Mary Naylor, PhD, RN: Expert on Transitional Care

Mary Naylor, PhD, RN, directs the NewCourtland Center for Transitions and Health at Penn Nursing. She developed the transitional care model which helps patients, often with complex acute and chronic conditions, to transfer safely from one level or type of care to another – for example from the ICU to a step-down unit or from hospital care to home care. Dr. Naylor testified before Congress in 2009 that transitional care could translate into improved outcomes for millions of older Americans and achieve substantial healthcare savings. The Affordable Care Act includes provisions for coverage of pilot programs and demonstration projects to further explore services such as transitional care.