Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, posted this update at 7:45 a.m. Thursday, October 10, the morning after Category 3 Hurricane Milton blasted the city and the surrounding region on the west coast of Florida: "As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, Tampa General Hospital remains open and our teams stand ready to care of our community. Last night, our storm mitigation efforts stood strong against #HurricaneMilton. TGH Brooksville, TGH Spring Hill, and TGH Crystal River are operating as normal, serving our community throughout this challenging time." The update was posted again at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, October 13, confirming that Tampa General’s defenses had withstood the ensuing storm surge of some six feet.

So what did the hospital do to prepare for both Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, which had devastated the region only two weeks earlier? Emergency preparations included the previous construction of an on-site energy source and water source, and assembling an AquaFence water-impermeable barrier just before each storm to protect against the storm surge. Watch the video TGH posted on X during Hurricane Helene to show that the AquaFence barrier was holding. Image above is from September 26 after Hurricane Helene, courtesy of AquaFence via TGH.

Details on preparations at Tampa General Hospital on Davis Islands include:

• On-Site Energy Source – Tampa General completed construction in 2022 on a 16,000-square-foot Central Energy Plant. Located 33 feet above sea level, this energy plant provides a reliable, protected power supply in the event of power disruption. It is built to withstand the impact and flooding of a Category 5 hurricane. The plant houses generators and boilers that can create steam and hot water.
• On-Site Water Source – In the rare event that water service is disrupted, a well is available to supply water needs. In addition, more than 5,000 gallons of water was moved on site to support patients and team members.
• AquaFence – Tampa General has completed assembly of the AquaFence to protect vulnerable areas of the campus against storm surge and flooding. The AquaFence is a water-impermeable barrier that can withstand storm surge up to 15 feet above sea level.

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Healthcare Design magazine in partnership with The Healthcare Design Conference + Expo announced the winners of The Nightingale Awards 2024 last week in Indianapolis, including winning entries from such leading brands as Accurate Lock & Hardware, C. F. Stinson, Kwalu and OM Seating. Recornect won Best of Competition for its CoWin Digital Media Wall. 

The Nightingale Awards are the industry’s leading program to recognize products related to the healthcare built environment — are named for Florence Nightingale, a tireless advocate for the improvement of care and conditions in military and civilian hospitals in the 1800s. The judging criteria for the awards are the product’s contribution or solution for clinical or operational outcomes; aesthetics and innovation; built environment solution, durability, functionality and quality; industry certifications and standards; sustainability; and list price.

Nightingale Award winners for 2024 include:

• The Nightingale Best of Competition Award and Gold Award in Anti-Ligature & Reduced-Ligature Furnishings to Recornect for CoWin Digital Media Wall
• The Gold Award in Fabrics & Textiles to C.F. Stinson for Haiku
• The Gold, Sustainability, and Best of Sustainability Awards in Architectural Products: Non-Clinical to Standard Textile for AMY Privacy Curtain System
• The Silver Award in Architectural Products: Non-Clinical to Accurate Lock & Hardware for Custom Design Program for Behavioral Health Safety
• The Silver and a Sustainability Award in Seating: Conference to OM for OM5
• The Gold Award in Storage & Accessories to Kwalu for Ethan Collection

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In response to the growing need for effective threat management in healthcare settings, the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) has updated its Threat Management Guidelines for Healthcare Facilities. These comprehensive guidelines aim to empower healthcare organizations with the tools and strategies needed to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate threats of violence or behaviors of concern within their facilities.

The new guidelines emphasize the importance of creating a multidisciplinary Threat Assessment and Management (TAM) Team within healthcare facilities. This team, comprising experts from various departments including human resources, legal, security, clinical services, mental health, and law enforcement, will be responsible for receiving, investigating, and managing threats in a systematic and evidence-based manner.

