Greetings KSHE Members

Seems we skipped spring this year and went straight to summer. It is hard to believe we are half way through the year and just a few short months away from the annual conference in Owensboro! I would like to take a few paragraphs to update you on the current and emerging opportunities for education and professional development for KSHE members and those that work in and around healthcare facilities.

At this year’s annual conference, we will be dedicating a full day’s track to “hands on” training for operational managers and technicians. There will also be a session or two on operationalizing code for those that do the work. The training will cover equipment and categories to include medical gas, steam, plumbing, HVAC, rated door inspections, electrical, etc.  It is our hope that technicians in area facilities can get a day away for this timely and valuable training.

Fire door inspection training was completed with maintenance staff at the Owensboro hospital as part of the Tool Belt Training series being offered at no charge by KSHE. The training was well received. If your hospital is a KSHE member, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss and schedule training options and dates. The goal is to deliver at least four more sessions this year! Please take advantage of this value and opportunity to KSHE member hospitals.

Safe Day One continues to gain support and recognition as an affordable and valuable education and training tool for those working in healthcare as technicians and contractors. In recent months, ASHE(American Society for Healthcare Engineering) Association has verbally endorsed Safe Day One and is encouraging national exposure for credentialing to the healthcare facilities environment. ASHE plans to launch a contractor technician certification later this year and indicated that those that have taken Safe Day One would be permitted to sit for the new exam.

Earlier this year, I mentioned the potential for and academic credential for hospital technicians from the HFL program and also the potential of a national certification. I am encouraged to mention that ASHE and the HFL program are in discussions on a coordinated effort to make this happen. I am hopeful that both initiatives will be launched sometime in 2019. Both of these education efforts will go a long way in creating a career ladder for current and new technicians. They will also create the foundation for succession planning for our unique profession.

I hope you are planning to take advantage of these great opportunities and I hope to see many of you at the upcoming annual conference in Owensboro!

Go to www.KSHE.org for more details.

The very best to you!
Mike Canales, KSHE Education Board Member

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