IAHSS Makes a Big Impact at the Health Care Planning, Design, and Construction Conference

More than 3,300 professionals from all disciplines of health care planning, design, and construction convened in Atlanta, GA, from March 9-12, 2025, for the annual PDC Summit, organized by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association (AHA). This event, held in collaboration with 11 other leading health care PDC and clinical organizations, provided a platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and discussions on the evolving landscape of healthcare facility development.

The participating organizations included the American Institute of Architects’ Academy of Architecture for Health (AIA/AAH), the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers, The American College of Healthcare Architects, ASHRAE, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association, The Center for Health Design, the Facility Guidelines Institute, the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD), and the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS).

IAHSS Chair of Council on Guidelines Mike Lauer and IAHSS President Dan Yaross along with IAHSS member and Code Architect, Henry Kosarzycki led a 4-hour Pre-Summit Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Workshop on March 9.   Attendees were very engaged and interacted with the speakers, sharing their CPTED experiences at their respective organizations.   They also asked several questions regarding options in operationalizing CPTED methodologies.

Yaross participated in a panel discussion on March 11, titled "Project Security – The Owner’s Perspective”.  Including Yaross there were a total of four speakers.  One was an interior designer, another was a nurse working for an architectural firm and an engineer.   The session was well-attended and attendees were very complimentary of the session.

Also on March 11, IAHSS member Dr. Kat Kemper-Kelly represented IAHSS in a collaborative session with these organizations to explore opportunities for continued engagement beyond the conference.

Kemper-Kelly also participated as a panelist in the closing session on March 12, titled “Building Bridges: The Role of Supporting Organizations in Shaping Healthcare’s Future.” During this insightful discussion, panelists highlighted how their organizations contribute to innovation and collaboration in facility planning, design, and construction. They shared strategies for aligning strategic goals, navigating regulatory and operational challenges, and strengthening partnerships to enhance health care outcomes.

The IAHSS’s presence at the PDC Summit reinforced the association’s commitment to advancing health care security and safety as an integral component of facility planning and design. By engaging with leaders across disciplines, IAHSS continues to advocate for security best practices in health care environments, ensuring safe and resilient spaces for patients, staff, and visitors.