Rich Johnson’s path to becoming a healthcare CEO began in a juvenile courtroom where a judge gave him two choices: jail or the service. Choosing the Air Force didn't just change his life; it gave him the logistical blueprint to manage a $90 million appropriation by age 18 and eventually build ViaQuest, Inc. into an integrated healthcare powerhouse. Today, Rich oversees 4,500 employees providing a "Circle of Care" that spans hospice, behavioral health, and services for the IDD community.

This discussion pulls back the curtain on how military discipline translates to healthcare culture and why the integration of mental health is the missing piece in the modern hospice puzzle. We also dive into the technical "headwinds" facing the industry, ranging from the regulatory shift of Section 504 to the potential for AI agents to solve the hiring crisis for home health and hospice agencies.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Military Mindset — Why accountability and shared values are the only way to lead 4,500 "heroes" in the home.
• The Integrated Model — How ViaQuest leverages behavioral health to support grieving families and terminal IDD patients.
• The AI Revolution — Real-world applications for Perplexity Computer and autonomous agents in nurse recruiting and clinical workflows.
• The Pediatric Paradox — Examining the data that proves concurrent curative treatment actually improves quality of life while lowering costs.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction of Rich Johnson and the ViaQuest story
• 02:02 From the courtroom to the cockpit — How the Air Force saved Rich’s life
• 04:53 Transitioning from military finance to healthcare consulting
• 06:09 The origin of ViaQuest and stepping into the CEO role at age 30
• 08:36 Creating a Circle of Care — Integrating IDD and Behavioral Health
• 11:21 The decision to pivot away from Home Health to focus on Hospice
• 13:27 Navigating the regulatory landscape and provider "flooding" in Ohio
• 15:32 The calling of healthcare — Recognizing the heroes in the IDD and Hospice space
• 18:48 Leadership lessons — Using military discipline to manage 4,500 employees
• 21:50 Boot camp stories — Learning knots and discovering "I’m short"
• 24:51 The unique challenges of recruiting for the IDD population
• 27:04 Serving the same patients for 25 years — "Three self-made men"
• 28:33 Rebranding the hospice conversation from "dying" to "living"
• 30:19 Why ViaQuest is adopting Bereavement for Life
• 32:05 AI in healthcare — Ambient listening and ending "pajama documentation"
• 34:56 Using Perplexity Computer to build autonomous recruiting agents
• 39:49 Creating automated daily intelligence reports with AI
• 41:55 The Section 504 deadline — Preparing for new ADA website compliance
• 46:50 Industry Headwinds — Facing the "Senior Tsunami" and staffing shortages
• 50:16 The role of remote monitoring and home-based surgery recovery
• 53:08 Legislative gaps in ESRD and Pediatric Concurrent Care
• 56:45 Identifying "Bad Actors" and the future of government audits
• 1:00:00 Inducting a CEO into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame
• 1:03:25 Changing lives — Rich’s proudest career accomplishments

Get ahold of Rich and ViaQuest:

• ViaQuest, Inc. website: https://viaquestinc.com/
• ViaQuest, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viaquest/
• Rich's email: [email protected]
• Rich's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richdjohnson

Special thank you to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor: Trella Health: https://trellahealth.com/
• Premier Sponsor: Homecare Homebase: https://hchb.com/
• Maxwell TEC: https://maxwelltec.com/
• StenoHealth: https://www.stenohealth.com/
• IntellaTriage: https://intellatriage.com/

Check out Last Visit First on other platforms:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/last-visit-first/id1830051182
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3iSKGRvHC9Bk3iq7l8UPxs
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastvisitfirstpodcast
• Website: https://www.lastvisitfirst.com
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/last-visit-first

How do you turn two legacy hospice providers into a singular, "serious illness powerhouse"?Kristen Yntema didn’t start her career in a boardroom; she started as a 15-year-old unit secretary, cross-training as a nursing assistant and falling in love with the patient connection. Today, as the President and CEO of AuthoraCare Collective, she is redefining the architecture of end-of-life care.This conversation pulls back the curtain on the 2019 merger that created AuthoraCare and the radical "Culture First" strategy that made it successful. Kristen and Tom Maxwell dive into why traditional hospice is no longer enough and how building a "Serious Illness Ecosystem" allows patients to be the true authors of their own stories long before their final six months.

