The most compelling and innovative leaders in home health care don’t just inspire the people who work at their companies, they also catch the attention of fellow industry leaders.
These leaders have earned the high esteem of their peers by hurdling operation challenges in the space, creating impressive recruitment initiatives, consistently embracing new ideas and constantly keeping an eye on the future.
Home Health Care News recently caught up with four C-suite executives to find out which leaders they believe are driving home-based care forward and why.
Last month, HHCN talked to five leaders in the home care space.
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Trent Smith is someone, regionally, that I believe is on the cusp of really changing how our nurses engage in documentation.
Operating multiple hospice and home health sites under the Accentra Health banner in Oklahoma, Trent has created a software AI interface that will work with the three largest home health EMR providers.
I have not seen a product that engages both AI and speech recognition at the level his product “Apricot” does. It’s going to completely change the game. Trent is attacking the core issue holding our industry back from having the “best” nursing job. If we can move to 100% in home documentation with high execution on accuracy all while ensuring our nurses are not working into the night, it is a massive step forward.
I believe he is very close and his work will advance not only his agencies, but others.
— David Jackson, CEO of Choice Health at Home
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Shelly Sun and her leadership team are doing a fabulous job paying attention not just to where the industry is today, but focusing on where it’s going to be in two years. They are positioning their business well to be serving the needs of patients and payers as the post-acute care needs evolve.
Shelly is an inspirational leader and someone who maintains a strong presence and public visibility with her team and patients. Home-based care is extremely personal and private. She’s done a great job providing patients and their families with that sense of personal touch, accountability and caring that makes them comfortable engaging with BrightStar Care and their franchisees.
I think she has also been very forward thinking in engaging in workforce growth through caregiver development and recruitment programs. She’s also done the same forward thinking and innovation on working with payers and ACOs on advancing the concepts of pre-acute care versus post-acute discharge from hospital-only care, which is where the industry is heading.
We will continue to see Shelly and the BrightStar Care team being leaders and innovators in our industry.
— John M. Kunysz, president and CEO of Intrepid USA Healthcare Services
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The leader I would like to spotlight is RJ Gagnon of Androscoggin Home Healthcare & Hospice.
As I’ve talked with RJ at events and discussed what he is doing at Androscoggin, I am convinced that he is the future of the industry. He’s strong in the key business areas that every company needs to survive a future of uncertain rates. He’s curious and always looking to find ways to improve himself and his company. He’s intensely inquisitive and that has led to new innovations, as he has worked to bridge himself from a traditional CFO to a COO with a much broader set of responsibilities. I have also been impressed by the generosity that he has with others, sharing tips and tricks on best practices, EMR systems, and corporate governance.
As I’ve worked with him as a part of the HHFMA Advisory Board, I have learned how to better run my agency and how to properly balance the competing needs of a finance head and a company head. I know that with Ken and him in charge Androscoggin is well-positioned to be a winner and I want to take this same know-how and apply it across our organization.
— Beau Sorensen, COO at First Choice Home Health & Hospice
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Beau Sorenson, at First Choice Home Health & Hospice, is an innovator, a conscientious leader, and a rising star in home care. He’s forward thinking, hardworking, and understands the power of giving back to the industry. Beau is not looking at yesterday’s answers to tomorrow’s problems. He is deeply engaged in payment reform, legislative work, and leads his agency as an innovator.
— Brent Korte, CEO of Frontpoint Health
Joyce Famakinwa
Joyce Famakinwa is a Chicago area native who cut her teeth as a journalist and writer covering the worker’s compensation industry and creating branded content for tech companies and startups. When she isn’t reporting the latest in home health care news, you can find her indulging in her love of vintage clothing, books, film, live music, theatre and reality tv.
FAQs
“C-suite” refers to the executive-level managers within a company. Common C-suite executives include chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO), and chief information officer (CIO).
What is a C-suite in healthcare? ›
The term “C-Suite” refers to the group of top-level executives within an organization whose titles usually begin with the letter “C,” standing for “Chief.” In the healthcare industry, the C-Suite plays a critical role in shaping policy, overseeing operations, and steering the organization toward its objectives.
