The study committee and the Health and Medicine Division (HMD) project staff take this opportunity to recognize and thank the many individuals who shared their time and expertise to support the committee’s work and to inform deliberations.

This committee appreciates the sponsors of this study for their generous financial support: The John A. Hartford Foundation, The Commonwealth Fund, Jewish Healthcare Foundation, The Sephardic Foundation on Aging, and The Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation. The contents provided do not necessarily represent the official views of the sponsors.

The committee benefited greatly from discussions with individuals who made presentations during the committee’s open sessions and participated in the discussions:

• Donald M. Berwick, Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• Tom Betlach, Speire Healthcare Strategies
• Alice Bonner, Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• Wendy Boren, Quality Improvement Program for Missouri
• Kathy Bradley, Our Mother’s Voice
• Scott Brunner, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
• Margaret P. Calkins, IDEAS Institute
• Eric Carlson, Justice in Aging
• Mitzi Daffron, Qsource, Medicare Quality Innovation Network - Quality Improvement Organization for Indiana
• John Dicken, U.S. Government Accountability Office
• Ruth Ann Dorrill, Office of the Inspector General
• Toby S. Edelman, Center for Medicare Advocacy
• Barbara Coulter Edwards, BCE Health Policy
• Barbara Frank, B&F Consulting, Inc.
• John Hagg, Office of the Inspector General
• Lacey Hunter, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services
• Ruth Katz, LeadingAge
• Robert G. Kramer, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care, Nexus Insights
• Beverley L. Laubert, Ohio Department of Aging
• Shari M. Ling, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• Nicky Martin, Quality Improvement Program for Missouri
• Richard J. Mollot, The Long-Term Care Community Coalition
• Anne Montgomery, Altarum
• David A. Nace, AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, and University of Pittsburgh
• Arif Nazir, Signature HealthCARE
• Joseph G. Ouslander, Florida Atlantic University
• Mary K. Ousley, American Health Care Association
• Kezia Scales, PHI
• Karen Schoeneman, Karen Schoeneman Consulting
• Lori O. Smetanka, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care
• Karl Steinberg, AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, and Mariner Health Central
• Amy Stewart, American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing
• Karin J. Wallestad, U.S. Government Accountability Office
• Michael Wasserman, California Association of Long-Term Care Medicine
• Polly Weaver, Healthcare Management Solutions, LLC
• Faith Wiggins, 1199SEIU Funds

The committee is very grateful to these presenters for volunteering to share their knowledge, data, and expert opinions with the committee and the members of the public who attended the committee’s open sessions. The committee also appreciates the many nursing home residents, families, and staff who submitted their perspectives and experiences.

Deep appreciation goes to staff at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for their efforts and support in the report process, especially to Dana Korsen, Stephanie Miceli, Devona Overton, Marguerite Romatelli, Tina Seliber, Lauren Shern, Leslie Sim, Dorothy Zolandz, and the staff of the National Academies Research Center, including Rebecca Morgan. The committee also gives special thanks to Joe Alper for his writing and editing contributions, Marissa Pineau for her messaging and framing expertise, and Annalee Gonzales for her graphic design support.

Finally, the committee also recognizes and extends gratitude for all the nursing home residents, families, staff, and organizations that have fought tirelessly to improve nursing home care.