Tom sits down with Tracy Dent, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations at AccentCare and the first nurse to join Last Visit First. Tracy’s story runs from LVN in rural Texas to leading national teams. She opens up about the patient who “gave her the bug,” what rate cuts really mean for access in rural America, why leaders retain people better than bosses, and how AI, telehealth, and practical quality work can free clinicians to spend more time with patients. You will hear a clear case for home as the lowest-cost, highest-outcome setting and what it takes to get there.
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Chapters:
00:48 – Welcome and intro
01:30 – How Tom and Tracy first met
02:48 – Tracy’s start in nursing and home health
06:05 – Joining AccentCare
08:45 – Rate cuts and rural impact
12:21 – The patient who inspired her
16:07 – WWII veteran story and book mention
18:36 – Building strong teams and leaders
22:29 – AI and the clinician’s role
25:38 – Telehealth and access to care
28:03 – Driving quality at the bedside
31:29 – Rural length-of-stay challenges
32:38 – The future of care at home
35:02 – Transitions and hospice coordination
38:28 – ESRD and hospice eligibility
39:57 – Behavioral health and homebound rules
43:28 – Waivers, policy, and workforce outlook
46:58 – Tracy’s legacy
49:27 – Staying connected to the field
50:00 – Closing
50:54 – Sponsor Ad Reads
