Dallas Nelson, MD, FACP, CMD
Candidate - Vice President
Personal Statement
Motivation and Guiding Principles
There are a multitude of important causes that I care about, however, in keeping with my passions and aptitudes I chose to focus my career on providing and improving the care of residents of long-term care facilities. My position at the University of Rochester includes serving as medical director of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, being the attending physician in all those settings, and directing the geriatrics medical provider group. Because I am an academic, I am privileged to teach learners of every level about geriatrics and long-term care medicine and be part of projects and research on improving the system of care. I have never regretted choosing to focus my work on quality medical care in the long-term care continuum.
Experience and Leadership
During my geriatrics fellowship, I was introduced to PALTmed and was immediately impressed by its commitment to practical best practices. As soon as I met criteria, I became a CMD. Within PALTmed, I served and chaired multiple committees and boards on the state and national level throughout my career. My active participation in these roles has not only supported PALTmed's mission but also equipped me with critical skills and insights necessary for my work.
I have a history of stepping forward when the opportunity to make a positive impact presents itself. For example, I ran for President of the New York Chapter of PALTmed in 2021 for the chance to advocate for long term care medical providers as we emerged from the COVID-19 crisis. I jumped at the invitation to testify at the State Senate Aging Committee in my role as president. The simple request I made was that the state discuss the new policy with the nursing home experts going forward. It worked. NYMDA started a regular meeting with DOH to discuss nursing home COVID-19 policy. I submitted a letter on behalf of NYMDA regarding the CDC COVID-19 funding to the DOH requesting that they collaborate with the NYMDA leadership on wise utilization of the funds. As a result, the DOH awarded the NYMDA a 6 million dollar grant to help nursing homes combat and control COVID-19 with a website with tools and information and a network of expert coaches to assist. Leading this grant enabled me to collaborate with DOH and nursing home leaders statewide, fostering a supportive network in a sector that can often feel isolating.
Vision for PALTmed
If elected as in the presidential line, I will leverage my expertise as a medical director and attending for both nursing homes and assisted livings, a medical educator, and the director of a medical practice to inform the work of PALTmed. My collaborative and supportive leadership style will help the organization tackle opportunities to improve the ability of medical providers to deliver high-quality care across the long-term care continuum. While the future holds unpredictable challenges, I am prepared to lead PALTmed in fulfilling its mission.
Suggestions to move the organization forward:
Recommendations for Organizational Advancement
The long-term care sector is evolving rapidly, with consolidation into larger medical groups, increased team-based practices, and a growing number of women and advanced practice providers in the field. A larger proportion of the PALTmed members now practice in both nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Providers are transitioning to value-based care contracts, which may not always financially reward improved quality as hoped. PALTmed must adapt to these changes to remain relevant and effective.
To move the organization forward, I recommend:
- Expand Virtual Education:
Without compromising the in-person offering, PALTmed needs to increase the reach of virtual educational offerings to support providers who cannot travel due to caregiving responsibilities or other constraints. This will ensure inclusivity and strengthen PALTmed's advocacy efforts. - Tailor Resources for Diverse Providers:
As a result of intentionally expanding PALTmed’s membership to all long-term care medical providers, it will need to strategically address the needs of advanced practice providers, attending physicians, and medical directors by developing educational tools and programs that meet the varied learning requirements of all members. - Support Value-Based Care Transition:
The opportunities and challenges of the changing payment model will need to be a priority in the near term for PALTmed. The organization needs to develop practical tools, guidance, and education to help members succeed as the sector shifts from fee-for-service to value-based care. PALTmed must advocate for the financial recognition of long-term care providers’ contributions. - Strengthen Advocacy and Policy Influence:
PALTmed needs to continue to build relationships with policymakers and ensure that the voices of all providers are heard in policy discussions. The long-term care sector needs to be recognized as important to the health care system instead of as an afterthought. - Foster Community and Collaboration:
All PALTmed members should experience supportive networks and opportunities for collaboration among members to reduce isolation and promote shared learning and innovation.
Conclusion
I am committed to advancing PALTmed's mission through inclusive leadership, strategic advocacy, and a focus on practical solutions for the evolving long-term care landscape. If elected, I look forward to the opportunity to serve and help shape the future of our organization.