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Frequently Asked Questions
Interested in Speaking?
Skilled Nursing News events provide an opportunity for industry executives to share their knowledge and expertise with our audiences. Click below if you’re interested in learning more about speaking opportunities.
What is Executive Connect?
Qualified providers can get a complimentary ticket to the event through our new Executive Connect program. A qualified skilled nursing providers has a VP or higher title, your organization has $5 million or more in revenue annually, and you are willing to take up to four 15-minute meetings with our sponsors at the event, arranged by SNN.
A $500 deposit is required to register for Executive Connect. $500 refundable, non-transferable ticket to attend and participate ONLY IF you attend the event AND participate with 4 verified meetings in our Executive Connect meetings during the event. No refunds permitted on this program if you are unable to attend or need to cancel your attendance for any reason. No exceptions.
Which ticket type do I purchase?
Provider tickets are for skilled nursing care providers, SNF owners, therapy providers, health systems, administrators, clinicians, nurses, government agencies and other care providers. Vendor tickets are for professionals in finance, technology, staffing, legal, sales, and marketing.
What does my ticket include?
A ticket includes access to all sessions, lunch, refreshments, as well as a networking reception.
Are there kosher and other dietary options at the event?
Please email [email protected] for more information.
What is the refund policy?
For all tickets, no refunds are available within 45-days of the event. No exceptions.
How do I contact the organizer?
Email us at [email protected].
My company or organization owns or is an active investor in a provider. Which ticket type can I purchase?
If your organization owns or invests in a provider or providers in this space, your firm is classified as a private equity investor. If you wish to get the provider pricing, you would need to use that organization's email system/domain to register for the ticket to qualify as a provider. No exceptions.
Have upcoming event dates been announced?
Click here to see all upcoming SNN Events.
Event Details
Hours
September 11 – 9:00 am - 3:30 pm Central. Doors open at 8 am
September 11 - 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm - Networking Reception
September 12 – 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Central. Doors open at 8 am
Location
Venue Six10, 610 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
Why Attend RETHINK?
RETHINK is the annual flagship leadership conference for Skilled Nursing News. The event brings together owners and executives from the nursing home, therapy and health systems. Investors, banks, brokers, policy makers and other industry professionals will be in attendance to to network and connect with the community.
This fast paced one-day conference provide an opportunity to hear from leaders on industry trends, threats and opportunities shaping the conversations in the space.
Join attendees the night before for drinks and head to dinner with friends, prospects, customers and more in the city of Chicago.
August 18 - 20, 2025 • Chicago, IL
Executive Connect
Get access to select conferences and events at no cost for your ticket*. As part of the Executive Connect program, qualified executives from providers or operators may apply for this ticket type and participate in a set number of meetings with pre-screened vendors at the event. If accepted, you will be granted a complimentary ticket to the event and required to attend scheduled meetings at the event and provide feedback on those meetings. *A refundable deposit is required to register and is refunded if you attend the required meetings at the event. No show or cancellations will forfeit the deposit, no exceptions.
2024 Conference Agenda
Opening Remarks
9:15-9:30 AM
Future Leaders Presentation, Sponsored by
9:30 - 9:45 AM
9:45 - 10:15 AM
4 for the Future: CEOs on Positioning Nursing Homes for the Next Generation
Melissa Powell
President
The Allure Group
Trip Hoffer
CEO
Optum Behavioral Health Solutions
Mark Friedlander
Chief Medical Officer, Behavioral Health
Universal Health Services
Networking Break
10:30 - 11:00 AM
Track B - 3rd Floor
Track A - 2nd Floor
Shana Hoffman
President & CEO
New Directions
Future of Pay for Performance: Inside the trend to tie dollars to nursing home quality
What’s Next for QAPI: Quality improvement for a new, tougher era for nursing homes
1:30 -2:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
Track C - Specialized Care
Track B - 3rd Floor
Track A - 2nd Floor
Jeremy Bischoff
Vice President of Reimbursement
Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities (KAHCF)
Kentucky Center for Assisted Living (KCAL)
John Mezzullo, DO
Chief Medical Officer, Behavioral Health
Eventus Whole Health
Jacob Berelowitz
Program Director
Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities
Sonia Garcia
COO
Amae Health
Taking on the Behavioral Health Challenge: Operations, Regulations, and the Future of Long-Term Care - Sponsored by Eventus Whole Health
From Risk to Reward: Utilizing Therapy Teams in Value-Based Care Sponsored by Reliant Rehabilitation
Emerging Serious Mental Illness Models
1:00 - 1:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
Track B
Track A
J. Mark Traylor
President
Traylor-Porter Healthcare
Fighting Against ‘Extinction’: SNF execs on the staffing mandate battle and how to evolve for the future
Burden vs. Benefit: The state of play for managed care in skilled nursing
9:00 - 9:30 AM
Brian Ellsworth
Vice President, Public Policy and
Payment Transformation
Health Dimensions Group (HDG)
9:30 - 10:00 AM
Track A
Cynthia Wade
President
Lincoln Health Hospital System
Sponsored Panel Coming Soon
11:30 - 12:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
Bronze Sponsors
Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Past Attendees
Here's a sample of last year's RETHINK attendees:
Titles
CEO
Chief Clinical Officer
Chief Managed Care and Strategy Officer
Chief Government Relations Officer
Director of Clinical Services
Head of Acquisitions
Infection Preventionist
Manager Post Acute SNF Program
SVP Strategic Finance
SVP, Growth & Development
Vice President, Population Health
VP Acquisitions
VP Clinical Operations
VP of Reimbursement
Companies
Advocate Aurora Health
Amedisys
Cambridge Realty Capital
Cascadia Healthcare
Contessa Health
Encore Rehabilitation
Ignite Medical Resorts
Kwalu
Prestige Healthcare
ProMedica
Sabra Health Care REIT
Sterling Healthcare
Tapestry Health
TridentCare
Accommodations
Click here to access of hotel block at The Blackstone Hotel Chicago. Reservations cut-off date is August 28, 2023.
