In this insightful episode of Your Business, Your Next Level, host Eunicia Peret sits down with Kim Ellis, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Kim shares how she launched her first home care business after a dramatic split with a former employer and built it into a thriving enterprise with over 700 employees. With deep expertise in Medicaid-based care, employee culture, and system innovation, Kim discusses how she’s helped transform the home healthcare landscape—while staying grounded in what matters most: people, service, and adaptability. This episode is packed with tactical insight for business owners in healthcare and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

Start with What You Know: Kim’s first business move was simply connecting with the clients and employees she already knew, then building from there.

Focus on Culture: Creating a supportive environment for employees—through competitive pay, flexible scheduling, and creative incentives—has been essential to long-term success.

Be Operationally Proactive: Building a custom software system to streamline compliance and reporting helped Kim’s companies stay ahead of regulatory changes and audits.

Prepare Clients and Families: Many people don’t realize in-home care is an option. Agencies must educate the public while ensuring staff are thoroughly vetted and trained.

Let Go of Control: One of Kim’s biggest lessons is realizing you can’t change others—only how you show up, respond, and lead.

Timeline Summary:

[00:01:00 ] Kim’s background and how she launched her first company out of frustration and necessity.

[00:04:00 ] The early home care market and how Medicaid became a sustainable path.

[00:06:00 ] Misconceptions about in-home care and why many families don’t know it’s an option.

[00:08:00 ] How to evaluate home care agencies—and the difference between licensed and unlicensed providers.

[00:10:00 ] Types of care available in the home, from basic assistance to skilled nursing.

[00:11:00 ] How Kim built a culture that supports single moms, encourages loyalty, and promotes long-term retention.

[00:13:00 ] Navigating low reimbursements and staffing shortages by embracing systems and scale.

[00:14:00 ] Future trends: AI, telehealth, and innovation in patient care delivery.

[00:16:00 ] Staying ahead of regulations by monitoring changes and improving quality proactively.

[00:17:00 ] Kim’s personal and professional lessons on letting go, taking ownership, and growing from failure.

[00:19:00 ] Final advice: Pause, breathe, and deal with problems calmly to gain clarity and avoid costly reactions.

Links & Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-ellis-ans/