May 14, 2016, Arlington TAHFM's mission encourages professional development through support, education and collaboration. Looking to uphold these ideals, TAHFM and Sterling Barnett Little invite you to join us at the Sterling Barnett Little Suite at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for the Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays. The Suite will accommodate 50 people so we urge you to register quickly! Hot dogs, beer and beverages will be served. The best news is this event is FREE to active facility members and only $10 for associate (industry) members. Limit 1 guest per member. Don't miss this great TAHFM networking event!

June 30 – July 1, 2016, Houston Designed to give you the tools for passing the Certified Health Care Constructor (CHC) Exam, this course provides test taking tips, key topics, and sample questions identified in the CHC content outline (as listed in the CHC Candidate Handbook). This course will also use interactive polling technology, allowing each participant to answer questions and compare their answer with averages among those in class.

The Paper Magazine The recent Economic Outlook Conference hosted by The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce featured a panel of medical experts who went into great detail about a situation that local commuters caught in construction traffic already know all too well: The Woodlands is about to become the Houston area’s "second medical center" with a massive increase in the arrival of hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Fort Worth Star Telegram HCA North Texas has closed on its purchase of the bankrupt Forest Park Medical Center in Frisco and rebranded the facility as Medical City Frisco.

Jeff Ferenc, Health Facilities Management Reports of hospitals and health care systems reducing energy use by as much as 20 percent and saving hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars over relatively short periods are no longer uncommon.

American Society for Healthcare Engineering Why should your hospital or health care facility participate in the Energy to Care benchmarking and awards program? A new ASHE video explains how this free program can help you. In just two minutes, you’ll learn how Energy to Care can save resources while highlighting your value to your organization.

Joseph Ricci, Facility Executive According to the Environmental Protection Agency, businesses and other institutions account for 17 percent of water taken from public water supplies in the United States.

Jeff Light, Facility Care Improving energy efficiency in a building doesn’t require a huge investment. Even small building energy management projects can yield big results.

American Society for Healthcare Engineering The American Hospital Association has pulled together several tools and other resources to help hospitals prepare for and manage cybersecurity risks.

American Society for Healthcare Engineering A new Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence (HPOE) guide written for hospital leaders shows how the health care physical environment—and the people who manage it—can improve the patient experience. Download your copy of Improving the Patient Experience through the Health Care Physical Environment today and learn how you can help your organization improve patient satisfaction scores across all areas, not just quietness and cleanliness.

David Lewek, Facility Care Identifying maintenance needs, prioritizing deferred maintenance and strategizing for long-term building and equipment requirements are at the core of facility management for any building portfolio, particularly in the healthcare industry.

National Fire Protection Association The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced the launch of a new certification program, Certified Life Safety Specialist (CLSS-HC) designed for health care facility managers and based on the 2012 edition of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®.

David L. Stymiest PE CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, Health Facilities Management Most health care facilities’ observers anticipate that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will adopt the 2012 editions of the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) and Health Care Facilities Code (NFPA 99) within the next year or so.

David L. Stymiest PE CHFM, CHSP, FASHE, Health Facilities Management The loss of clean, plentiful water can have a huge impact on hospitals and other health care facilities.

Jeff Ferenc, Health Facilities Management Later this year, the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA's) Hospital-Readmission Reduction and Value-based Purchasing programs begin impacting hospital payments based on their rates of infection, including Clostridium difficile.