Inside the Episode:

• The "Pajama Charting" Crisis: How AI and ambient listening are being vetted to save clinicians from documentation burnout.
• Redefining Success: Why Kristen’s team ignores traditional metrics in favor of "Days in the Community."
• The Kids Path Mission: A rare look at the specialized world of pediatric hospice and the "Aarvy Aardvark" connection.
• The "Coffee with Kristen" Rule: Why the best strategic insights come from a $15 Panera treat and a small group of front-line staff.
• The Future of Palliative Care: Navigating the shift from "Routine Home Care" to high-needs ACO models.

Chapters:

• 00:00 — The "Last Visit First" Origin Story
• 02:35 — Starting at 15: From Unit Secretary to CEO
• 06:10 — The AuthoraCare Merger: Moving Beyond Hospice
• 09:30 — Why Culture Trumps Strategy in Healthcare
• 13:00 — Defining Excellence: The "2:00 AM Confidence Test"
• 22:30 — Building an "Ecosystem" Around the Patient
• 24:38 — HCHB Premier Sponsor Ad
• 30:15 — The "Pajama Charting" Crisis & AI Solutions
• 32:20 — Kids Path: The Mission of Pediatric Hospice
• 38:10 — Rethinking Metrics: "Days in the Community"
• 40:02 – Maxwell TEC Sponsored Ad
• 50:10 — Policy, Fraud, and the Future of the Industry
• 55:00 — Redefining Serious Illness Care

Connect with Kristen and AuthoraCare:

• Kristen's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-wither-yntema-bb7ab3b7
• AuthoraCare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/authoracare/
• AuthoraCare website: https://www.authoracare.org/

Special thank you to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor: Trella Health
• Premier Sponsor: Homecare Homebase
• Maxwell TEC
• StenoHealth
• IntellaTriage

Check out Last Visit First on other platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Website
• LinkedIn

When the high-stakes discipline of a Navy submarine officer meets the fragmentation of hospice and home health, the result is a radical "Nurse-First" philosophy that challenges every industry norm. Daniel Reese, CEO of IntellaTriage, joins Tom Maxwell to expose why the current healthcare system is failing clinicians and how to survive the coming workforce redesign.

Inside the Episode:

• The "Submarine Effect" on Leadership: Why servant leadership isn't just a buzzword—it’s a tactical requirement for mission-driven organizations.
• Solving the After-Hours Black Hole: How immediate access to a US-based nurse (not an answering service) transforms patient outcomes and stabilizes the home environment.
• AI & Clinical Intelligence: A skeptical look at the "AI hype train" and why technology must be used to automate the "maintenance" of documentation so clinicians can focus on "hugging the patient."
• Personal stakes in ESRD: A raw discussion on why the current Medicare hospice benefit is fundamentally broken for end-stage renal disease patients and how we can advocate for change.

Chapters:

• 0:09 - Introduction of Daniel Reese, CEO of IntellaTriage
• 0:32 - Discussion about Daniel's background as a Navy submarine officer
• 0:40 - Daniel's journey through the Naval Academy and active duty
• 3:31 - Leadership lessons learned from military service
• 5:14 - Daniel's transition from the Navy to business school and family business
• 7:09 - The path to becoming CEO of IntellaTriage
• 9:23 - Explanation of IntellaTriage's mission and services
• 10:53 - Discussion on the importance of telephone nursing and after-hours care
• 13:14 - Issues with interoperability and after-hours care
• 16:56 - Staffing shortages and recruitment strategies
• 20:00 - Homecare Homebase premier sponsored ad
• 20:48 - Predictions for the next five years in the industry
• 23:34 - The impact of Medicare Advantage and value-based care
• 28:59 - Discussion on the role of AI in healthcare
• 32:35 - Potential benefits and risks of AI implementation
• 40:27 - Maxwell TEC sponsored ad
• 45:29 - Daniel's personal interests and family life
• 55:48 - His vision for the future of IntellaTriage and personal legacy

Connect with Daniel and IntellaTriage:

• Daniel's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dreesemba
• Daniel's email: [email protected]
• IntellaTriage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intellatriage/
• IntellaTriage website: https://intellatriage.com/

Special thank you to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor: Trella Health
• Premier Sponsor: Homecare Homebase
• Maxwell TEC
• StenoHealth
• IntellaTriage

Check out Last Visit First on other platforms:

• Apple Podcasts⁠
• ⁠Spotify⁠
• ⁠YouTube⁠
• ⁠Website⁠
• ⁠LinkedIn

About Last Visit First:

• In home health and hospice, the start of care usually begins with the final visit in mind—because every decision becomes a memory.'Last Visit First' challenges the industry to prioritize quality, connection, outcomes, and dignity right from the start.

