Transcending Home Care

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In this episode, Tony sits down with Chris Smith, long-time hospice operator and new CEO of Affinity Hospice, to unpack what really moves the needle in hospice growth. They explore alignment between sales, clinical and operations; the role of the Four Disciplines of Execution; and why focusing on leading indicators matters more than chasing lag metrics. An essential conversation for leaders navigating today’s complex post-acute environment. 

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A focused, candid breakdown of the five questions that will define growth in hospice and home-based care in 2026. Tony Kudner shares Transcend’s data-backed insights, field lessons and uncomfortable truths leaders must face to build sustainable growth next year. 

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Tony Kudner sits down with Carl Brodarick, SVP of hospice development at AccentCare, to discuss the critical role of hiring the right liaisons for sustainable growth. Carl shares lessons from decades of experience, including red flags in interviews, what traits set top performers apart, and why trust and problem solving matter more than dropping off donuts.

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Tony Kudner sits down with compliance expert Carrie Cooley of Weatherbee Resources to unpack the HOPE tool and what it means for hospice admissions, operations and patient care. 

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Mergers and acquisitions in home-based care don’t end when the deal closes – true success depends on what happens next. Emily Kraeter, SVP of human resources for national home care company TheKey, joins Tony Kudner to share practical strategies for supporting staff, building trust, and integrating cultures during post-acquisition transitions.

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Hospice admissions often feel chaotic, but they don’t have to be. In this episode, Tony Kudner and Courtney Penn break down the six key areas to improve intake; streamline care; and deliver timely, compassionate service.

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In this Transcending Home Care podcast, Tony Kudner discusses the growing role of Gen Z and Millennial caregivers with Jordan Dockery, who shares her personal experience caregiving for her partner’s uncle. The conversation highlights the challenges faced, resources utilized, and the importance of online tools in caregiving. Key statistics and recommendations from Transcend’s insights report are also discussed. 

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In this episode of Transcending Home Care, host Tony Kudner, chief strategy officer at Transcend Strategy Group, delves into the importance of a growth mindset for community home-based care providers. Featuring insights from Patricia McDaniel, vice president of business development at NorthStar Care Community, the discussion covers the necessity of intentional strategic growth, the importance of quick response to patient referrals, and fostering healthy internal tensions to improve performance. Patricia also shares personal anecdotes and emphasizes the significance of hiring and developing the right leaders to drive growth. 

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In this episode of the Transcending Home Care Podcast, Transcend Chief Strategy Officer Tony Kudner interviews Penny Smith, a hospice nurse who has garnered a significant following on TikTok by blending humor, pop culture trends and educational content. Penny discusses the misperceptions about hospice care, shares her personal journey into nursing, and elaborates on how she uses TikTok to alleviate fears and provide accurate information about end-of-life care. She also talks about the challenges and rewards of being a public educator on social media and previews her upcoming memoir, “Influencing Death.” 

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Dr. Josh Lowentritt of Aledade discusses their Comprehensive Advance Care Planning Program, reducing hospitalizations and transforming patient-centered care.

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In this episode of Transcending Home Care, Tony Kudner talks with April Dovorany, earned media expert at Real Chemistry, about sharing impactful patient stories. Learn how to craft pitches, engage local media, and navigate patient privacy to highlight the extraordinary care provided by home-based organizations while boosting visibility and community impact.

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Transcend’s CEO Stephanie Johnston, Chief Strategy Officer Tony Kudner, and Senior Client Advisor Courtney Penn sit down and talk about the big issues that affected the home-based care community in 2024. From the status of the Amedisys/United Healthcare acquisition, to what’s going on at the National Alliance for Care at Home, to clinician burnout and beyond, we talk through another tumultuous year and discussed what home-based care organizations can do to grow census and length of stay, and measure return on strategic investments in growth.

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How many times do home-based care organizations try to train their field staff with endless slide decks and voiceovers? Do clinicians actually retain information presented this way? When the battle for the best staff is intense and the marginal cost of turnover is enormous, understanding how to orient your bedside workforce can make or break your program. 

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In this episode, we sit down just six days after the 2024 presidential election to talk with Logan Hoover, vice president of policy and government relations for the National Alliance for Care at Home. Logan talks through what a republican presidency might mean for healthcare and hospice, especially in light of having full control of the house and senate as well. 

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Colors, logos and names are important, but they’re really only a small part of what makes a durable healthcare brand. In this episode of Transcending Home Care, we sat down with Denise King, vice president and chief branding and marketing officer at NorthStar Care Community, to talk about how the best brands use strategy to achieve their goals 

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In this episode, Transcend Chief Strategy Officer Tony Kudner sits down with Kate Proctor, executive advisor to  the National Alliance for Care at Home and chief strategy officer and general counsel at Omnia Healthcare Group. They talk about risk management for marketing home-based care and hospice, and get the latest on the merger between NAHC and NHPCO. 

