Beth Carpenter and Associates: Pathfinder Newsletter

THE PATHFINDER NEWSLETTER
Hello! Welcome to the February 2008 issue of THE PATHFINDER. We are very excited at Beth Carpenter and Associates to announce the addition of a new Senior Associate, Barbara Gray, to our team. Barbara and I first met when we worked together at a national hospice company. I will be forever grateful to her for the example she provided and the lessons in hospice she taught me. So this opportunity to work along side her again makes me particularly happy. Barbara brings over 25 years of management experience in both the profit and not for profit sectors - primarily in the hospice industry - to Beth Carpenter and Associates. Barbara Gray has authored an article for his month's newsletter, Deliver Best What Your Customers Want Most. This article is a primer on how one organization developed a Strategy Canvas in order to gain market share and differentiate the agency from the competition. I think that you will find this article a good example of how a Strategy Canvas builds consensus and alignment of team members in a facilitated strategic planning process. I will admit that I am a huge fan of Ken Blanchard, the author of the One Minute Manager. Years ago I had the good fortune to attend a series of seminars that included a day-long presentation by Blanchard. He made me laugh, but more importantly, he made me think about where we fail our associates when we do not assess what they need in order to be successful before we adopt an appropriate leadership style in response. I've included an article by Ken Blanchard from Forbes.com on Why We Can--And Should--Teach Leadership. Why are blacks less likely than whites to use hospice services? Hospices, especially urban hospices, have tried to answer this question for some time. I have included an article this month on a study by a geriatrician and palliative care specialist from Duke University Medical Center. The results are interesting and point clearly to black Americans' mistrust of our health care system. Before I close, I want to make sure that I mention that Beth Carpenter and Associates has developed a workshop that is built around "Delivering Best What Your Customers Want Most". This workshop is available for presentation to state associations as well as individual agencies. This workshop is one of several we have prepared for 2008. If you are interested in seeing the presentations available from Beth Carpenter and Associates for home care, hospice and private duty entities, please let me know. I will be happy to send along an electronic copy of our 2008 Presentation Booklet. If we can provide you with any assistance , please do not hesitate to contact us. Best wishes, Beth Carpenter

DELIVER BEST WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT MOST By Barbara Gray, Senior Consultant Beth Carpenter and Associates If you are like most agency owners/administrators in Home Health, Private Duty and Hospice, you are surrounded by competitors. You are constantly thinking about how to gain market share. You want to differentiate your agency from your competitors so that current AND new customers will be turning to you more frequently. Realistically, in our highly regulated and tightly reimbursed environment, it is difficult to imagine having the funds or the regulatory approval to launch that unique product or service that solves everything. But what if you could look at your services and products in a critical way and come up with clear indicators of areas where a focus on improvement will increase referrals and admissions? Deliver Best What Your Customers Want Most continues...

WHY WE CAN -- AND SHOULD -- TEACH LEADERSHIP By Ken Blanchard Forbes.com Fred Cuen already occupies the coveted C-suite. As president of the Americas for Avnet, one of the world's largest technologies distributors, he oversees a staff of 2,000. But even as an experienced leader, Cuen wants the Phoenix-headquartered company to expand its situational leadership training class, now in its second year, into an etablished leadership management track. To read Ken Blanchard article...

FEELINGS OF MISTRUST FOR CURATIVE TREATMENT INFLUENCES BLACKS' PERCEPTION OF HOSPICE CARE By Kimberly Johnson MD Mistrust of the health care system, as well as a strong preference for curative treatment, might in part explain why blacks are less likely than whites to use hospice care, according toa study presented last weekend, HealthDay News/Forbes reports. The study, by Kimberly Johnson, a geriatrician and palliative care specialitst at Duke University Medical Center, was presented a the annual meeting of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. To read further...

SAYING GOOD BYE TO MY FRIEND, DIANE BRINEY Lastly, reluctantly -- I must say good bye to my friend, Diane Briney, who left us suddenly on 2/19/2008. I don't think that any words can adequately express my sadness at her death. Many of you knew her as the Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Partner of Hospice On Call. She was struck down by a virus that damaged her heart beyond repair. I am surprised..she had such a big heart - big enough to be kind and generous - strong enough to support her friends and family - full of fun with a delightfully wicked sense of humor! She will be missed by all who knew her. Good bye, my friend...until we meet again...Beth

Beth Carpenter Beth Carpenter and Associates 847-382-1035 bcarpenter@bethcarpenterandassociates.com Beth Carpenter and Associates has earned a reputation as a company with deep industry experience and one that works closely with its clients to identify solutions that meet their business goals and strategic objectives. We do not simply advise. We partner with our customers to implement the solution and ensure its success. Sincerely, Beth Carpenter

ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH? Since 1995 Beth Carpenter and Associates has provided its real-world experience to the management of healthcare companies, especially those organizations with a focus on home health, hospice and private duty, in the areas of operations, clinical services, sales and marketing. We work with management to identify the strategic direction of the organization and implement the necessary changes that allow health care providers to move forward in today's environment. We help you choose the right path to success and then we walk it with you.

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