Southeastern Michigan Society for Healthcare Engineering (SMSHE)

Educational Meeting - Practical Insights on Healthcare Modular Solutions
2026-04-08 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Detroit) | Henry Ford Rochester Hospital, 1101 W University Drive, Rochester, Michigan, 48307
Eric Waller
Director of CareAffirm
Eric is dedicated to building meaningful partnerships within the healthcare industry and advancing modular, patient-centered solutions that prioritize safety, efficiency, and innovation. With more than 29 years of experience across healthcare facilities management, construction, regulatory compliance, and emergency services, he brings a balanced combination of strategic insight and operational execution to strengthen clinical environments and support sustainable growth.
Eric currently serves with CareAffirm, where he focuses on the development and expansion of healthcare modular solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of medical, mental health, and behavioral health environments. His work centers on aligning design, compliance, and operational performance to deliver adaptable, high-quality care settings that improve outcomes for patients, staff, and health systems.
Previously, Eric spent more than a decade in executive and senior leadership roles with Medxcel/Ascension, including Vice President of Support Services, Area Vice President, and Regional Director. In these roles, he led large-scale operational strategies across national hospital portfolios, negotiated enterprise service contracts, oversaw multimillion-dollar capital programs, and advanced compliance initiatives aligned with Joint Commission and DNV standards. His leadership consistently emphasized lifecycle optimization, customer experience, and the creation of resilient, future-ready healthcare infrastructure.
Across every role, he is guided by the belief that strong partnerships, deep healthcare expertise, and intentional collaboration are essential to delivering meaningful and lasting impact. Eric is passionate about helping organizations design, build, and maintain environments that support exceptional care delivery while advancing innovation across the healthcare ecosystem.
PRESENTATION:
Practical Insights on Healthcare Modular Solutions
Healthcare modular solutions are most effective when positioned as a strategic delivery model, not a construction alternative. When thoughtfully integrated into clinical planning, modular environments can accelerate speed to occupancy, improve cost predictability, and enhance quality control through controlled manufacturing processes.
Successful deployment depends on early alignment between clinical stakeholders, design teams, compliance experts, and operational leadership. Modular solutions perform best in high-repeatability environments such as patient rooms, behavioral health units, urgent care centers, ambulatory surgery centers, and support spaces where standardization drives efficiency without compromising care delivery.
Key advantages include schedule compression, reduced site disruption, improved safety performance, and tighter cost management. Practical success requires disciplined integration with structural systems, MEP coordination, life safety compliance, and state regulatory approvals.
Rather than replacing conventional construction, modular healthcare solutions serve as a strategic complement that accelerates delivery timelines and reduces risk while preserving clinical integrity. When applied intentionally, modular construction enable scalable, resilient healthcare environments designed to support operational efficiency, clinical excellence, and long term financial stewardship.
Lunch / Meeting sponsored by CareAffirm

Educational Meeting - Preparing for the future of code compliance: A highlight of major code changes from the NFPA 99 2012 edition to the 2024 edition
2026-05-13 12:00 - 14:30 | Henry Ford Providence Novi Hospital, 47601 Grand River Avenue, Novi, MI, 48374, United States
SPEAKER BIO:
Mathis Carlson
Special Projects and Education Manager for MediTrac
Mathis Carlson is the Special Projects and Education Manager for MediTrac, the leading manufacturer of corrugated medical gas tubing. MediTrac is a revolutionary, first-of-its-kind product, approved by NFPA 99 for medical gas piping systems.
At MediTrac, Mathis assists in medical gas system design and sizing, technical support, training, and general medical gas information and education.
Prior to joining MediTrac, Mathis spent 12 years working as a medical gas verifier and instructor after working as a plumber specializing in medical gases for 10 years.
Mathis holds multiple ASSE medical gas certifications including 6005 Specialist, 6010 Installer, 6020 Inspector, 6030 Verifier, 6035 Bulk Verifier, 6040 Maintenance, 6060Designer and 6050 Instructor. He also maintains his ASME IX brazing certification and Master Plumber license. In addition, he holds the MGPHO CMGV certified medical gas verifiers credential.
Mathis is serving as an alternate member of the NFPA 99 technical committee on medical gas piping systems, member of the NFPA 55 technical committee on industrial and medical gases, member of the ASSE 6000 working group, and a member of the FGI Health Guidance Revision Plumbing Task Group. He is also currently serving as President of the Medical Gas Professional Healthcare Organization (MGPHO).
PRESENTATION:
Preparing for the future of code compliance: A highlight of major code changes from the NFPA 99 2012 edition to the 2024 edition
Presentation Synopsis:
Description: With the 2024 edition of NFPA 99 it is expected that it is only a matter of time before CMS will be making a code update from the 2012 edition. In this session we will be talking about the major changes found between the 2012 edition and the 2024 edition as well as discussing how facilities, designers and other industry stakeholders can begin to plan for the potential code change and the utilization of the new standards. We will also discuss the Responsible Facility Authority or “RFA” and the associated permit to work system.
Learning Objectives:
1) Understanding major code changes in NFPA 99 from 2012-2024 editions
2) Review of how code changes can start to be implemented in preparation for an official code change
3) Discussion of the Responsible Facility Authority or “RFA”
4) Discussion of the NFPA 99 Permit to Work Requirement
Lunch / Meeting sponsored by Omega Flex, Inc.

REGISTER NOW - SMSHE 30th Annual Golf Outing
2026-07-17 07:30 - 17:00 | Links of Novi, 50395 W 10 Mile Rd, Novi, MI, 48374, United States
Join the SMSHE members and guests in our 30th Annual Golf Outing on Friday, July 17th, 2026!
This SMSHE tradition is a fun-filled day for golfers of all levels!
Register by clicking on the Link below.
FORMAT
We are playing a four person best ball format (scramble). This format is better named “Best Score”. We maintain a KEEP PACE PROGRAM.
CONTESTS
Hole in One Closet to the Pin Men/Women Longest Drive Men/Women Numerous Door Prizes
