The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI), a not-for-profit corporation, was founded in 1998 to provide continuity in the facility guidelines revision process, function as a contractual coordinating entity, and enhance the content and format of guidelines publications that encourage and improve their application and use. The Board of Directors reports that FGI has exceeded expectations in every respect as we look forward to the 2006 edition of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities.

Some of the accomplishments to date include:

• FGI has become a sound organization with a viable financial condition with resources primarily from publication sales and investments. These resources are used to fund guideline-related activities as approved by the Board.
• The Board of Directors has expanded from four to eight members in order to increase the level of expertise available to run the Guidelines process.
• Development of a website for FGI. This effort continues in order to better serve the health care community.
• The publication of the second Guidelines developed by FGI was published in July 2006.
• A formal interpretation group has been formed to respond to individuals and groups that require additional information or challenge information contained in the Guidelines.
• Two important FGI-funded research projects had significant impact on Guidelines 2006.
• The Research and Development subcommittee continues to work on additional research topics.
• FGI signed a three-year agreement with the National Institute of Building Sciences to partner in research on the built environment for health.

On behalf of the FGI Board, I would like to thank each and every one of our Health Guidelines Revision Committee (HGRC) members, and particularly the leadership provided by the Steering Committee members, for their efforts in producing the 2006 edition. We should all recognize the incredible body of knowledge the HGRC brings to the health care industry in the debate for sound defensible guidelines. I have never seen a committee work so long and so hard to do the right thing and to produce a document of which we can all be proud. I am honored to serve as your President.

Joseph G. Sprague, FAIA, FACHA
President
Facility Guidelines Institute