11:20 - 12:00 PM
The Big Reset: How Skilled Nursing Providers are Pivoting for the Future
Steve Hart
COO
Heritage Operations Group
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Lunch - 9th Floor
Wednesday, September 11
Ted LeNeave
CEO
Accura
Gary Blake
CEO
Creative Solutions in Health Care
Steve Nee
CEO
Diversicare
10:15 - 10:30 AM
Technology Solutions to Overcome Labor Challenges in Long-Term Care - Sponsored by SmartLinx Solutions
Roger Lusins
Senior Vice President SmartLinx Solutions
11:00 - 11:15 AM
Fireside Chat with Theoria Medical
Mark Friedlander
Chief Medical Officer, Behavioral Health
Universal Health Services
3:00 - 3:30 PM
Routes to Growth: Strategies for driving scale and profitability in a challenging climate for nursing homes
Stephanie Chedid
CEO
Luther Manor
Own Hammond
President and CEO, Principal
Cascadia Healthcare
Heidi Wold
Chief Clinical Officer
Longevity Health Plans
Matthew Maurano
CEO
Transitions Healthcare
Nicole Kaufman
Chief Transformation Officer
Genesis HealthCare
Kyle Linn
Senior Vice President of Operations
Brickyard Healthcare
Paul Pruitt
CEO
Majestic Care
Leslie Zimmerman-Black
Regional Director of Clinical Services, Management Division Mission Health Communities
Donna Farr
President of Touchpoints Therapy and VP Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
iCare Health Network
Katie Hughes
Regional Nurse Consultant
Allure Healthcare Services
Amber Kirwin
SVP of Talent Acquisition & Recruiting
Signature HealthCARE
Nancy Koha
Chief Process Officer Principle LTC
Dr. Christopher A. Boyle, MD
Chief of Stewardship and Physician Advisor Services
North Region, NorthShore, Edward Elmhurst Health
Austin Steele
Chief Strategy Officer
Journey Skilled Nursing
Roxy Stennett
VP of Operations
Avamere
Payment models, resident acuity, staffing stability, tightening regulations, evolving technology and new consumer expectations are just some of the factors that are playing a role in shaping the nursing home of the future. Hear from leaders in the field about their top four priorities that they believe will position nursing homes for the future.
Strapped for cash, struggling to find workers, and contending with a host of other challenges, many nursing home operators have been forced to make difficult decisions in recent years. Hear from leaders with three providers about the pivots that their companies have made, their visions for next steps, and their takes on the future of skilled nursing.
Two dozen states have programs that connect nursing home payments with quality measures, and further Medicaid increases could increasingly be tied to performance. Learn how providers are navigating some of these models, including common features of these programs, what it takes to succeed in them, and where the trend is headed next.
The pandemic revealed the absence of QAPI programs in many nursing homes, according to the 2022 NASEM report. Gain insights into where quality improvement efforts stand today, what every nursing home should have in place, and how to leverage QAPI to drive meaningful change.
When the federal staffing mandate dropped in April, one industry leader called it an “extinction event” for some providers. Hear from leading executives about the ongoing fight against the mandate, how they’re preparing should it take effect, and how they believe nursing home providers can survive manifold challenges – including managed care pressures and a changing resident profile – to thrive in the future.
As Medicare Advantage continues to gain ground as a skilled nursing payer, learn how providers are confronting the burdens of managed care while trying to maximize benefits — all against a backdrop of evolving regulations.
Hospitals across the country have been unable to transition patients to post-acute settings, prompting creative new approaches to SNF partnerships.
Toni Headstream
e
Elmbrook Managment Company
Ticket Prices
Provider: $600
Vendor: $1,200
Toni Headstream
Dir. of Clinical Education
Elmbrook Management
Patrick Hoertt
Vice President of Business Development
Theoria Medical
Track A - 2nd Floor
Breakout Sessions
Track B - 3rd Floor
Acing the Survey: Achieving success in a punitive environment for nursing homes
Many nursing home leaders have described a punitive approach to surveys. Gain insights into the latest survey trends, and learn best practices for survey success in a time when challenges are steep and the tenor of surveys is tough.
