Nurse-led rounding at skilled nursing facilities improves care

Beth Israel Lahey Health Performance Network in Cambridge, Mass., used a nurse-led rounding model to improve length-of-stay management and care transitions across its skilled nursing facility network. Eight nurse managers with caseloads ranging from 36 to 42 patients validated discharge plans. The nurses and the SNF team established clear discharge goals early, identified barriers quickly and maintained accountability throughout stays. The system reduced patients’ average lengths of stay from 2025 to June 2026 by nearly 1.8 days to 20.21 days, saving approximately $6.1 million. The system also reduced readmissions by documenting in its electronic health record patients’ SNF stays and granting patients’ primary care teams access. The nurse managers also followed up with patients after their discharge to identify and address issues, reducing ED visits. (Healthcare Innovation article, 10/15/26)