February 3, 2026
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| Price for Members: $185 per person $205 after January 27, 2026 |
Register Now
What’s It All About?
Life safety, Emergency preparedness, and fire protection are foundational to resident safety, staff readiness, and continuity of operations in long-term care settings. Yet deficiencies and vulnerabilities often arise not from lack of effort, but from fragmented responsibilities, misunderstood requirements, or plans that exist on paper rather than in practice. This comprehensive session provides a practical, integrated overview of fire protection and life safety fundamentals alongside the essential components of a strong Emergency Preparedness Program. Participants will gain a working understanding of critical systems and safeguards commonly found in skilled nursing and senior care environments. Including fire alarm and sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, means of egress, fire doors, emergency lighting, emergency power, and evacuation and communication procedures. Also, understanding the inspections, testing, documentation, and oversight required to remain compliant.
Drawing on real-world survey observations, inspections, incident reviews, and regulatory expectations, the session will highlight common compliance breakdowns, shared ownership challenges across departments, and actionable strategies to reduce risk, improve readiness, and strengthen day-to-day compliance. Attendees will also explore how proactive planning, hazard identification, resource management, and community partnerships support effective emergency response and organizational resilience.
This session is ideal for administrators, facilities and maintenance staff, safety officers, quality professionals, and organizational leaders seeking a clear, practical foundation in both life safety compliance and emergency preparedness planning.
Objectives
Life Safety and Fire Protection
- Identify the core fire protection and life safety systems commonly found in long-term care facilities and explain their role in protecting residents, staff, and visitors.
- Recognize key inspection, testing and documentation requirements that are frequently reviewed during surveys and identify common reasons deficiencies occur.
- Apply practical strategies to improve compliance, clarify ownership, and proactively address fire and life safety risks before they result in citations or incidents.
Emergency Preparedness
- Recognize why proactive emergency preparedness is critical for safety and continuity.
- Identify and explain the key components of a comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Plan.
- Develop strategies to anticipate and respond to emergencies in order to reduce injury and loss.
- Explore resources and partnerships that support creating or updating a compliant preparedness plan.
Seminar Presenters
- Glenn Thomas – Glenn is the President/Owner of Full Spectrum Safety Consulting, where he partners with health care organizations to strengthen compliance, enhance emergency preparedness, and build safer environments for residents, staff, and visitors. Glenn brings practical expertise and a solutions-driven approach to life safety, regulatory compliance, and emergency management. With over 25 years of experience across long-term care, emergency medical services (EMS), and the fire service, Glenn offers a unique perspective that blends hands-on frontline response with operational leadership in healthcare settings. His career includes extensive time in long-term care administration and decades serving in firefighting and EMS, where he developed deep knowledge of emergency response, crisis management, and public safety.
- Meghan Medvitz, MSHS – Meghan is the Senior Manager of Quality Improvement and Emergency Preparedness at the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). She oversees regulatory and policy preparation for Emergency Preparedness and Life Safety and leads resource development and advocacy efforts for members. Meghan also manages the Quality Award Program’s review process based on the Baldrige Excellence Framework. Prior to joining AHCA/NCAL eight years ago, she worked in the business office of a skilled nursing facility in Pennsylvania. Meghan holds a Master’s in Clinical Operations and Healthcare Management from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s in Health Policy and Administration from Pennsylvania State University.
Who Should Attend?
Nursing home and assisted living administrators, environmental services managers, maintenance staff, and all others involved with life safety code and emergency preparedness.
Registration Information
DATE AND TIME:
February 3, 2026 – Brentwood
Tennessee Society of CPAs – 201 Powell Place, Brentwood, TN 37027
Lodging: Nearby options include Homewood Suites Brentwood – 5107 Peter Taylor Park Dr, Brentwood, TN 37027 or Hilton Garden Inn Brentwood – 217 Centerview Dr, Brentwood, TN 37027
Registration: 8-8:30 am CT
Seminar: 8:30am – 4:30pm CT
Early registration fee: $185.00 per person for members
Early registration deadline: January 27, 2026 (add $20 per person for registrations received after this date)
Credit: NAB/NCERS: 6 Hours
To register: Register online or email with payment to:
Or traditional mail with payment to:
THCA
P.O. Box 440548
Nashville, TN 37244-0548
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
THCA reserves the right to cancel any seminar and will make a full refund to registrants in the event of a cancellation. THCA understands that registrants cannot always attend seminars as planned. Therefore, substitutions may be made at any time. If a registration cancellation is necessary and is received by THCA ot least 48 hours before the seminar, a full refund will be made; less than 48 hours, a 50 percent refund will be mode. Those who cancel less than 48 hours prior to the seminar and have not paid will be invoiced for 50 per cent of the fee. All cancellations must be in writing and emailed to education@thca.org. Registrants who do not attend and do not cancel will be invoiced for the full fee.
CONTINUING EDUCATION POLICY
THCA education program participants must attend the entire scheduled seminar to receive credit. No partial credit can be given for late arrivals or early departures. Any participant with knowledge of abuse or misuse of the attendance policy should contact THCA or the staff member present and request a form to report the incident. THCA will only accept attendance certificates that are completed and collected onsite at the conclusion of the seminar.
NOTE TO ATTENDEES
Business casual attire is recommended. Room temperature in meeting spaces is often difficult to control. Please dress appropriately by carrying a light jacket or sweater. If you have special needs (disabilities or dietary re strictions) that require attention to attend this event, please notify THCA at least seven days before the seminar.
Look for the Tennessee Health Care Association/Tennessee Center for Assisted Living on Facebook and YouTube.
THCA/TNCAL’s Convention & Trade Show is the association’s signature event of the year, a time when Tennessee’s long-term care professionals can come together for education, networking, and a true sense of community. This year, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges unlike any our industry has seen before. THCA’s Board of Directors and staff have been considering the feasibility of holding a major event amid social distancing recommendations, restrictions on large gatherings, and the particular dangers of the virus to the elderly population.