NEHES Member Spotlight

Isaac Arey
Facilities Lead
Catholic Medical Center, Concord NH

Certifications
CHFM, 2020
CHC, Expected 2023

How has NEHES/ASHE contributed to your career?
ASHE is an invaluable resource. Sudden exposure to the regulatory environment was bracing. The connections with the regional group and national reach of the Society have made all the difference.  In particular, monographs from ASHE and the MyASHE community helped fill in gaps I didn't know were there.

What is your background healthcare facilities field?
Plant Operations and Facilities Management is my career, with seven years in healthcare.  The hospital is the smallest facility in which I've worked.  Coming from NYC, where I held various positions as a plumber, planner, BAS technician, and stationary engineer, I thought I understood the safety environment.

Tell us a Personal Tidbit.
My wife and I have four cats, so there's always a bit of fuzz following me around!.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
Diagnosing and solving thorny problems.  Root cause analysis—look past the symptom in a complex system, whether mechanical, procedural, or organizational.  Facilities, especially in healthcare, come with their own unique challenges.  Some have simple solutions that are not immediately apparent.  Find the smart people with the good ideas and run with them.

What are your plans for future growth?
Our facility has switched from TJC to DNV for CMS accreditation. I expect this will be an opportunity to improve my process skills. I plan to continue sharpening the saw by supporting our facility through this and other transitions ahead.