By Sharon Fisher
Chief Development Officer, PointRight
What’s in a name? Well, sometimes your name can define your calling. For me, it’s no coincidence that my initials are SNF. I’ve been working within or directly supporting Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) for the past 25 years. I learned how important it was to create relationships that educated hospital based medical teams as well as surrounding communities on the clinical and rehabilitation expertise that skilled nursing homes can offer patients to heal and thrive.

Many refer to our work as a mission or calling because we are privileged to stand up for our most vulnerable citizens. The coronavirus pandemic has made it even more vital that we advocate for those that care for our nation’s seniors. I’m committed to supporting skilled nursing professionals and recognizing the heroic efforts that occur every day when no one is looking.
What is #SNFStrong?
Skilled nursing facilities (SNF), and more specifically, nursing homes, are showing tremendous resilience and compassion in the face of this pandemic, despite resource challenges and lack of media support. #SNFStrong is a social media movement to amplify their stories and educate those outside the nursing home community on the challenges they face. PointRight, as a long time advocate for post-acute care, is committed to leveraging our digital channels for this purpose. In partnership with our #SNFStrong allies, we track and share patient and caregiver stories on our channels to help counter negative COVID-19 stories that are shown so often in the media. [ Check out the latest #SNFStrong news! ]
Rally the SNF Allies!
We are lucky to be joined in this effort by many other skilled care and nursing home advocates within organizations that partner with SNFs, including hospitals, REITs and care networks. Our nursing home friends are hard at work fighting this pandemic by protecting society’s most vulnerable members. We support them now by rallying health care leaders to share their personal commitment to skilled nursing by telling their own stories, educating the general public on the joys and challenges of nursing home care, and advocating for the resources they need.
Nursing Home Advocates Share Their Stories
“Do well – earn a fair and good living – but also by doing good – working with people, having a true impact on people’s lives both individually and collectively.”
Don Husi, Managing Director,
Senior Housing and Care Finance Practice
Ziegler
B.C. Ziegler and Company | Member SIPC & FINRA
“It’s one thing to take care of a patient, but when you turn into that person that can really do holistic care, and take care of their mind, their body, their spirit, their family – it changes you.”
Tammy Eichner
Director of Nursing
Galah Health & Rehab (Trio Healthcare)
“This industry is a group of incredible caregivers who take care of people across our country that we all know and love – these are our parents, our aunts, our uncles, our friends – this industry is taking care of them when often we can’t. We need to do everything to support them.”
Scott Taylor, CEO
SRX
“When our older adults are very challenged by acute illness, and the opportunity then to recover, that’s where our skilled nursing facilities shine.”
Dr. Michele Bellantoni
Clinical Director of Geriatric Medicine,
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Medical Director, Johns Hopkins Medicine SNF Collaborative
“It became apparent pretty quickly that I got more from them, the patients and the residents, than I could ever give to them. Hearing their stories and learning from them forever made me committed to the long-term care industry.”
Rick Matros, CEO
SABRA Health Care REIT
“I’m honored I get the opportunity to interact daily with the operators that we associate ourselves with at CareTrust. It’s incredible to hear their stories. It’s incredible to hear the dedication of their employees, and what they are doing to increase the quality of life even amongst what we’re dealing with. To hear their passion for what they’re doing is humbling.”
Eric Gillis, VP, Portfolio Management
CareTrust REIT
“It is wonderful to know that I have abilities to make decisions that affect the quality of care in the buildings that I oversee, and just ensure that each resident has a quality of life that lives up to expectations that I would want my family member to have.”
Melissa Green, RN, MSHA
Partner & Chief Clinical Officer
Trio Healthcare LLC
“We have not advocated for ourselves enough, to be honest. And at this point in time, with as much as we have going on in our healthcare continuum and our society as a whole, it’s time for us to speak up. It’s time for the allies to rally.”
Ray Thivierge, Chief Strategy Officer
SavaSeniorCare Consulting
Are you #SNFStrong?
Are you a nursing home advocate? I welcome you to share your story through your career path, the care of a family member, or whatever experience has brought skilled nursing into your life. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #SNFStrong!
About the Author

Sharon Fisher
Chief Development Officer, PointRight
Sharon Fisher is an accomplished senior healthcare executive who specializes in complex strategic partnerships which include aligning Health Systems, ACO’s and Health Plans with Post-Acute providers in preparation for alternative payment models. Prior to joining PointRight, Sharon led the strategy for national post-acute organizations to disrupt the traditional approach to skilled nursing care by focusing on transitional and chronic care models to compliment evolving payment reform strategies.