In healthcare facilities management, zombies are the tasks, inspections, reports, and habits that continue long after their value has disappeared. They consume time, labor, and resources while delivering little improvement in operations, safety, reliability, or patient outcomes. We perform zombies because we have always done so; nobody takes the time to question their ongoing effectiveness.
During a recent Healthcare Facilities Network conversation with Michael Hatton, 2025 ASHE President, and Dennis Ford, 2026 ASHE President, their messaging was simple and direct: If we don’t eliminate outdated practices and tasks now, in the form of zombies, we risk hard‑coding them into the future through technology, automation, and AI.
Where the Zombie Concept Came From
The concept of “zombies” was introduced to the Healthcare Facilities Network (HFN) by Diana Kander during her presentation at the 2025 ASHE Innovation Conference. Her framing resonated with facilities leaders, and the Network, because it articulated a shared frustration: too much time, talent, and cost is consumed by work that no longer delivers meaningful value.
During the HFN episode, Mike and Dennis built on Diana’s concept, applying it directly to healthcare facilities operations, compliance, infrastructure, and workforce challenges. Mike was adamant that across all healthcare facilities, zombie tasks quietly drain resources while offering little return in safety or patient outcomes.
The link below provides a more in-depth zombie explanation from Diana: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dianakander_ever-left-work-feeling-exhausted-but-have-activity-7304509147104821248-Rq8k/
Why Zombies Still Exist
Zombies survive because healthcare rewards familiarity, the status quo. In a heavily regulated environment, “we’ve always done it this way” often feels safer than asking why. Common drivers to continue zombie-based activities include fear‑based activities, siloed facilities and PDC teams, outdated interpretations, and a lack of evidence‑based review.
But not challenging the status quo via established Zombie work wastes skilled labor, increases operating costs, frustrates the workforce, and blocks innovation. Automating bad processes only makes them faster. Moving away from zombies means moving away from task‑based habits to risk‑based, evidence‑driven facilities management this is focused on outcomes. In today’s environment, with short staffs and employee knowledge deficits, the impact of zombie-based practices magnifies.
Here is a zombie example many organizations struggle with; can you relate?
Zombies are found in construction projects and raise their ugly head in the transition from construction to operations. When facilities teams are not involved early in planning and designing, buildings open with operational problems. “Survey Ready on Day One” requires facilities involvement from planning through turnover.
Silos in design and construction projects are as familiar as turkey on the table at Thanksgiving. Because facility departments did not have a seat at the design table in the past does not mean they should not have a seat at that table in the future. The risk is too high.
Diana stressed during her presentation that killing zombies isn’t about doing less, it’s about doing what matters. All healthcare organizations should identify and challenge legacy practices and advocate for smarter practices that remove the frustrations and roadblocks created by zombies
The Zombies are Coming!
The Healthcare Facilities Network welcomes Diana Kander to the Network for a conversation on zombies in March. On the podcast, she will be joined by Michael Hatton, Vice President of Facilities Engineering & Construction at Memorial Hermann Health System, Houston, TX and Dennis Ford, Corporate Facilities Management, Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC. Our discussion will focus on practical ways healthcare facilities teams can reclaim time, reduce burden, and refocus on work that truly supports patient care.
Tom Grice
Vice President, Regulatory & Facilities
