Presentation Types and Topics 

Attendees were surveyed following the Spring Seminar in Pinehurst and our excellent response rate yielded ideas and suggestions we are keeping in mind when evaluating submissions for the Annual Conference

Presentation Types

1. Real-World Outcomes Over Polished Success Stories

Multiple attendees independently noted that sessions built around lessons learned — what went wrong, what was hard, and what they’d do differently — are more memorable and impactful than presentations that only highlight successes.  Speakers who are willing to be candid, and to frame presentations around honest case studies and after-action scenarios rather than just showcasing wins are encouraged.

2. Contractor + Healthcare Engineer Co-Presentations

Attendees specifically called out the value of sessions where both a contractor and a healthcare engineer present together. This format resonates because it shows how the same project or challenge looks from two different seats at the table. We welcome these pairings as a presentation table if applicable.

Presentation Topics

Regulatory & Code Updates

• FGI revisions and new formats
• Joint Commission EOC matrix and the new 360 survey process (began January 2026)
• NFPA codes: 99, 101, 70E (Electrical Safety), 70B (Electrical Equipment Maintenance), 1225
• National Electrical Code (NEC) 2026
• CMS requirements and navigating overlapping state and federal code frameworks
• ICRA and ILSM protocols

Life Safety & Emergency Preparedness

• Lithium battery fire education and safety
• Electrical outage preparedness
• DAS systems as alternatives to traditional fire phones (NFPA 1225)
• ICRA and ILSM protocols for construction and renovation environments

Energy, Sustainability & Infrastructure (One of the highest-volume topic clusters in the survey)

• Energy audits and retro-commissioning (RCx)
• Central energy plant upgrades and campus utility master planning
• Energy code impacts on telecom room design and infrastructure
• Refrigerant changes and emerging alternatives
• Alternate and future energy sources: solar, wind, and nuclear options
• Facility obsolescence risk management
• Sustainable hospital design and operations
• Commissioning of existing facilities to enhance energy performance

Construction, Renovation & Project Management (Attendees noted that project managers are well-represented at this conference — not just facilities managers — and want content that speaks to both audiences)

• Challenging interior renovations: successes, obstacles, and outcomes
• Prefabricated building systems and partnering with construction teams
• Contractor selection processes for both large CapEx and ongoing MRO needs
• Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
• Top permitting issues healthcare facilities face
• Subsurface utility engineering
• Construction management best practices
• Right to Repair considerations
• Door hardware specifications and HVAC sequence of operations

AI & Technology

• Practical AI applications for day-to-day facilities management tasks
• Technology and infrastructure enhancements
• Data recovery and disaster preparedness
• Telecom room design and evolving energy code impacts

• Succession planning and staff education programs
• Managing stakeholder expectations
• Leadership development and team management
• Capital planning and data gathering
• Using trade relationships to identify operational trends
• Chapter involvement and engagement
• Healthcare mergers and organizational transitions
• The future of healthcare facilities: a 3–5 year outlook
• CON (Certificate of Need) changes and hospital impact

• Lighting design for healthcare environments
• Facility assessments and future energy initiatives
• Emerging design trends
• Information specific to nursing home and long-term care facilities
• Capital planning tied to how facilities age over time