Experts at ABM, a leading facility management and maintenance services corporation, help clients by offering practical strategies for strengthening compliance programs, improving infection prevention, leveraging technology to identify risks and building partnerships that support long-term operational success. | Photo Credit (all): ABM
By Lindsey Coulter
Healthcare compliance has never been more complex. As care expands beyond traditional hospitals into ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities and other non-acute settings, facility leaders must maintain safe, efficient operations while navigating evolving regulations, staffing shortages, aging infrastructure and growing patient expectations.
For many organizations, compliance is still viewed primarily as preparing for inspections. However, effective compliance goes far beyond meeting regulatory requirements. A proactive approach strengthens operational resilience, minimizes disruptions, supports workforce accountability and, most importantly, creates safer environments for patients, caregivers and visitors. When building systems perform reliably and teams prioritize compliance every day, organizations are better equipped to prevent issues before they become costly problems.
Facilities engineering teams are at the center of that effort, ensuring critical systems — from HVAC and emergency power to water safety and building access — support safe, uninterrupted patient care. Technology is also transforming compliance by automating inspections, streamlining documentation and providing greater visibility into operational risks, helping organizations improve both regulatory readiness and day-to-day performance.
Experts at ABM, a leading facility management and maintenance services corporation, help clients by offering practical strategies for strengthening compliance programs, improving infection prevention, leveraging technology to identify risks and building partnerships that support long-term operational success.
Engineering Manager Brian Maiden of ABM blends hands-on technical leadership with a strong background in facilities operations, team management, building maintenance and regulatory compliance. With well over a decade of experience in the industry leading large teams, Maiden is an expert at managing complex building systems and driving operational excellence and efficiency, while maintaining high levels of client satisfaction.
“Our ultimate goal is to preserve patient health,” Maiden said. “Compliance is part of keeping facilities performing at their best so patients are safe and comfortable.”
Healthcare Construction + Operations News spoke with Maiden, about why compliance should be viewed as an ongoing operational discipline rather than a regulatory obligation, the hidden facility systems that have the greatest impact on patient safety, and the practical steps healthcare organizations can take to build stronger, more resilient compliance programs.
HCO: Building systems often operate behind the scenes until something goes wrong. What role do engineering, and facility maintenance teams play in supporting compliance every day?
Maiden: Building automation systems and remote access to these systems play a critical role in maintaining regulatory compliance. Engineering isn’t just maintaining buildings; it’s maintaining the conditions that make safe patient care possible. When building systems perform reliably, compliance becomes a natural outcome of good operational discipline. We aim to protect patient health and safety and operational continuity by proactively managing and documenting complex building systems. We keep systems running at their best so the providers can perform their best.
HCO: What are some of the most common compliance gaps you’ve encountered in non-acute healthcare environments?
Maiden: Uncontrolled access to clinical areas, such as propped doors, unlocked staff areas and unrestricted vendor access.
HCO: How does compliance affect the patient’s experience, even when patients may never notice the work facilities teams are doing?
Maiden: Compliance ensures that the patient’s experience is safe, sterile and, ultimately, seamless. Making sure things like air filtration are accurate, adhering to strict water temperatures and reliable emergency power to help prevent crisis and instill trust.
HCO: Audit readiness is becoming increasingly important. What separates organizations that are always prepared from those scrambling before an inspection?
Maiden: We at ABM do not treat audits as an abrupt event; rather, we incorporate them into everyday processes and daily physical operations.
HCO: Technology has transformed facilities management. How are digital tools helping organizations improve compliance and documentation?
Maiden: We leverage computerized maintenance management systems to digitalize and automate checklists in real time, such as audit trails and facility management systems like IMPAK.
HCO: If you could offer one piece of advice to facilities directors looking to strengthen compliance over the next year, what would it be?
Maiden: To transition from reactive to proactive checklist and approach; learning from past mistakes by implementing centralized and standardized compliance dashboards.
To help healthcare leaders navigate these challenges, Healthcare Construction + Operations News is partnering with ABM for the free webinar, “Beyond the Hospital: Facility Compliance Challenges in Non-Acute Healthcare,” on Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. PST. Subscribe today and watch the HCO News website for details.