Home Health Care Leadership in a Changing Environment

Many factors affect the home health care agency of today, creating a challenge for leaders. Internal and external factors are presenting rapid change, unprecedented in our history. Health care costs, technology, changes in health care financing and regulations, patient uncertainty in dealing with changes, and safety issues are only some of the challenges that can consume time and energies of a home care leader. These challenges present opportunities that could not only work positively for the agency but could often cause leaders to forget the basic ethical values related to treating employees in a way that positively influences development, gives employees a sense of worth, and compassionately supports them through change. If the leader intentionally considers these values, the leadership role will be effective by not only having a positive impact upon the employee but by positively influencing the success of the agency. One key to accomplishing this is the home care leader's understanding of the motivations behind human behavior. In an agency where employees are valued, the opportunities for success are manageable and the key to success is basic. Ethical leadership intentionally focuses upon the basic values and motivates employees to maximize their potential. When leadership is not approached in this manner, it is ethically compromised. The challenge for ethical success is not to forget these basic values.