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Hospice News editor Jim Parker has been covering the hospice and palliative care community with depth and nuance since the outlet was founded in 2019. The industry has seen enormous change over that time – from M&A, to program integrity, to growth in the space – and Hospice News has been an informative source for leaders across the country. In this episode of Transcending Home Care, Tony Kudner sat down with Jim Parker at the NHPCO (now National Alliance for Care at Home) annual leadership conference to hear how he came to be the editor at H...

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In this episode, Tony sits down with Courtney Penn to talk through Transcend’s approach to change management and what successful changes have in common. The conversation touches on key milestones, planning for change and communicating it well, and developing the critical feedback loops needed to gauge the success of the change. Tony and Courtney also discuss several client case studies and examples from their own experiences from working at home-based care provider agencies.

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When we talk about the shift to value-based care, we talk a lot about concepts like delegated risk, upside and downside bonuses and incentives, and of course, data. On the quality side, we default to using standard patient satisfaction scores and tools as benchmarks for where the conversation starts and ends.

In this episode, we take a deeper dive into what quality and a relationship with a patient or consumer might mean. How can we move beyond one CAHPS survey to think about a more holistic experience instead of just “teaching to...

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Tune in to our latest podcast episode for a rapid response to the final Medicaid Access Rule. Join host Tony Kudner and special guest David Totaro of BAYADA Hearts for Home Care as they dissect the implications of the 80/20 rule on home care providers. From understanding key components to exploring challenges and potential solutions, this episode offers valuable insights into the future of home-based care. Whether you’re a caregiver, administrator or advocate, don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and be part of the conversation shaping the landscape of healthcare delivery. List...

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How can home health and hospice organizations apply data to provide better patient care? What if data-driven predictive modeling could define with a high degree of certainty that a patient was on the verge of hospitalization … or pinpoint when a patient would die?

What do future opportunities look like as artificial intelligence and machine learning make predictive modeling even more accurate and able to adjust predictions in real time as risk factors change?

In this episode, Elliott Wood – president and CEO of Medalogix – and Stan Massey discuss these impactful topics...

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Sometimes it’s good to put two “like minds” in a room and get them talking. You don’t have to ask us twice! Transcend’s Stan Massey and Tony Kudner sit down for a free-flowing conversation about the biggest trends in home-based care over the last 10 to 15 years, and discuss what skills might serve providers well in the years to come.

With much of Transcend’s research, we aim to have a discrete point of view and easily digestible takeaways. We want to ensure our insights and thoughts align with our philosop...

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Data is becoming increasingly engrained and revered in the world of healthcare. And, indeed, data is vitally important in improving medical science, measuring outcomes and proving the value of specific processes.

Yet, as data continues to grow in priority, that emphasis can cause patients to feel like a number in an ever-expanding sea of numbers. Going back to Hippocrates, medicine was designed to treat people, not just diseases. In fact, one of the main principles of the Hippocratic Oath centers on respect for the patient’s autonomy.

So how do...

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Value is more than a buzzword in home-based care these days. Agencies know that payers, policymakers and consumers are all expecting it in the care they provide. But where should a hospice or home care agency start when thinking about how to demonstrate that value? How do you create a value proposition when there isn’t yet a roadmap for doing so?

It all begins with taking a step back and defining exactly who you’re trying to prove value to: Is it the payer? Is it a health system? Perhaps a pa...

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A financially viable home-based palliative care model is driven by appropriate practices, processes and logistics. A big part of establishing successful parameters comes from starting with a sensible staffing model.

What are the right roles in a palliative care start-up? How should a provider schedule patient visits? What’s the proper mix of in-person visits versus support by phone or virtual video visits? How does the right level of patient care translate into manageable caseloads for clinicians and social workers? How can providers make sure services are covered by reimbursement?

...

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Most healthcare providers – especially providers of care at patients’ homes – started their organizations offering one particular service line. Whether that original service was home health, hospice, private duty nursing or something else, many organizations felt the need to expand their services and engage with patients for more needs over longer periods of time.

When these organizations added even one more service, they often began to talk about their “continuum of care.” But how expansive should a continuum be? How can agencies know what service lines to add and when to make the expans...

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Due to the historically weak reimbursement stream from CMS for palliative care, providers often have been conflicted with providing this undeniably helpful service and staying out of the red while doing so.

Some hospice providers started their palliative care service line with the mindset that it would be a “loss leader” – they expected to lose money on the service but hoped to build relationships with patients and families sooner, convert them to their hospice care as early as appropriate, and make up for the loss through stronger hospice census and LOS. For mo...

