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As value-based care (VBC) continues to redefine reimbursement models and quality standards in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the Director of Nursing (DON) plays a central role — driving clinical excellence, operational efficiency and financial performance. With hospitals, health plans and VBC programs increasingly viewing SNFs as strategic partners, the DON’s influence is just as vital in broader care discussions as it is within the facility.
Lindsey Ford, RN, has seen this leadership first-hand: the SNF DON actively making rounds, engaging with staff and staying closely connected to every detail of care. The DON knows each patient’s name, their family members and the daily challenges their teams face. Far from being a regulatory requirement or symbolic title defined by CMS, the DON is a hands-on leader whose expertise drives both internal operations and external partnerships.
“When a patient needs something, the DON doesn’t hesitate – they respond immediately,” says Ford, Network Program Manager at Real Time Medical Systems (Real Time). “They don’t delegate – they’re present, boots on the ground, actively supporting their team and patients.”