extensive leadership experience and significant contributions to the healthcare facilities sector. With a career spanning both domestic and international healthcare organizations, Feldbauer brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to AMFP. His educational achievements include a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and a Masters of Healthcare Administration (MHA).

Prior to his current role at Children’s Health, Feldbauer held executive positions at University of Cincinnati (UC) Health, Abu Dhabi Health Services in the United Arab Emirates, and Sidra Medical & Research Center in Qatar. His diverse background includes experience in hospital operations, master planning, design, construction, and healthcare facilities regulatory and accreditation compliance.

Feldbauer’s commitment to service extends beyond the healthcare sector. He is a Retired Senior Master Sergeant (E-8) in the United States Air Force, demonstrating his dedication to leadership and national service.

Learn more about the Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) at AMFP.

The post Dallas-based healthcare exec to lead Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) 2026-2027 appeared first on FMLink.

By Sara Marberry  — Did you know that 8 out of 10 nurses face violence in the healthcare workplace?

Because of this, healthcare workers are more than four times more likely to be hurt by violence in their workplace — more than all other industries combined. And only 20-60% of violent incidents are actually accounted for.

It’s a shame that those who are dedicated to taking care of others face such behavior from patients. their family members, co-workers, and even angry members of the public. Violent behavior includes things like yelling, grabbing, biting, spitting and throwing stuff.

It’s a huge problem — partly because it’s an accepted part of the job.

What is being done about it?

Gun violence also occurs in the healthcare workplace. This past February, a gunman entered the intensive care unit of UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, PA, and took staff members hostage. A police officer died, and several others, including hospital staff, were injured.

Hospital administrators across the U.S. are implementing a variety of strategies to combat workplace violence and enhance safety for staff, patients and visitors, including:

• Increased security presence
• Metal detectors and screening
• Access control and badging
• Violence prevention programs and staff training/preparedness
• Expanding mental and behavioral health resources
• Improving workplace culture and support systems

Designing to reduce violence in the healthcare workplace

The design of the physical environment also plays a critical role in preventing violence against nurses. Thoughtful design can help decrease stress, improve visibility, limit access to weapons, and provide escape routes when necessary.

Here are eight key ways the design of the physical environment of healthcare can help reduce violence:

1. Improved visibility and open sight lines that allow staff toe monitor patient behavior and recognize escalating situations before they become violent.
2. Controlled access and secure entry points to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering restricted areas.
3. Safe rooms and panic buttons to provide immediate protection for nurses if they need to remove themselves from a dangerous situation.
4. De-escalation spaces and calming environments to help agitated patients regulate emotions, reducing outbursts.
5. Ergonomic and safe nurse workstations to allow staff to quickly respond to potential threats.
6. Weapon-resistant design and safe materials to prevent patients or visitors from using objects in the environment as weapons.
7. Designated crisis response areas for handling patients with a history of aggression.
8. Safety training so that staff members know how to use safety design features effectively.

Where do we go from here?

We live in an increasingly violent, angry society — driven by such things as increased stress and mental health issues, breakdown of community and family structures, exposure to violence in media and society, and political and social polarization.

That’s why the problem of violence in the healthcare workplace isn’t going away. But maybe with careful strategies paired with thoughtful design, it can be reduced. What do you think?

See the original article as well as more insights on Sara Marberry’s Blog.

This column originally ran on Sara Marberry’s Blog on March 21, 2025. Marberry is a healthcare design expert with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare and senior living design industry, who has written/edited five books and is a regular contributor to Healthcare Design magazine. Marberry also is a former Executive Vice President of the nonprofit Center for Health Design.

The post Marberry: Reducing violence in the healthcare workplace: How design can help appeared first on FMLink.