• Hosted by industry veteran Tom Maxwell, we sit down with the CEOs, innovators, and clinical leaders shaping the future of Care at Home. We bring you the conversations that drive change, from leadership strategies to the innovations redefining patient care.

Join the Conversation:

• If you enjoyed this episode, please Subscribe and leave a comment below. It helps us bring more incredible guests to the show.

Is leadership in home health a calling or just a job? In this episode of Last Visit First, Tom Maxwell sits down with Dr. Heather Hodges, organizational psychologist and CEO of Hodges Group International, to discuss the "Heart Work" required to lead frontline teams in the care at home industry.

Dr. Heather Hodges shares her journey from a creative professional to a leadership strategist within the home care industry. She introduces her groundbreaking framework, The 12 Types of Creative Genius, and explains why innovation isn't just for scientists—it’s the engine that allows clinicians to solve complex problems at the bedside.

Key Takeaways:

• The 11-Second Rule: Why listening just a few seconds longer leads to better patient outcomes.
• The Hero’s Journey of Leadership: Moving from a "weak" hero to a "strong" guide (the Yoda vs. Luke Skywalker analogy).
• Culture as Retention: Why people don't leave organizations; they leave supervisors—and how to build a culture people won't want to leave.
• Creative Genius: Identifying whether your leadership style is driven by the Head (Cognitive), Heart (Relational), or Hands (Functional).

Chapters:

• 00:00 – Meet Dr. Heather Hodges: Leadership Strategist
• 02:03 – The Career Shift: From Creative to Home Health Executive
• 05:47 – Personality Science: Using the Enneagram to Lead Diverse Teams
• 08:38 – The 12 Types of Creative Genius (Head, Heart, and Hands)
• 14:52 – Cultivating Culture: Tapping into Frontline Innovation
• 20:08 – Heart Work: Bridging the Gap Between Nursing and Management
• 28:05 – Communication Secrets: The 11-Second Rule for Clinicians
• 32:36 – The Future of Care: Balancing AI Tech with Human Empathy
• 45:57 – Self-Reflection & The Hero’s Journey of Leadership
• 50:31 – How to Connect with Dr. Hodges & Final Thoughts

Connect with Dr. Heather Hodges:

• Website
• Book: Heart Work
• Book: The Creative Clinical Leader
• Audio Book: Heart Work
• Podcast: I’m In!

Special thank you to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor: Trella Health
• Premier Sponsor: Homecare Homebase
• Maxwell TEC
• StenoHealth
• IntellaTriage

Check out Last Visit First on other platforms:

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Website
• LinkedIn

About Last Visit First:

In home health and hospice, the start of care usually begins with the final visit in mind—because every decision becomes a memory.

'Last Visit First' challenges the industry to prioritize quality, connection, outcomes, and dignity right from the start. Hosted by industry veteran Tom Maxwell, we sit down with the CEOs, innovators, and clinical leaders shaping the future of Care at Home. We bring you the conversations that drive change, from leadership strategies to the innovations redefining patient care.

Join the Conversation: If you enjoyed this episode, please Subscribe and leave a comment below. It helps us bring more incredible guests to the show.

We’re closing out our "Live From HC100" series with a true industry veteran, Kurt Baumgartel, CEO of CareRing Health.

Having run divisions for some of the biggest names in the space, Kurt is now focusing on perfecting the "care coordination" model for dual-eligibles in the Mid-Atlantic. In this briefing, he and Tom dive deep into the technology that has everyone at HC100 buzzing: Ambient AI. Kurt discusses his success using ambient listening in the clinic and how this "game-changer" is poised to transform the home health start of care visit. We also explore CareRing Health’s sophisticated use of Snowflake and Health Cloud to drive cross-service admissions and better patient outcomes.

Chapters:

• 01:05 – Ambient AI in the Clinic: How "ambient listening" is already saving clinicians from hours of documentation.
• 02:30 – Solving the Start of Care: Why reducing the documentation burden will make nurses want to do admissions again.
• 03:50 – CareRing Health’s Model: Managing 5,000 lives across the Mid-Atlantic with a focus on personal care.
• 04:20 – The Data Stack: Leveraging Snowflake and Salesforce Health Cloud for intelligent care coordination.
• 05:00 – Proving the Value: Using a Philadelphia-based pilot to show payers the cost savings for dual-eligibles.

