Chicago, IL – Once lagging behind the rest of health care in digital adoption, skilled nursing providers are now leveraging artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and workflow automation to reshape how care is delivered and risks are managed. What began as cautious experimentation has evolved into measurable outcomes—fewer high-severity citations, stronger compliance, and smarter staffing.
At Brickyard Healthcare, for example, Chief Clinical Officer Lisa Chubb said the Indiana-based operator has seen “dramatic results” from its technology investments. The company, which runs 23 facilities across the state, has received fewer than two high-scope, high-severity citations this year—a rare feat in skilled nursing.
“We use remote nurse positions to line up progress notes and pull out keywords,” Chubb explained. “Every single day, we’re scanning records for potential risk areas and addressing them immediately.”
Predictive Analytics for Risk Mitigation
Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics are changing how providers identify and mitigate risks, said Joseph Kiernan, chief strategy officer and senior vice president of network development at Ocean Healthcare.
“Care coordination models and care management models that are AI-based are really coming up,” Kiernan said at the recent Skilled Nursing News RETHINK conference in Chicago.
Ocean Healthcare, which operates 12 facilities in New Jersey, uses predictive tools that analyze patient data to forecast potential health issues and alert staff before conditions worsen. The technology can flag early signs of a congestive heart failure episode, for example, and prompt clinical intervention before hospitalization becomes necessary. Preventing a single emergency room visit, Kiernan noted, could save as much as $18,000.
Dr. Robert Russell, chief medical officer at Majestic Care, said AI-driven risk tools such as PointClickCare’s dashboards and ExaCare’s keyword tracking are catching potential compliance and medication issues earlier in the care process. Majestic Care operates 42 facilities in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, with an additional 10 in Kentucky under its Bluegrass Consulting Group.
Operational Gains Across the Board
Beyond risk management, providers are using AI to streamline operations and documentation. At Journey Skilled Nursing, PointClickCare’s “scrubber” tools automatically clean and optimize MDS documentation, saving nurse administrators hours of manual work and freeing up more time for bedside care.
“[The PCC scrubber] shrinks the amount of time that our nurse admin spend gathering that info, and gives them more time to take action,” said COO Matt Trammel.
Journey, which operates 22 facilities across six states including Georgia, also uses ExaCare AI for referral management. In high-volume markets where a single facility can receive up to 200 referrals daily, the system’s automation has eliminated the need for several central intake staff, Trammel said.
Data-Driven Staffing and Retention
Technology is also uncovering insights about workforce stability. Monarch Health Management, which runs 45 SNFs and 20 long-term care communities in Minnesota, uses analytics to identify departments with unusually high turnover.
“[We’re] using data to pull back the curtain and show decision makers where they’re really missing the boat,” said Dan Strittmater, vice president of innovation and bench strength. Platforms like Indeed and applicant tracking systems (ATS) are playing a larger role in recruitment, though Strittmater noted onboarding remains an untapped opportunity for improvement.
At Brickyard, Chubb said “transformational care” roles—staff members trained in value-based care and regulatory oversight—use real-time dashboards to monitor risk and bridge the gap between clinical outcomes and compliance metrics.
Human Oversight Still Critical
Despite AI’s growing influence, experts agree that technology alone cannot replace the need for human review and accountability. Chart audits, QAPI processes, and peer reviews remain essential for ensuring data accuracy.
“I don’t think it changes, ‘garbage in, garbage out,’ whether you’re doing it on an Excel spreadsheet or if this is all happening live behind the scenes,” Kiernan said. “You still have to do things the right way.”
As skilled nursing operators move deeper into the digital age, the message is clear: technology can enhance—but not replace—clinical judgment, compliance rigor, and quality care.
