The 44th episode of our podcast, Rethink, is now available.

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society is approaching its 100th birthday, and while the organization's leaders would like to see the not-for-profit skilled nursing operator provide care for another 100 years – that doesn’t come without enormous challenges.

Good Samaritan has had to close or sell nine facilities in just the last eight months, the vast majority of which were in rural communities.

Despite the significant headwinds seen by both Good Sam and the industry as a whole, CEO Nate Schema feels keeping providers like his operating in smaller markets is now more important than ever.

In this episode of Rethink, learn:

• Why Good Samaritan reversed course on its strategy of bringing in agency staff to avoid wing closures or halting admissions

• How Good Samaritan has leaned on, and grown through, its partnership with health system Sanford Health during this challenging operating environment

• Why there is still a place in skilled nursing for heavily rural and nonprofit operators