What do C-Suite executives care about? ›
One of the c-suite's main responsibilities is to de-risk the business and enhance security to minimize exposure to threats. If you're pitching to a C-level executive, your solution should be able to help them solve this key challenge.
What is the role of the C-suite? ›
The C-suite is the group of executives responsible for running an organization. The C-suite comprises all the executives that run a given organization. The makeup of each C-suite is unique: while most organizations have a CEO and a CFO, the other roles depend on the business model and operations of the company.
Is C-suite higher than VP? ›
These terms broadly classify the leadership roles based on their titles and the strategic roles they play in the organization's growth and operations. In terms of hierarchy and seniority, the C-Suite (Chief) is at the top, followed by the V-Suite (Vice Presidents), and then the D-Suite (Directors).
What is the difference between C-suite and executives? ›
An organization's C-suite is the group of top executives, defining and implementing corporate strategy. While these jobs require a high level of education and years of experience, they are very well rewarded.
Who is second in command at a hospital? ›
The CAO is the second-in-command to the CEO. They run hospital operations and execute the decisions of the CEO. The chief operating officer (COO) can also fill this position. Chief Financial Officer.
What are D-level executives? ›
D-level executives are the ones who report to VPs. In this case, D stands for director, e.g. a Director of Engineering or a Director of Sales belong in this grade. Some companies also use the term “B-level executive” to describe mid-level managers. Related resources: Best job sites for executive-level candidates.
What is the hierarchy of the C-suite? ›
The C-Suite Organization is the highest echelon within a company hierarchy, responsible for making strategic decisions and setting the overall direction of the organization. While the term is often used interchangeably with 'executive team,' distinctions might exist depending on the company.
What is the average age of C-suite executives? ›
The average age of C-suite executives at Fortune 100 companies is 57, according to a new study. C-suite executives had been getting younger since 1980, but that's no longer the case. The new C-suite is "older, with broader industry experience and increasingly female," wrote Wharton professor Peter Cappelli.
According to a CEO.com survey of 256 respondents, executives spend nearly 58 hours per week at work, averaging between 10 and 11 hours per day.
Are C-suite jobs stressful? ›
The relentless demands of the C-suite are breeding exhaustion and stress, with 75% of C-suite executives seriously considering quitting their jobs for better well-being support, according to a Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence survey.
Who do C-suite executives report to? ›
The most important member of the C-suite and the top executive within a company. Most other members of the C-suite report to the CEO. They are responsible for hiring the other members of the C-suite and usually serve as the face of the company.
How are C-suite executives hired? ›
The hiring process for C-suite employees can involve anything from HR department members doing initial research to executives and board members interviewing or voting to approve candidates.
How to prepare for C-suite role? ›
Want To Make It Into The C-Suite? Nine Steps To Take Now
- Network With Highly Connected Professionals. ...
- Build A Track Record Of Success. ...
- Develop Excellent Communication Skills. ...
- Stay Up To Date On Industry News. ...
- Take Leadership Development Training. ...
- Cultivate A Selfless, Fearless Mindset. ...
- Sharpen Your People Skills.
B-Suite Leaders are the modern middle manager.
The result for those leaders is they feel overworked, overlooked and overwhelmed. Evidence shows that B-Suite leaders have the hardest job of all. They are pivotal to: managing the workload.
Is C-suite the highest level? ›
What is the C-suite? The C-suite (“chief” suite) is a term used to describe an organization's top senior executives. These high-ranking employees are in charge of big-picture thinking for various departments.
What is the hierarchy of C-suite titles? ›
The board of directors is at the top of the chain of command, followed by the CEO, who reports to the board. The CEO then delegates authority to other C-suite executives, such as the COO, CFO, CMO, etc., who in turn oversee their respective departments and functions.
What is the C-suite ranking? ›
The letter 'C' stands for the word 'Chief' and a Chief is the ultimate leader of a department or a company. C-level executives, also called C-suite executives are the top tier of executives at any company. Most importantly, they are the people with the most decision-making power within the company.
