March is Women’s History Month, so in that spirit: What are your thoughts on being a female CEO in the healthcare industry? Do women really have a tougher time reaching top spots in corporations?
The healthcare industry has attracted large numbers of female executives and provided fertile ground for career advancement, maybe in part due to the high number of female nurses, technicians, administrators and clinical practitioners. But I think healthcare presents a unique and exciting opportunity that combines the science and the art of building businesses that serve to improve lives and fulfill a meaningful purpose. Do I think women have a tougher time than men reaching top spots in corporations? I really don’t know. My own experience would suggest the answer is no. I’ve always been very focused, driven to achieve results, not easily discouraged and have enjoyed healthy competition from men and women throughout my career. I think you have to be comfortable in your own skin and strive to reach whatever career rung you desire.
What are the opportunities in the near future for home care businesses?
The opportunities are incredible for home care businesses – in fact they have never been better! We’re living real-time in the phenomenon of the baby boomers reaching retirement age and driving the demand for care delivered in the comfort of their homes. Technology is accelerating at the same time that allows for smaller and faster portable medical devices that can monitor numerous conditions or diseases in the home setting and transmit the information to physicians in their offices. … Home- and community-based care has become our preferred setting for receiving care or treatment and the fact that home care costs significantly less than care in a hospital, nursing home or rehab facility only reinforces the reasonableness of expanding the availability of home care to all consumers.
What are the challenges?
In my mind, the challenges of providing safe, effective care at home revolve primarily around three main areas:
Recruitment and retention of qualified nurses, therapists, aides, homemakers,
companions and social workers to care for patients 24/7.
Rational reimbursement models that reflect the value of home care and enable providers to be paid fairly for achieving desired patient outcomes commensurate with their ability to influence patient compliance, satisfaction and outcomes.
Home care companies are springing up across the country like wild fires. What encouragements/cautions would you offer home care business entrepreneurs?
Encouragement I’d offer to home care business entrepreneurs – caring for people where they live every day is so rewarding and a natural alignment with care delivered in physicians’ offices or the hospital. ... The variety of patients, from seniors to infants, requires the development of strong relationships within the healthcare community and you have the opportunity to live your mission and values every day. ... Managing a home care business is a very rewarding and important part of the total healthcare system. It’s a 24/7 business and no two days will ever be the same!
Cautions I’d offer to home care business entrepreneurs – it’s a complicated, people-intensive business that can be stressful and emotionally exhausting. ... Home care requires hard work and compassion and there’s no way to do it half-heartedly. You have to love it.