Navigating the Complex World of Healthcare Facilities Management
In this episode of Facility Voices, Kim Thompson, Director of Facilities Management at CommonSpirit Health, shares the career journey that took her from architecture and K–12 facilities into the complex, always-on world of healthcare.
Kim reflects on how moving from design to facilities changed her perspective, teaching her to think beyond aesthetics and function to the long-term realities of maintaining buildings and supporting the people inside them. She discusses the unique demands of healthcare facilities, where 24/7 operations, complex building systems, and careful coordination all play a role in supporting patient care.
The conversation also explores Kim’s approach to leadership, from listening to and learning from her team to collaborating with other facilities leaders across the organization. She shares how tools like SBAR help communicate needs to leadership, build stronger business cases, and connect infrastructure investments to their real-world impact.
Tune in to hear Kim Thompson’s story and insights from the front lines of facilities management.
Each episode of Facility Voices includes supplementary content that expands on key themes and insights from the conversation. You can find that additional material at: Access Episode Takeaways
Kim Thompson
Director of Facilities Management
CommonSpirit Health
Kim Thompson is a Facilities Director with more than 26 years of experience spanning design, education, higher education, and healthcare. With a B.S. in Architectural Studies from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, she brings a unique design perspective to facilities management, focusing on long-term maintainability, operational efficiency, and collaboration. For the past eight years, Kim has worked in higher education and healthcare, where she is passionate about supporting safe, reliable facilities that directly contribute to patient care.
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