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Most providers of home care are struggling with major staffing shortages – especially among nurses, CNAs and social workers. The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new era of professionals reevaluating their careers, resulting in massive job changes and even “the Great Resignation.” Turnover among many healthcare providers is at record levels.

Recently, Transcend Strategy Group and MAC Legacy partnered in a national research project to explore what healthcare workers look for in their careers so employers can be more effective with recruitment and retention.

According to the research results, 30 percent of hea...

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It’s no secret that most seniors in America want to maintain their independence for as long as possible. In fact, according to the Disabled Living Foundation, the majority of seniors say they fear losing their independence more than they fear death.

For many, a main hallmark of independence is being able to age in place. A survey by AARP revealed that 90% of Americans age 65 and over want to stay in their home and 80% believe their current residence is where they will live until they die.

Other statistics show 27% of...

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COVID-19 magnified the need and desire for patients to stay out of hospitals if possible. A national survey conducted by Transcend Strategy Group revealed that more than 60% of family caregivers had greater confidence in the quality of care provided at home during the pandemic versus care in a facility. Plus, the repeating surges in COVID cases across the country pushed many hospitals to the brink – and sometimes beyond – when it came to inpatient beds available.

Cooper Linton – associate VP of Duke HomeCare & Hospice – is at the forefront of helping a major healthca...

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COVID-19 ushered in an overwhelmingly stronger preference for patients to receive care at home rather than in a facility. A national survey by Transcend Strategy Group revealed that 60 percent of family healthcare decision makers are now more confident that quality care can be provided at home versus 33 percent feeling more confident in the quality of care at a facility. 

This preference, along with the growing demand for care as the huge demographic of Baby Boomers continues to age, is opening new opportunities and challenges for providers of home-based care.

I...

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When most people think of “home care” or “home health,” they think of clinical or skilled therapy services at home. However, as the “Silver Tsunami” of Baby Boomers continue to age, there’s an exponential need for nonclinical home care. By helping with activities of daily living, providing personal monitoring and supervision, serving as a companion, running errands and much more, nonclinical caregivers help seniors age in place with greater independence.

Jeff Salter – founder and CEO of Caring Senior Service – has been leading his company for 30 years to meet these needs. In this discussion...

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Many physicians view palliative care and hospice care as the same service – pain and symptom management for the very end of life. By not referring patients to palliative care early in a disease progression, the patients and their families may be missing out on valuable relief from physical, emotional and spiritual suffering.

Annette Collier, MD, FACP – and a medical director for palliative care – has invested more than a decade in educating her physician peers about the many advantages of earlier referrals to this specialty. In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Tra...

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Whatever your opinion of the BLM movement, it has thrust the topic of true equality into a searing national spotlight – and has prompted many of us to reflect more deeply on the issue.

In addition to risk factors regarding COVID-19 and minority populations, equality considerations have sparked renewed discussions on glaring disparities in healthcare across key demographics. Hospice and palliative care professionals have recognized for decades that minority populations greatly underutilize their valuable services. Recent Medicare data shows that of their members who died on hospice care, only 37.1% of African Americans re...

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Palliative care may be the Rodney Dangerfield of healthcare. More accurately, palliative care does get major respect from those who know its value when properly applied – but too few truly understand the power of this specialty.

In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Melanie Marien, RPA-C – a nationally certified Physician Assistant and palliative care specialist – discusses how we may overcome challenges to make palliative care a routine part of treatment regimens.

Melanie and Stan talk about persistent obstacles of distinguishing palliative care from hospice care in the minds...

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Providers of home health services, palliative care and hospice care often express disappointment and confusion regarding referral patterns by physicians. Many providers feel physicians don’t refer to them as early as they should or may be missing the full benefits they can provide to patients and families alike.

What are common key barriers that get in the way of physicians making referrals to home-based care providers? How can providers better educate and communicate with physicians to break down those barriers and enhance the care patients receive?

Special guest Mi...

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If there are any upsides to COVID-19, catapulting necessary change is one of them. Healthcare already needed innovation before COVID-19 if providers are going to indeed achieve value-based care – and COVID-19 gave a kick in the pants to make some of these changes gain traction.

In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Devin Griffith, MPA, MSW – vice president of development and innovation for AuthoraCare Collective – talks about innovations he’s seeing in home health, hospice and senior care … as well as areas where the need to innovate are still ripe for d...

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COVID-19’s lockdowns and quarantines magnified America’s awareness of social isolation – especially among our seriously ill and elderly populations.

Yet social isolation has been a challenge for many seniors long before this pandemic. One valuable tool in overcoming isolation among seniors is adult day care – if it’s available and affordable.