Key components of the guidelines include:

• Threat assessment
• Team structure
• Threat awareness training
• Policy development
• Victim advocacy

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The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has just announced the release of Gamechanger: A Facility Manager’s Guide to Building a Relationship with AI. This new publication serves as a guide for facility management (FM) professionals ready to embrace the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). From predictive maintenance to optimizing energy efficiency, AI is rapidly reshaping the way facility managers operate, and this guide provides a foundational roadmap for understanding and leveraging these advanced tools.

In Gamechanger, readers will discover clear and practical explanations of key AI concepts such as machine learning and machine vision. More importantly, they will gain valuable insights into how these technologies can effectively apply to real-world FM challenges. The guide provides a step-by-step approach to successful AI deployment, offering actionable advice on aligning AI strategies with business goals, managing organizational change, and ensuring data governance and infrastructure readiness. Crafted with the busy facility manager in mind, the guide is designed to be accessible, making AI a practical and achievable asset for any FM professional.

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Kwalu’s Protea surfacing and the Ethan Collection of case goods were honored with prestigious Nightingale Gold awards in Indianapolis last week (see above).

Kwalu’s Protea won a Nightingale Gold award in the Surfacing Materials and Finishes category. Named after the resilient Protea flower, a symbol of strength and transformation, Protea is an innovative, non-porous surface material that combines elegance with durability, making it ideal for healthcare environments. Protea offers a realistic wood-like appearance without the drawbacks of traditional wood in healthcare environments. Protea includes proprietary elements that enhance the wood grain appearance, making the material more inviting while reducing shine to offer a warmer, more natural feel.

Unlike wood, Protea is completely moisture-impervious, bleach-cleanable, and compatible with ALL EPA-approved disinfectants. Capable of withstanding rigorous cleaning without losing its finish, it will not delaminate, surface crack, or swell. Protea is backed by a 10-year guarantee on finish and construction, ensuring long-term use and reducing the need for frequent replacements. Protea’s ease of care preserves the furniture’s appearance, reduces maintenance costs, and supports infection control, keeping healthcare spaces clean and welcoming.

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Snowfall by Burmatex is a groundbreaking carpet tile that seamlessly blends innovative design with environmental responsibility. Crafted with Universal Fibers Thrive matter yarn, touted as the world’s first carbon-negative recycled yarn, it takes its design inspiration from the undulating patterns made by snowfall. Thrive matter yarn is said to stand alone as the most environmentally conscious solution-dyed, high-performance nylon fibers in the world. This, combined with Burmatex’s unique BioBase recycled backing, makes Snowfall by Burmatex a carbon-neutral product, setting a new standard for interiors.

Snowfall by Burmatex carpet tile offers an expansive and versatile color palette with 16 shades, ranging from neutrals and contemporary greens to luminous peaches and icy blues. Each shade is carefully curated to reflect the natural beauty of winter landscapes, bringing both style and functionality. The versatile random-pattern-match design and beautiful color palette make the carpet tile ideal for zoning different areas within an office, offering a practical solution for open-plan environments. Whether used to define collaborative spaces, quiet zones, or meeting areas, the Snowfall tiles can seamlessly adapt to various design needs.

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By Sara Marberry  — I’ve been thinking a lot about the past lately. That’s because I’ve been preparing for a presentation Sheila Cahnman and I are giving at the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo titled, “Trend or Fad? Anticipating Changes that will have the Greatest impact on Healthcare Design.” We’ll be looking at some design innovations over the past 20 years that have had a lasting impact, as well as ones that have faded over time. And we’ll be discussing some emerging design strategies that may turn into long-term trends or be short-term fads. It’s been kinda fun digging into this topic.

We looked at what topics people were presenting 20 years ago at the 2005 HCD conference at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort in Arizona (remember that hot exhibitor tent?). Here are four ideas from that conference program that are still emerging trends today:

1. “The Brain, the Mind, and Healthcare Facilities Design” by John Paul Eberhard.
2. “Today’s Material, Tomorrow’s Garbage: Taking Responsibility for Material Purchase, Use, and Management in a Healing Environment” by Janet Brown.
3. “Sustainability in Action: Progress Report from the Green Guide for Healthcare Pilot,” by Walter Vernon; Scott Slotterback, and Adele Houghton.
4. “Wellness as a Business Strategy,” by Janet Faulkner.

