Environment of Care Conference
“Safety Starts Here: Embarking on Your Voyage to Excellence”
October 20, 2026
CityPlace
112 South 1st Avenue
La Grange, KY 40031
The Environment of Care (EOC) Conference brings together hospital safety, emergency management, quality, clinical, facilities, and EOC leaders to tackle the complex challenges shaping today’s health care environment. From artificial intelligence (AI) and continual survey readiness to emergency response, visitor management, and emerging EOC concerns, attendees will gain practical strategies, real-world insights, and peer connections to strengthen safety, preparedness, compliance, and operational effectiveness across their organizations.
Hotel Recommendation:
Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites La Grange
Rate: See website for best room rates
Registration Fees:
- KHA Member: $200.00
- Non-member: $300.00
- Registration Deadline: October 12, 2026
Keynote Spotlight
The Leadership Gap in the Age of AI: Why Tools Are Advancing Faster Than Our Mindset
Richard Parker, MBA, CHFM, CLSS-HC, FASHE, FACHE
Director, Life Safety & Physicial Environment
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
Artificial intelligence is changing health care—but successful organizations know it’s not just about the technology. It’s about how leaders use it. Join keynote speaker Richard Parker as he explores how AI can strengthen decision-making, planning, and problem-solving across emergency management, safety, quality, facilities, and environment of care while keeping human judgment at the center.
Continuing Education
Kentucky Board of Nursing
The Kentucky Hospital Association is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). KBN approval of a continuing nursing education provider does not constitute endorsement of program content. This educational activity is offered for 4.8 contact hours, with offering number 5-0023-12-27-26, expiration date 12-31-27. No partial credit will be given. To receive credit, participants must attend the entire educational offering, provide their nursing license number, and complete the offering evaluation provided at the conclusion of the event. Failure to complete any step in the process outlined above will result in non-issuance of CEU credit in accordance with KBN guidelines.
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Qualified Education Credits
By attending the Environment of Care Conference offered by the Kentucky Hospital Association, participants may earn up to 4 ACHE Qualifying Education Hours toward initial certification or recertification of the Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) designation.
Agenda
8:30 – 9:15 a.m. (ET)
Registration and Breakfast
9:15 – 9:30 a.m.
Welcome
Casey Franklin, BSN, RN, CPHQ, WCC, HACP-CMS
Associate Vice President of Quality and Health Professions
Kentucky Hospital Association
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Keynote: The Leadership Gap in the Age of AI: Why Tools Are Advancing Faster Than Our Mindset
Richard Parker, MBA, CHFM, CLSS-HC, FACHE, FASHE
Director, Life Safety & Physical Environment
Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC)
This keynote presentation explores the common gaps that limit effective artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and uses practical examples from emergency management, safety, quality, facilities, and Environment of Care (EOC) operations to demonstrate how leaders can use AI to strengthen problem-solving, planning, and decision-making while maintaining appropriate human oversight.
Objectives:
- Identify common leadership and behavioral barriers that limit the effective use of AI in health care operations.
- Apply practical strategies for using AI to support EOC activities such as risk assessment, emergency planning, safety analysis, documentation, and operational problem solving.
- Evaluate AI-generated information using appropriate professional judgment, validation, information-sharing controls, and human oversight.
10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Networking Break with Sponsors
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Continual Survey Readiness in the Environment of Care
Speaker:
Leah Hummel, AIA, CHFM, CHC, CHOP-B, SASHE
Senior Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs
American Society for Health Care Engineering (ASHE) at the American Hospital Association
This session explores common challenges hospitals face in maintaining continual survey readiness (CSR) within the EOC and the factors that can make sustained compliance difficult. Participants will examine practical, interdisciplinary strategies for overcoming these barriers, and will discover actionable tips, tools, and survey-readiness practices to help teams confidently demonstrate compliance and maintain a safe, survey-ready environment every day.
Objectives:
- Identify common challenges with CSR in the EOC.