Connect with CareRing Health and Kurt:

• Website: https://careringhealth.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carering-health/
• Kurt's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-baumgartel

Special thanks to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor: Trella Health
• Premier Sponsor: Homecare Homebase
• Premier Sponsor: Maxwell TEC
• Premier Sponsor: Lincoln Healthcare Leadership

#HomeHealth #Hospice #PersonalCare #AmbientAI #HealthcareAI #DualEligibles #HC100 #CareRingHealth #LastVisitFirst #Podcast #TomMaxwell HomeCare100

Live from the Woodpecker Room for Day 2 of the Last Visit First podcast at Home Care 100, Tom Maxwell welcomes a true post-acute tech pioneer: Joe Randesi, CEO and Co-Founder of Element5.

Joe explains why the world is moving beyond simple SaaS toward Agentic AI—digital workers that autonomously navigate EHRs, verify eligibility, and manage authorizations. He breaks down the "swivel chair" problem and how Element5’s vertical-specific agents are designed to eliminate the "paper cuts" of back-office operations. Joe also shares his perspective on why the industry is finally "leveling up" through collective innovation.

Chapters:

• 01:10 – The DeVero Journey: How co-founding an EHR led to the automation revolution.
• 01:45 – What is an "Agent"? Defining the digital worker that automates the financial journey.
• 02:45 – No Smoke Breaks, No COVID: Why agents are an OpEx solution for back-office bottlenecks.
• 03:30 – Building Blocks: How Element5’s vertical platform allows for rapid, at-scale innovation.
• 05:10 – "Fail Fast": Joe’s advice for agencies looking to adopt disruptive technology.
• 05:50 – The Value of Face-to-Face: Why Home Care 100 remains the preeminent "deal-making" venue.

Connect with Element5 and Joe:

• Website: https://www.E5.ai
• LinkedIn: https://www.https://www.linkedin.com/company/e5ai/
• Joe's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joerandesi

Special thanks to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Trella Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homecare Homebase⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maxwell TEC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lincoln Healthcare Leadership⁠

#HomeHealth #Hospice #Element5 #HC100 #AgenticAI #WorkflowAutomation #PostAcuteCare #RCM #LastVisitFirst #JoeRandesi

Live from Day 2 of the Last Visit First podcast at the 2026 Home Care 100 Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Charles McDonough, President and CEO of Delaware Hospice, joins the podcast to discuss the evolving definition of "community care."

As the leader of the nation's first hospice in the first state, Charles isn't just leaning on legacy—he’s leaning into disruption. In this briefing, he explores how Delaware Hospice is leveraging the GUIDE model to redefine dementia care and why "upskilling" internally is the only sustainable answer to the national nursing crisis. Charles and Tom also dive into a provocative discussion on state licensure laws: are they protecting quality, or are they artificially suppressing the workforce?

Chapters:

• 02:15 – The Dementia Mandate: Why specialized cognitive care is the next industry frontier.
• 04:45 – Scaling Through Partnership: Expanding into Pennsylvania and Maryland via non-profit collaboration.
• 06:30 – The Licensure Bottleneck: Is it time for a universal clinical license?
• 08:50 – Virtual-First Care: Connecting rural patients to elite clinical resources.

Connect with Charles and Delaware Hospice:

• Website: https://www.DelawareHospice.org
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/delaware-hospice-inc../
• Charles's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesmcdonough

Special thanks to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Trella Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homecare Homebase⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maxwell TEC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lincoln Healthcare Leadership⁠

#Hospice #DelawareHospice #HC100 #NonProfitHospice #DementiaCare #GUIDEModel #NursingShortage #HealthcareInnovation #LastVisitFirst #Podcast #HealthcarePodcast

Live from Day 2 of Home Care 100 in Scottsdale, Tom Maxwell sits down with Kathy Ford, Chief Product Officer at Trella Health.

As a premier sponsor of Last Visit First, Trella Health is at the forefront of the "data revolution." In this interview, Kathy discusses Trella’s evolution from a Medicare-dominant platform to a comprehensive data suite covering Commercial and Medicare Advantage markets. She breaks down the recent acquisition of Repisodic, explaining how integrating discharge workflows into Epic and Cerner is solving the "length of stay" puzzle for health systems. Kathy also shares her "plea to fellow vendors" on why data must be democratized for the sake of the patient.