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Winner of a prestigious Nightingale Gold award, C.F. Stinson‘s new collection, Haiku, features eight textiles that provide a serene, poetic experience designed to elevate healing environments. An economy of expression, a Haiku poem captures the essence of a fleeting moment in time and evokes a vivid emotional response. In a similar way, a carefully curated palette of materials can create a mood and atmosphere of an interior.

The Haiku collection features eight bleach solution cleanable patterns in 66 soothing yet elegant colorways and includes woven, non-woven and Privacy Curtain options. All materials in the collection have been constructed to meet the rigorous demands of healthcare and are durable, cleanable and GREENGUARD Gold Certified.

From soft pastels to deep saturated jewel tones, the colors, textures and patterns in Haiku have been designed to complement healing environments. Upon first glance, it is easy to feel and understand that the collection is focused on a sense of calm and well-being. The elegance of simplicity helps to define the collection. The simple yet sophisticated patterns can be intermingled depending on the intended environment or application.

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NFMT Remix (National Facilities Management & Technology) returns to Las Vegas October 25-26 with the theme: Empowering People, Advancing Practice. NFMT REMIX will empower FMs with world-class education sessions, constant networking opportunities, and access to pertinent FM subject matter, experts and influencers. Process, procedure and technology converge at NFMT Remix to give attendees the tools to advance their practice by driving innovation and optimizing performance within their facilities. 

The scope and scale of NFMT Remix attract facility leaders from all types of organizations, from Fortune 500s to small municipalities and all those in between. By attending education sessions, visiting the Expo Hall, and joining networking events, NFMT Remix attendees stay at the forefront of facilities management and gain the perspective they need to make informed decisions.

Conference sessions include in-depth presentations addressing key facilities management concepts, including technology, maintenance, operations and space management. Six education tracks help plan a personalized agenda: Future Trends; Leadership, Culture & Career Development; Security; Health & Safety; Maintenance & Operations; and Technology.

Register for NFMT Remix here.

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Standard Textile Co., a global provider of healthcare and hospitality textiles, garnered several awards for its innovative healthcare products at the 2024 Nightingale Awards.

Standard Textile’s newly launched AMY Privacy Curtain System won the Nightingale Gold, Sustainability, and Best of Sustainability Awards in the category of Architectural Products: Non-Clinical. AMY is touted as the industry’s first all-fabric privacy curtain engineered to revolutionize curtain management in healthcare settings. AMY addresses many of the challenges associated with traditional privacy curtains by eliminating metallic hooks, plastic carriers and other small parts that can break or wear over time. Its unique one-piece, all-fabric design simplifies the curtain change-out process, making it up to five times faster to hang than traditional curtains, significantly reducing time and labor for Environmental Services (EVS) teams.

The Newton Wand Chain-Free Solar Shade won the Nightingale Gold Award, Innovation Award, and the Best of Innovation in the Window Shading & Treatments category. The company’s “most elegant manual shade option,” Newton is designed to revolutionize shade control. Gone are the days of unsafe, unappealing chains. Newton offers a smooth, intuitive wand-controlled operation that brings elegance to your fingertips. This patented chain-free solar shade design simplifies operation, enhances durability, and improves product safety. Choose from the standard wand or a more accessible loop wand as an ADA option.

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This week's Featured Book from FMLink Books is part of a collection of peer-reviewed books curated by the FMLink editorial team to provide facilities, engineering and A&D professionals with access to publications relating to the Costbooks topic.

The 2025 BNi Mechanical-Electrical Costbook is your essential resource for precise cost estimation. Key features:

• Access precise details for over 15,000 items from paving to finish carpentry.
• Unit of measure, material cost, labor cost, and equipment cost per unit provided for each item.
• Stay up to date with accurate material costs researched by experts.
• Labor costs based on the latest prevailing wage rates from the Department of Labor.

This and other Costbooks titles are available for purchase on FMLink.