- Describe tactics for circumventing those challenges with an interdisciplinary approach.
- Recall tips and tricks for supporting a successful survey around EOC requirements.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Rapid Deployment Drill: The Hotwash and After-Action Plan
Speaker:
Paul Buta, JD
Chief Security Officer
Appalachian Regional Healthcare
The worst time to learn how to address safety or adverse events in a hospital setting is after they have happened. Join this session to discover how to be fully prepared to respond to unanticipated crises using a structured, professional, and effective approach, from the moment of occurrence through the after-action planning needed to prevent similar events in the future.
Objectives:
- Identify operational strengths, vulnerabilities, and lessons learned regarding event responses.
- Distinguish immediate corrective actions from longer-term improvements following adverse events.
- Assign accountability and establish realistic timelines for event responses.
- Turn after-action findings into sustainable changes in policies, training, and emergency plans.
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Networking Break with Sponsors
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Raising the Drawbridge: Hospital Visitor Management and Access Control
Moderator:
Billie Delauder, DNP, MSN/RN, CPHQ, CPPS, HACP-CMS, CFPS
Quality Process Improvement Specialist
Kentucky Hospital Association
Panelists:
Carrie Mullins
Legal and Risk Manager
Rockcastle Regional Hospital & Respiratory Care Center
John Thomas Rogers, MHA
Corporate Compliance Officer, Risk Manager and Director of Security and Switchboard
T.J.Regional Health
Kathy Tussey
Chief Executive Officer
Harrison Memorial Hospital
Matt Greis, SASHE, CHFM
System Director of Engineering & Maintenance
St. Elizabeth Healthcare
Steve Buckley, RN, HACP-CMS-PE-IC
Vice President of Regulatory
Pikeville Medical Center
This session examines the most common barriers and challenges in hospital visitor management, including issues that can affect safety, patient rights, experience, and organizational security. Participants will explore the essential elements of an effective visitor management program, as well as practical strategies for addressing visitor management challenges while balancing patient and stakeholder safety, patient rights and experience, and positive relationships with the communities hospitals serve.
Objectives:
- Identify the most common barriers or challenges around visitor management.
- Share essential protocol or policy regarding visitor management (e.g., who is involved, what are the key elements, etc.).
- Identify solutions to circumvent or rectify challenges to maximize patient outcomes and community integrity within the organization (e.g., balancing patient/stakeholder safety, patient rights and experience, and community relationships).
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
From the Field: An Audience-Led EOC Discussion
KHA Quality Team
Kentucky Hospital Association
This interactive session explores critical and emerging challenges facing EOC leaders in today’s hospitals. Participants will share practical strategies and best practices for addressing issues that impact patient and workforce safety. Through facilitated peer discussion and collaboration, attendees will also build connections and a network of support for navigating the complex realities of EOC management.
Objectives:
- Discuss critical and emerging challenges facing EOC leaders in today’s hospitals.
- Identify practical strategies to address challenges that threaten patient and workforce safety.
- Build peer connections that foster collaboration, shared learning, and EOC best practices.
4:30 p.m.
Wrap Up
Casey Franklin, BSN, RN, CPHQ, WCC, HACP-CMS
Associate Vice President of Quality and Health Professions
Kentucky Hospital Association
Special Needs
KHA wishes to take all steps necessary to ensure no individual with a disability is excluded, denied services, segregated, or otherwise treated differently than other individuals because of the absence of auxiliary aids and services. If you need any such assistance or services, please contact KHA at 502-426-6220.
Cancellation Policy
Written notice of registration cancellation must be received more than 14 days prior to the event are eligible for a refund, less a $50 cancellation fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received within 14 days of the event, including no-shows. Substitutions from the same organization are welcome at any time prior to the event.
For more information, contact KHA:
Casey Franklin | cfranklin@kyha.com
Associate VP of Quality & Health Professions
Lauren Wheatley | lwheatley@kyha.com
Director of Education & Events
Kris Allen | kallen@kyha.com
Events Manager