Description

Ahead of the May 14 WSSHE Topgolf networking event, join us for a focused education session on wildfire risk and operational readiness for healthcare facilities. This topic is becoming increasingly urgent across the Pacific Northwest, where early indicators point to elevated wildfire activity this year.

The session will feature a three-person panel bringing together regional insight, real-world healthcare experience, and technical expertise:

• Joe Zydel, Principal Safety Officer, Swedish Medical Center
  Joe works closely with the National Weather Service and will provide a regional wildfire and smoke outlook. With concerning winter conditions, his perspective will help frame what facilities can expect and why proactive planning is critical.
• Providence – Oregon Facilities Leader
  A facilities representative from Providence will share firsthand experience managing wildfire impacts on hospital operations, including how buildings were modified and systems adapted to handle prolonged smoke exposure.
• Eric Kongelbak, President, Commercial Filter Sales
  Eric will offer a technical perspective on mitigation strategies, including filtration upgrades, HVAC system considerations, and emerging technologies for monitoring indoor air quality.

This candid discussion will focus on practical application. Panelists will explore what mitigation strategies are effective in real healthcare environments and which approaches may fall short. Topics will include filtration tradeoffs, system resilience, monitoring technologies, and lessons learned from facilities that have already navigated wildfire challenges.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the risks ahead, a grounded view of operational constraints, and actionable insights to support informed decision-making as wildfire season approaches.