Table 2. Quotes Describing the Overall SNF Decision-Making Process.

Sub-Theme	Example Respondent Quotations
Rushed Decision-Making	They wanted to move me out the same day. And so I had to decide so that they could go forward to see if they could get a bed. (patient, Northeast) There is a push and a shove associated with it. On the medical side they were encouraging a fairly rapid transition and on the administrative side they seemed to be encouraging a VERY rapid transition. (patient, Northwest) We didn't know where to go. So, they sprung it on us that we're running out of time. (family member, Midwest)
Patients Received a Large List of SNFs	They give you a list. Names and addresses. And you look it up. It's up to you to go on the internet and look it up. (patient, Midwest) Oh, my—they gave my daughter a whole sheet with facilities that we could choose from. And we looked at the addresses. (patient, Midwest) They gave us a two page list. It was all the SNFs in town. (patient, Northwest) Well there were like a hundred of them [SNFs]. It's all the facilities in the area. (patient, Midwest)
Patients Received a Few SNF Options	There was two choices. One [place] and this one. (patient, Midwest) Oh they named a couple of different places, but I can't remember which ones they named, but when they mentioned this one I told them this one right here because it's closer to home. (patient, Northeast) Well, they didn't give me a big list because they had to find out if there was availability. So they named about three and [present SNF] was one of them and I said that's where I wanted to go. (patient, Northwest) They said, “Do you wanna stay in [the hospital] system?” And I was happy with [the hospital] system - they had done my surgery. I was treated very well there and the care was very good. So I said, “Uh, sure, I'll stay in [the system].” And there's really only two [system] facilities. (patient, Northeast)
Role of Discharge Planners	They don't try to slant your opinion. They're very informative and very nice, and help expedite it. But I don't think they would've helped me decide. (patient, Midwest) I don't think that it's their job to base how good they are here or anything. That would be promoting where they're sending me. (patient, Northeast) They were very forthcoming as far as the extent that I asked any questions. But I didn't know that many questions to ask….I've never been somewhere, so I didn't know how the whole thing worked. So I just let them handle it. (patient, South)
Role of Physicians	I didn't ask them for help. I think they wanted to stick to the medical side of things. (patient, Northwest) The physicians, they're out there. They, ya know, you might see 'em once or twice at the most. They're in and they're out and they're gone, and so they're not really involved. (patient, Northeast) No, she doesn't do that. She's just a surgeon. (patient, Northeast)