RETHINKING CENSUS:
HOW TEAMWORK DRIVES PATIENT CARE
Recently, I had the opportunity to represent Larry H. Miller Senior Health at the RETHINK Conference, a skilled nursing industry conference, where I joined other leaders to discuss one of the most pressing issues in our industry: building and maintaining census. When we use the term census, it refers to the number of patients we’ re taking care of on a day-to-day basis. That number can fluctuate depending on many variables, and the goal is always to keep it high.
At its core though, census isn’ t soley about numbers, it is a reflection of what kind of experience our patients have while under our care. When we align teams with our strategic goals, strengthen our continuum of care and stay focused on quality, people notice. They choose us because they trust that we will deliver quality and compassionately guide them through what can often be a complex and fragmented healthcare journey.
What struck me most during the panel is how much census depends on coordination. Working together between clinical teams, admissions staff, marketing and community partners ensures that our patients receive an excellent experience. When we work in silos, opportunities slip away. But when we collaborate, understand and share data, and keep our goals aligned, census grows.
Larry H. Miller Senior Health recognizes the connection between census and coordination, and the industry is catching on. In many ways, it’ s similar to the strategy used in the company’ s businesses and platforms. We need to attract and retain customers, and success comes from knowing what makes you different, building trust and delivering consistent value.
For LHMSH, that differentiation means combining excellent clinical outcomes with compassion, communication and a genuine commitment to the well-being of every patient and family we serve. That’ s what strengthens our referral relationships, creates a healthier payer mix and ultimately leads to sustainable growth.
As we continue this work, let’ s remember that census is not only a measure of occupancy, but also a measure of how well we are fulfilling our mission to enrich lives. Together, through teamwork, coordination and clarity of purpose, we can make our facilities places where people want to be and where lives are made better every day.
Andy Frasure Chief Operating Officer Larry H. Miller Senior Health
10 WINNING SPIRIT MAGAZINE