In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Kara Harvey, co-founder and CEO of Elder-Well® Adult Day Program, talks about the positive impact of adult day care on participants and their families.

Along with the discuss...

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Months and months of preparation, training and concern went into preparing home health agencies for the change to PDGM. 

Now that providers have been using PDGM for more than a full quarter, how are they adapting to the new system?

In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Jess Stover, principal, and Erin Masterson, consulting director, at BlackTree Healthcare Consulting dive into what the first quarter of data is reporting – even though some of the numbers admittedly have been skewed by COVID-19 circumstances.

The discussion covers a r...

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With the no-contact demands of COVID-19, telehealth and other remote care tools were thrust into the national spotlight. CMS started to relax certain restrictions regarding telehealth, and the use of video conferences skyrocketed for remote care and communications among clinical teams, patients and their families.

A common perception, however, is that telehealth mostly consists of video chats – and remote care technology has the existing performance and future potential to offer many more functions to elevate overall care, as well as the patient/family experience.

In this conversation with host St...

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Physicians are trained to cure, or at least treat illnesses to stabilize patients and help them enjoy the highest quality of life possible. Perhaps that’s why many physicians struggle with difficult conversations when the prognosis isn’t good … especially a terminal condition. 

Timothy Short, MD, has been a practicing physician for 33 years – 21 years as a family doctor and a palliative/hospice specialist for the past 12 years. During that time, Dr. Short has developed a deep passion – and compassion – for communicating effectively with patients and families despite situations that are difficult to process. <...

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Accurate diagnosis and prognosis are crucial in determining a patient’s plan of care. Many look at a prognosis as an “event” – a moment in time when a prediction about a patient’s illness trajectory is made – when it’s really an ongoing process that typically changes over time.

Especially because of these changing dynamics, how can clinicians be more accurate about prognoses? Christian Sinclair, MD, AAHPM, provides intriguing information and considerations about the impact of prognoses – particularly on hospice and palliative care – and offers suggestions on improving prognoses going forward.

In this conve...

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When a loved one is afflicted with a serious illness or a debilitating chronic condition, the family is often thrust into a new role of caregiver at their loved one’s home. Although a labor of love, the job can be very demanding, emotionally draining and physically exhausting. And many family members begin without the knowledge of where to turn for help.

According to Nicole Clagett, founder of Transitions GuidingLights – a nonprofit agency dedicated solely to supporting family and professional caregivers – the confusion begins with the very definition of “caregiver” and when the d...

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A basic requirement for any organization granted 501(c)3 not-for-profit status by the government is having an active Board of Directors. Traditionally, many organizations have built their boards by going down a checklist of desirable skills board members will have based on their careers. An attorney? Check. Financial guru? Check. Marketing professional? Check.

But is this the best way to build a Board? Bill Musick, founder of Integriti3D – a company focused on improving hospice care across the country – offers a different perspective. With decades of experience in the entire continuum of heal...

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Most providers of home health are worried about the impact PDGM will have on their operations, staffing and reimbursement. There’s been a lot of discussion about the challenges … but not so much about the opportunities PDGM may bring.

Mark Hunt – vice president of the home health division of Covenant Care and a veteran of some of the biggest national brands in home health – explores the upside of PDGM, including better outcomes for patients.

In this conversation with host Stan Massey of Transcend, Mark talks about the importance of upfront...

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Transcend Strategy Group’s surveys of over 18,000 family healthcare decision makers have shown that the public has a highly generic view of hospice providers. Many believe hospice care is a government service and don’t know there may be multiple providers in their community – so they don’t think about having a choice. And even if they do know multiple providers exist, fewer than 10 percent can typically name a single brand name correctly when answering unaided recall questions. 

Imagine the confusion if a community has more than 25 competing agencies, as is the case...

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Medicare continues to change and tighten reimbursement structures. Managed care plans are emerging, controlling access to only preferred providers. Healthcare systems and other providers are expanding services and referring only or mostly within their own ranks. So how do you build better relationships with a broader range of referrers and payers to combat these limitations – or be included as a preferred provider within their networks?

Special guest Liz Fowler, president & CEO of Bluegrass Care Navigators since 2014, joins host Stan Massey of Transcend Strategy Group to talk about her organization’s successes in d...

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With surveys from patients and families impacting ratings, reputations and reimbursements, providers of home-based care are more motivated than ever to deliver an experience that’s both effective and elevating. Which is not to say healthcare teams aren’t already passionate about working in the patient’s best interest. 

However, providers frequently overlook a crucial aspect of the patient experience – evaluating it from the patient’s perspective. Special guest Cooper Linton, associate vice president of Duke HomeCare and Hospice, joins host Stan Massey of Transcend Strategy Group to discuss a variety of factors...