Healthcare Conference Offers Key Insights on AI, Market Trends

Leaders in the healthcare sector descended on Atlanta this Nov. 13-14 for TRSA’s 13th Annual Healthcare Conference. The roughly 200 attendees received key updates on the impact of AI on the market as well as the trends shaping the future of the industry.

Economic Futurist Andrew Busch kicked off the conference with a keynote address titled “AI Unleashed: Growth Opportunities.” Busch began his keynote with an overview of the current state of the U.S. economy and how the recent 2024 election results will impact the economy moving forward, before touching on trends impacting us in the workplace and in our daily lives such as population migration and weather volatility. He closed by highlighting how AI can provide opportunities for businesses including those operating in the linen, uniform and facility services industry. Busch shared the following key thoughts on AI:

1. Understand what AI can and cannot do.
2. Quantify the value that you want to get from using AI.
3. Data must be catalogued, indexed, de-siloed and shared, or AI won’t work.
4. Regulatory concerns include data access and use of the cloud.
5. AI talent is scarce and expensive.

Following the keynote address, a pair of panel presentations filled out the morning schedule. Panels included, “AI and Automation Initiatives in the Commercial Laundry Industry” with Larry Erickson, lead software developer at KannegiesserETECH; Mads Andresen, CEO at Inwatec ApS; and moderator Dan Sanchez, the founder and president of Sanchez Advisory Group LLC. The second panel was titled “Industry Executive Perspectives on the Healthcare Services Sector Panel.” It featured Mark Carter, president and CEO, Up To Date Laundry Inc.; Chad Poeppelmeier, vice president of healthcare, Cintas Corp.; David Potack, CEO, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services; and moderator Joseph Ricci, president & CEO, TRSA.

After lunch, several breakout sessions were held. Topics included:

• AI: From Aptitude to Impact, Zachary McCook, IT director, Nixon Medical
• AI and its Role in Workplace Safety, Jay Juffre, executive vice president, ImageFIRST; and Mike Lang, process analyst, Unitex Healthcare Laundry Services
• Hygienically Clean: What’s New with Commercial Laundry’s Premiere Certification, Samlane Ketevong, senior director of certifications & accreditation, TRSA; Dan Sanchez, founder and president, Sanchez Advisory Group LLC; and TJ Peterson, owner, TJP Laundry Maintenance Solutions
• Reusables vs. Disposables: A Playbook to Beating the Competition, Bryan Bartsch, president & CEO, Ecotex; Marianne Dawson, sustainability advisor, PHSA procurement, Provincial Health Services Authority; Jason Hartsell, vice president of operations, United Hospital Services; Ryan Matthews, senior national sales director, Alsco Uniforms; Kelsey Van Miert, president of customer relations; Northwest Health Care Linen; and moderator Ken Koepper, director of membership and industry outreach, TRSA

After the breakout sessions concluded, attendees listened to presentations on TRSA’s Healthcare Industry Trends Survey and Post-COVID Challenges in the Healthcare Industry. Kevin Schwalb, TRSA’s vice president of government relations, concluded the day with an update on the latest standards and regulations that healthcare operators need to be aware of in their day-to-day operations.

The second and final day of the conference featured a plant tour of the NOVO Health Services facility in Atlanta. The Hygienically Clean certified plant services the acute-care market in the greater Atlanta area. Additionally, several key meetings took place the day before the start of the conference, including a meeting of TRSA’s Healthcare Committee and a CEO/Executive Roundtable for healthcare executives.

Special thanks to the following companies for sponsoring the 13th Annual Healthcare Conference: Title Sponsor JENSEN USA Inc.; Event Sponsor Lac Mac; Five-Star Partners Alliant Systems, Kannegiesser ETECH, JENSEN USA Inc. and Pellerin Milnor Corp.; Four-Star Partners Ellis Corp. and Unitex International Inc.; Premium Sponsors Brim Laundry Machinery Co. Inc., G.A. Braun Inc., Lavatec Laundry Technology Inc. and Monarch Brands; and Supporting Sponsors Environ Energy, G.A. Braun Inc., George Courey Inc., KSE Suppliers, MIP Inc., Pellerin Milnor Corp. and Sigmatex-Lanier Textiles.