The health care field suffers from an over-application of codes as code developers routinely add new requirements to the already heavy code burden. In many cases, excessive code requirements have made the delivery of health care more difficult and have increased the price of an already expensive physical environment. In response to this issue, ASHE approached the International Code Council (ICC) to determine if a collaborative effort could be established to develop a single code that facilities can meet in a fiscally responsible manner while still ensuring safe physical environments. This session will provide highlights of this groundbreaking partnership between ASHE and the ICC and enable you to:

* Describe how the partnership between ASHE and the ICC will positively impact the health care physical environment in cost savings and support of better patient care.
* Discuss how to actively participate in establishing one set of building and fire codes for design and construction of new hospitals and ambulatory care facilities and one code for the evaluation of existing facilities.