Get to know Tracy Polak
Tracy M. Polak, NHA, CRNP, MSN, stands out as a distinguished clinical leader dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of older adults in post-acute and long-term care settings. With her dual expertise as a Nursing Home Administrator and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, Tracy brings a wealth of clinical, administrative, and health plan knowledge.
Her multifaceted experience enables her to positively influence care delivery, improve staff experience, and guide payer-provider initiatives to success across systems. Tracy’s leadership is instrumental in driving quality, cost-effectiveness, patient, and family satisfaction, and ensuring the sustainability and success of the organizations she serves.
Tell us a bit about how you define yourself professionally
I am a nurse practitioner and clinical leader in senior health care who takes a systems view of care delivery. My professional journey through the post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) segment has been dedicated to improving seniors’ quality of health and life by ensuring they receive comprehensive, coordinated care that meets their unique needs and respects their preferences.
What is a systems view of care delivery?
A systems view of care delivery is a comprehensive, collaborative, integrated, team-based approach that achieves quality, high-value senior health care. This approach respects and incorporates the cultural dynamics and goals of care of the seniors and their families. It values collaboration and ensures that care is viewed holistically as an integrated system of clinical, financial, and regulatory models seamlessly coordinated across appropriate care settings – including the home.
Why prioritize this systems approach?
Throughout my career I have served seniors in various care delivery settings within the post-acute and long-term care continuum. I have also had the opportunity to work with health plans, integrating clinical and financial post-acute models of care. My experience caring for seniors and leading those who care for seniors or, in some capacity, support care delivery, has convinced me of the importance of a systems view. By prioritizing this approach, we can ensure that every aspect of a senior’s care is aligned and working towards the same goal: improving their overall health and quality of life. This approach enhances patient outcomes, increases satisfaction for seniors and their families, and reduces caregiver burden. It also ensures that the care provided is high-value and cost effective, offering a promising future for senior health care.
A systems approach allows us to focus on delivering superior-quality, economically sounds, and compliant care. This alignment will enable us to provide care that meets the highest standards while being sustainable, benefiting the seniors we serve and the broader healthcare system.
Senior care seems extraordinarily and broad in scope. Where does your passion lie?
I have been fortunate to serve seniors in various care settings alongside extraordinary teams of caring professionals. My passion lies deeply in long-term care, encompassing skilled nursing and rehabilitation, assisted living, nursing home and memory care. As a clinician and a licensed nursing home administrator, I bring a wealth of professional experience, training, and a heartfelt commitment to enhancing long-term care.
In my journey, I have witnessed firsthand how little things can significantly impact a senior’s quality of care and life. Whether it’s a kind word, a personalized care plan, or a slight adjustment to make a resident more comfortable, these seemingly minor actions can have a profound impact. My dedication is driven by the belief that every senior deserves to live with dignity, respect, and the highest possible quality of life. Focusing on these details can create a nurturing environment that meets their medical needs and enriches their daily lives.
Where do you see the future of post-acute and long-term care?
PALTC is a vital component of the healthcare continuum. It significantly enhances quality care by addressing unmet clinical, functional, and social needs, improving patient and family satisfaction, and reducing caregiver burden. Additionally, PALTC plays a crucial role in cost-effectiveness. Despite its importance, the sector’s participation in value-based care (VBC) models is limited. Currently, less then 10% of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are part of an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), with the majority (75%) concentrated in ACO Reach.
For VBC to succeed, PALTC must be actively involved. Over 40% of acute discharges involve PALTC, and two-thirds of CMS Innovation Center models with documented savings attribute those savings to PALTC. The future of PALTC lies in being recognized and rewarded in the healthcare continuum. This means being compensated not only for the services provided but also for the value created.
To achieve this, PALTC must adopt a systems view of care and relentlessly pursue VBC arrangements. This will require investment and effort from PALTC players. They need to integrate more deeply into the healthcare ecosystem, embrace and leverage technology and data analytics, continuously improve care delivery models, assess and address social determinants of health (SDOH), inspire and engage staff committed to excellence, and build a culture that supports organizational values and achieves its mission.
By doing so, PALTC can ensure it is recognized and rewarded for its critical role in enhancing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. This will better position PALTC to invest further in its people – staff, patients, and families – and the organization’s infrastructure and programming and be proud of its positive impact on healthcare.
Why join Ramey Management Solutions?
Joining Ramey Management Solutions (RMS) was an easy choice. Over the past five years, RMS has built a thriving management and advisory firm through innovation, exceptional customer service, and relentless focus on patient-centered care. RMS empowers organizations to excel today and thrive in value-based arrangements by harmonizing exceptional patient care with financial stewardship and sustainability. RMS allows me to be a part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to transforming healthcare. This aligns with my priorities as a clinical leader, making my decision obvious.
My professional experience in PALTC and passion for long-term care complement and extend RMS’ capabilities, presenting exciting possibilities for RMS’ growth and development. While RMS is a recognized leader in serving post-acute care geriatrics, and home-based primary and palliative medicine, the expertise I have developed during my PALTC journey adds significant depth.
Our shared vision of empowering healthcare organizations to provide exceptional care while achieving financial sustainability makes RMS standout choice for me and any healthcare professional committed to making a difference. Together, we are well-positioned to address the comprehensive needs of our clients, their patients, and families in the PALTC segment. I am excited about the potential for growth in this partnership.