The following is an advertorial for Everest Management Solutions, a Park Place sponsor/thought leader that specializes in delivering tailored management, advisory, and procurement solutions across the senior living and post-acute care continuum.

The Challenge: Census Volatility, Low Skilled Mix in Skilled Nursing

A senior living organization engaged Everest Management Solutions to strengthen census stability and elevate quality outcomes within its skilled nursing portfolio. Despite strong clinical capabilities, the organization faced ongoing census volatility, limited skilled admissions, and inconsistent referral partnerships that hindered financial performance and strained operations.

At the time of engagement, the community maintained an average occupancy rate of 81 percent with a skilled mix of only 23 percent. The admissions process lacked standardization, proactive outreach, and consistent communication with referral partners. Leadership recognized the need for a strategic census development plan that balanced occupancy growth with quality excellence to achieve sustainable operational success.

Everest Approach: Strategic Census Development, Referral Optimization

Everest implemented a targeted census recovery and skilled nursing optimization strategy designed to rebuild census strength while maintaining high standards of clinical care. The plan focused on improving referral engagement, enhancing clinical readiness, and establishing accountability through data and process consistency.

Key initiatives included:

• Establishing consistent communication channels with hospitals and referral networks to build trust and increase referral conversions.

• Enhancing clinical readiness to safely and efficiently admit higher-acuity residents.

• Re-training admissions and marketing teams to leverage CRM systems for lead management and timely follow up.

• Integrating census forecasting tools to anticipate trends, optimize staffing, and maintain occupancy balance.

• Implementing quality monitoring protocols to ensure that census growth aligned with exceptional care standards.

This comprehensive strategy created a culture of collaboration and accountability across departments, positioning the organization for sustained census and quality improvement.

Results: Occupancy Growth Spikes, Skilled Mix Improves

Within one year, Everest’s skilled nursing optimization strategy delivered measurable and lasting results:

• Census increased from 81 percent to 92 percent, significantly improving financial stability and operational consistency.

• Skilled mix rose from 23 percent to 33 percent, enhancing reimbursement and case-mix optimization.

• Referral relationships strengthened, resulting in higher conversion rates and improved market reputation.

• Standardized admissions processes improved predictability, communication, and team coordination.

Key Takeaway

Lasting census recovery in skilled nursing requires more than short-term admissions boosts. It depends on strategic relationship management, clinical readiness, and quality alignment. Everest’s proven approach empowers facilities to achieve predictable, scalable growth while maintaining excellence in resident care.

Questions or comments? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.