Bernie McGuinness on the SNN Rethink Podcast

Journey CEO Bernie McGuinness sat down with Skilled Nursing News for a full-length episode of the Rethink Podcast — a 40-minute conversation that covers a lot of ground and is well worth your time.

The episode gets into what it actually looks like to build a skilled nursing organization from the ground up. McGuinness talks about Journey’s regional cluster strategy, why geographic density matters for staffing and referral relationships, and how the company’s two largest markets — Georgia and Kentucky — are already generating real operational efficiencies.

He’s also candid about the challenges. Starting a new nursing home business means navigating tight margins, complex state-by-state Medicaid systems, change-of-ownership pressures, and a lending environment that’s significantly more difficult than it was just a few years ago. McGuinness doesn’t gloss over any of it.

What comes through clearly is the conviction behind Journey’s culture. The Care Team isn’t just a talking point — it’s the operating philosophy. Happy, supported staff give better care. That belief drove Journey’s push to eliminate agency labor across all 22 buildings by end of Q1 2025, and it’s at the center of how Journey approaches every acquisition.

“We believe that by investing in our Care Team, we’re investing in the heart of our communities,” McGuinness said.

If you want to understand where Journey came from, how it’s built, and where it’s going — this episode is the best single place to start.

Listen to the full episode on SoundCloud