Home Health & Hospice Week

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice and other trade organizations are urging home care providers to reach out to their elected representatives on the vital issues in the health care reform debate.

"If we work together, there's a strong possibility that we can prevent many of these cuts that would adversely affect both patients and providers," says NAHC's Val Halamandaris.

But home care leaders also need to be thinking about preparing their own organizations for the possible changes ahead, advises consultant Stephen Tweed in his e-newsletter.

"Strong leadership that is focused on the core mission and vision of the agency" is vital, Tweed says. Leaders should be "paying attention to these outside forces and trends, while continuing to communicate with and provide ongoing development for your executive team, middle managers, and front line staff."

Don't think that the current economic crisis and coming health care upheaval mean your business must stagnate, he urges. "There's plenty of research in the sales and marketing arena that proves that those companies that continue to invest in sales and marketing during difficult times come out way ahead after the crisis passes."