Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have multiple locations/cities.
Superior Hospice provides care to terminally ill patients who have been given a life expectancy of six months or less. Established in July, 2024 and accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Partner) the same year, Superior Hospice services the Greater Twin Cities area, including 21 counties across Minnesota. Our dedicated interdisciplinary team consists of nurses, physicians, social workers, CNAs, volunteers, volunteer coordinators, spiritual care coordinators, pharmacists and massage therapists. They all provide exceptional care and support to patients and their caregivers during some of their most meaningful and vulnerable moments. With an emphasis on a holistic approach and caring for the patient as a whole, our goal is to ensure that the physical symptoms are tended to, as well as their emotional and spiritual needs, at the highest quality level. Offering a full suite of hospice services, including Routine Home Care, General Inpatient Care, Respite Care & Continuous Care, Superior Hospice will meet patients where they are in their journey, providing the care that they deserve, wherever they call home.
Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Beginning my healthcare career at the age of 16, I worked as a CNA in a skilled nursing facility. Although I was a teen, it filled my cup when I realized how wonderful I could make people feel when caring for them, and I knew that being in the medical field was where I was supposed to be. While working with the elderly, we had several patients who were on hospice and the tender, compassionate care that I witnessed was something that I will never forget. I admired the hospice staff, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of such an amazing service. While working as an aide, I attended nursing school. My goal was to go straight into hospice work, but it required nursing experience before I could be hired in as a hospice case manager, so I started at the other end of the spectrum- Labor and Delivery! After getting the experience I needed, I landed the hospice case manager position and never looked back. After working in many different nursing roles within hospice during my career, I was offered a leadership position at a smaller hospice. That role taught me so many things, especially the “behind the scenes” of hospice, and as our census grew, another great opportunity arose. I moved to a larger hospice company in another leadership role and while I was there, I was contacted by a company that was looking to add a hospice branch to their family of companies in Minnesota. Everything fell into place, took the risk and my family and I made the move a few months later. That Fall, 2023, I started the journey to open Superior Hospice and with everyone’s dedication and hard work, we took our first hospice patient in July, 2024 and we also became CHAP certified (Community Health Accreditation Partner) in October of 2024.
What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
- Be proactive and not reactive when it comes to staffing. Although this is always a challenge trying to find a balance, it’s crucial to plan ahead and be prepared for growth so that the quality of care provided never suffers.
- Build a strong, dedicated team who is as eager as you are to grow.
- Make decisions based on your mission and vision so that you create a solid foundation.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
- Lead by example. Showing your team what a great work ethic looks like so you set the tone for how you want your company to run will create the expectations quickly. It’s a “all hands-on deck” approach when running a successful business, no matter what title/position you hold.
- Staying organized is essential.
- Never stop learning; continued education is key and there is always room to grow, whether it is on a personal or professional level.
How many hours do you work a day on average?
It’s different every day- in this position, you’re available around the clock for anything that may come up and you do what is needed to ensure things get done. Prioritizing is essential in this position.
To what do you most attribute your success?
I attribute my success to my determination. When you’re determined to make a difference and create something successful, perseverance takes over. It may include long days/nights/weekends and sleepless nights, but in the end, there is no better feeling than hearing and/or reading from families about the exceptional care that their loved one received while on our hospice services.
How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
As we continue to grow, I believe that our care we provide speaks for itself. When facilities and families see and hear how much the team truly cares about each patient, the word spreads. This doesn’t just include our clinicians, it is everyone involved in our patient’s care- from our community liaisons to the office staff and everyone in between. When you have a group of people who genuinely care about the work that we provide each day, it certainly contributes to on-going referrals.
Educating our Home Health team has also been fruitful. The staff are aware of what to look for when their patients are no longer making progress and/or have had a significant decline and they have been essential in contributing to our growing census.
Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Caring for patients in the community for over 30 years, Home Health Care Inc. and their family of companies recognized there was a need for continuity of care and the missing piece was providing hospice services, so funding was internal.
What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Having the right employees and staying true to your mission and vision will keep you on the road to success.
Where do you see yourself and your business in 5-10 years?
I believe we will branch out and have different office locations around Minnesota to support our growth. I would love to see us open an Inpatient Unit (hospice house) as well, to support those in the community that are needing the higher level of care.
Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Any company that values their employees. If their employees feel appreciated and they have a good organizational culture, the care/service is likely going to be positive.
What has been your most satisfying moment?
Admitting our first patient onto our hospice services is a day that I will never forget. Knowing that our vision came to fruition was pure joy. That particular family continues to stay in touch with our team and I know I will never forget them. They’ll always have a special place in my heart.
What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
Failure is my biggest fear and I believe that is why I am so committed to my work here at Superior Hospice. I want to do it right the first time around and I will bend over backwards to ensure success here at Superior.
What makes you happy?
Being around those that I love. Seeing others happy. Caring for patients. Watching my team grow, along with our census. Feeling appreciated. Knowing I/we can make a difference on other’s lives.
Business Name
Superior Hospice
Business Phone
(763) 277-8777
Website
https://superiorhospice.net/