Chapters:

• 01:10 – Beyond Medicare: Trella’s expansion into Commercial and Medicare Advantage data sets.
• 02:30 – Solving the Discharge Gap: How the Repisodic acquisition embeds Trella into acute care workflows.
• 03:50 – Signal in the Noise: Contextualizing thousands of data sources into meaningful executive insights.
• 05:20 – The 30-EHR Integration: Leveraging data across the entire post-acute landscape.
• 06:40 – A Call to Action: Why data democratization is better for patients and providers alike.

Connect with Trella Health and Kathy:

• Website: https://www.trellahealth.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trellahealth/
• Kathy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathy-dalton-ford-7657367

Special thanks to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Trella Health⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homecare Homebase⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Maxwell TEC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lincoln Healthcare Leadership⁠

#HomeHealth #Hospice #TrellaHealth #HC100 #DataAnalytics #HealthcareIT #Interoperability #LastVisitFirst #PostAcuteCare

Live from the Woodpecker Room at HC100, Tom Maxwell welcomes Jason Gerard, CFO of Agape Care Group.

Jason shares the remarkable growth story of Agape Care, which expanded from a single-state provider in South Carolina to serving over 6,500 patients across 10 states in just a few years. He breaks down the strategic decision to remain "hospice-only," the importance of their pediatric program ("Hands of Hope"), and the unique integration playbook that ensures one plus one actually equals two in an acquisition. Plus, a shoutout to integration star Carrie Vanden Magdenberg and her journey from Maxwell TEC consultant to Agape Care leader.

Chapters:

• 01:10 – The Growth Engine: Scaling from 700 to 6,500+ patients since 2018.
• 01:55 – Partnership with Linden: Why Agape Care Group recapped with Linden Capital Partners.
• 02:25 – Tight Geography: Why staying close to the "flagpole" in the Southeast is a strategic win.
• 03:00 – Hands of Hope: Serving the unique needs of nearly 200 pediatric hospice patients.
• 04:35 – The Niche Advantage: Why Agape chose to double down on hospice rather than diversify into home health.
• 05:40 – The Integration Secret: How a customized integration plan keeps employees engaged and assets protected.

Connect with Agape Care Group and Jason:

• Website: https://agapecaregroup.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agapecaregroup/
• Jason's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-gerard-tx

Special thanks to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Trella Health⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Homecare Homebase⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Maxwell TEC⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Lincoln Healthcare Leadership⁠

#Hospice #AgapeCare #HC100 #HomeCare100 #HealthcareM&A #HealthcareCFO #LastVisitFirst #PediatricHospice #HandsOfHope #HospiceGrowth

Live from Home Care 100 in Scottsdale, Tom Maxwell sits down with Scott Levy, the Chief Government Affairs Officer for the National Alliance for Home Care at Home.In this interview, Scott pulls back the curtain on the Alliance’s unified advocacy mission following the historic NACH and NHPCO merger.

He discusses the reality of "divided government" following the 2026 elections, the implementation of HOPE, and the industry’s proactive stance against fraud, waste, and abuse. Scott also shares a personal perspective on "continuity of care" and why educating new members of Congress on the difference between home health and hospice is the industry’s biggest hurdle.

Chapters:

• 01:15 – One Voice: How the Alliance merger is strengthening the industry’s messaging.
• 02:40 – The Patient’s Lens: Why "familiar faces" are the most important metric for family caregivers.
• 05:40 – D.C. Calendar: Key dates for the Financial & Tech Conference and the Washington Fly-In.
• 06:20 – Fraud & Abuse: Working with CMS to stop "bad actors" before they enter the program.
• 09:30 – Dr. Oz & CMS: Why the administration is reaching out to the Alliance for provider insights.
• 11:45 – Election Forecast: What a shifting House and Senate means for reimbursement in 2027.

Connect with The Alliance and Scott:

• Website: https://allianceforcareathome.org/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thealliancehome/posts/
• Scott's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-levy-09a8829b

Special thanks to our sponsors:

• Premier Sponsor:⁠⁠⁠ Trella Health⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠Homecare Homebase⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠Maxwell TEC⁠⁠⁠
• Premier Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠Lincoln Healthcare Leadership⁠

#HomeHealth #Hospice #TheAlliance #HC100 #HealthcarePolicy #WashingtonDC #Lobbying #LastVisitFirst #Medicare