11:00 - 11:30 AM
Scale with a Singular Focus: Fireside Chat with American Senior Communities CEO Steve Van Camp
Kimberly Green
COO
Diakonos Group
Tim Fields
CEO
Ignite Medical Resorts
Deke Cateau
CEO
A.G. Rhodes
10:30 - 11:00 AM
Stephanie Parks
Chief Development Officer
Reliant Rehabilitation
J. Lynn Bauknight
Corporate Dir. of Client Success
Reliant Rehabilitation
Renee Anderson
Chief Operating Officer
Trinity Healthcare
Jennifer Robinson
President
SanStone Health and Rehab
Marybeth O'Connor
VP of Corporate Development American Health Plans
Steve Van Camp
CEO
American Senior Communities
Elizabeth McLaren, Sr.
Vice President of Revenue-Cycle Reimbursement and HCBS
Covenant Living
Networking Break
2:00 - 2:30 PM
Track C - Specialized Care
Track B - 3rd Floor
Track A - 2nd Floor
Joseph Zaccaria
VP Strategy & Finance
Neteera
Dr. Jamie Freelin
National Medical Director of Team ACO
Team Health
Dr. Darren Swenson
Group President
Team Health
John Calcavecchia MBA, PTA
Senior Vice President of Sales Tapestry Health
Interdependence of Financial, Clinical Quality, and Operational Processes: SmartPAC® Clinical Excellence program and Team ACO in the nursing home - Sponsored by TeamHealth
Applying Predictive Analytics To Your Clinical Workflow With Cutting-Edge Technology- Sponsored By TapestryHealth
Emerging Serious Mental Illness Models
2:30 - 3:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
While labor shortages, regulatory demands, payment pressures and other challenges are pressing on nursing home providers, enterprises are seeking ways to keep growing. Hear from leaders about routes to growth, including by expanding portfolios, adding business lines, forging partnerships and more.
Networking Reception, Sponsored By
3:30 - 5:30 PM
Thursday, September 12
Track A
ASC is one of the largest nursing home providers in the United States, even though the company operates entirely within the state of Indiana. Hear from CEO Steve Van Camp about his first year in the role, insights into hot button topics such as the staffing mandate, top priorities for the company moving forward, the benefits and drawbacks of its highly concentrated scale.
Track A
Track B
Sponsored Panel Coming Soon
Track B
Surviving the Squeeze: Driving Margin in Medicare Advantage and Value-Based Care
The rise of managed care has put SNFs under financial and operational pressure, with challenging payment rates, mounting denials and appeals, and a host of other challenges. Learn how providers are adapting to secure their margins and keep their operations from being overwhelmed by mounting demands.
Sponsored Panel Coming Soon
Track B
11:45 - 12:15 PM
Opportunity Knocking: REIT Outlook on Skilled Nursing Investment and Operations
Matt Nieukirk
Director of OSF SNF Practice
OSF HealthCare
Kevin Pascoe
Chief Investment Officer
National Health Investors (NHI)
Track A
Despite ongoing operational, regulatory and economic headwinds, real estate investment trusts have expressed bullish outlooks on the skilled nursing sector and are pursuing investments in the space. Hear from REIT leaders about the scope of the SNF opportunity, their investment strategies, and their perspectives on hot-button issues like the staffing mandate, managed care growth, labor pressures, interest rates and more.
From long wait times for post-acute beds to evolving criteria for what makes a preferred partner in value-based care models, the relationship between acute care providers and nursing homes is in a period of strains and change. Learn more about how operators are working with hospital and health system partners to address challenges and create sustainable, mutually beneficial models.
Track B
Breaking the Bottleneck: Referrals, rehospitalizations, and rethinking how acute care and SNFs relate
Collaboration and interdependency between nursing home operations and clinical partners is fundamental to the collective success moving forward. Hear from leaders how a suite of data driven clinical and operational programs are delivering improved patient care at a lower cost while raising 5 star quality ratings
Break
10:00 - 10:30 AM
DeeAndra Sandgren
Chief Nursing Officer
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society
Eric Gillis
SVP, Investments
CareTrust REIT
DeeAndra Sandgren
Chief Nursing Officer
Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society
The RETHINK Conference is the premier skilled nursing event that brings executives together for content and network that addresses trends, challenges, and the future of the nursing home industry. Join skilled nursing, therapy, health system, post-acute care executives, investors and professionals, as well as vendors, developers, and consultants for a one-of-a-kind event.
Topics include:
- C-suite outlook on the future of the industry
- Skilled nursing investment trends
- Regulatory & reimbursement trends
- Staffing challenges and opportunities
- M&A outlook
- Data, analytics and technology
- And more...
Haley F. Paley
Chief Operations Officer
MPAC Healthcare
J. Lynn Bauknight PT, MSPT, CWS, RAC-CTA
Corporate Clinical Consultant
Caring Healthcare
Stephanie Parks, MBA, MS CCC-SLP
Chief Development Officer
Reliant Rehabilitation
Interested in Sponsoring?
Bolster the value of your brand, network with decision makers, and grow your contact list within
the skilled nursing industry.
