Irisi Dalzon, COO at AZBilling, has been named to the Future Leaders Class of 2026 by Home Health Care News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years of age or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for seniors, and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

Dalzon sat down with Home Health Care News to share what drew her to the home health & home care industry, the biggest leadership lessons she has learned, her thoughts on the future of home health & home care, and much more. To learn more about the Future Leaders Awards program, visit https://futureleaders.wtwhmedia.com/.

HHCN: What drew you to the home health & home care industry?

Dalzon: My journey in the home health and home care industry initially started with helping my family, who owned a home care agency in New York. At first, I was simply trying to support them and better understand the operational side of the business. But as I became more involved, I realized how much I enjoyed helping providers solve problems, improve processes, and navigate the many challenges that come with running a home care agency.

I quickly saw that home care is not just about billing, operations, or compliance. It is about protecting access to care for patients, supporting caregivers, and helping agencies remain financially strong so they can continue serving their communities.

Over time, that experience grew into a passion. I became especially drawn to the complexity of the industry, including reimbursement, payer relations, compliance, revenue cycle management, and advocacy. What started as helping my family became a career dedicated to helping home care providers succeed.

HHCN: How would you describe your leadership style, and how has it changed over time?

Dalzon: I would describe my leadership style as direct, hands-on, and supportive. I believe in accountability, clear communication, and leading by example.

When I first started in leadership, I was very young and still learning how to manage people. I was more direct and sometimes tougher than I needed to be because I was focused on getting things done correctly and quickly. Over time, I realized that leadership is not only about holding people accountable. It is also about giving them the support, training, tools, and confidence they need to succeed.

My leadership style has evolved from simply managing the work to developing people and building stronger teams. I have learned that when staff understand the purpose behind the work, feel supported, and know that their leader is willing to guide them, they perform better and take more ownership.

Today, I still believe in high standards, but I also believe that strong leaders must listen, coach, and create an environment where people can grow. In home care, where the work is complex and constantly changing, that balance is very important.

HHCN: What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned while serving the home health & home care industry?

Dalzon: The biggest leadership lesson I have learned is that you have to understand the people, the process, and the purpose behind the work.

In home health and home care, every decision affects more than just operations. It affects patients, caregivers, families, providers, and the financial stability of the agency. I have learned that strong leadership requires looking at the full picture, not just one issue at a time.

This industry is complex, and problems are not always simple. A billing issue may be connected to authorization, eligibility, documentation, compliance, staffing, or payer requirements. As a leader, I have learned the importance of asking the right questions, identifying the root cause, and creating solutions that prevent the same issue from happening again.

I have also learned that leadership requires patience and communication. Teams need clear expectations, but they also need support and guidance. The best results come when people understand why the work matters and how their role contributes to the larger mission of helping agencies continue caring for their communities.

HHCN: In one word, how would you describe the home health & home care industry and why?

Dalzon: Resilient.

The home health and home care industry is resilient because it continues to move forward despite constant challenges, including workforce shortages, reimbursement pressures, regulatory changes, payer delays, and operational complexity.

HHCN: What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges currently facing the home health & home care industry?

Dalzon: The biggest opportunity is the growing recognition that care at home is essential to the future of health care. More patients want to remain at home, and the health care system needs better, more cost-effective care models.

Technology, automation, and data also create a major opportunity to improve operations, compliance, and revenue cycle performance.

The biggest challenges are workforce shortages, reimbursement pressure, payer delays, denials, and increasing compliance requirements. Agencies must balance compassionate care with strong operations and financial discipline in order to remain sustainable

HHCN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will impact the home health & home care industry over the next 5-10 years?

Dalzon: Over the next 5 to 10 years, I believe technology, AI, reimbursement changes, workforce shortages, and increased compliance oversight will have the biggest impact on the industry.

Agencies will need to become more data-driven, efficient, and proactive in how they manage care, billing, documentation, and payer requirements.

At the same time, the human side of home care will remain the most important part. Technology can support the industry, but compassionate caregivers and strong providers will continue to be at the center of care.

HHCN: In your opinion, what qualities must all Future Leaders possess?

Dalzon: Future Leaders must be adaptable, accountable, compassionate, and willing to keep learning.

This industry changes constantly, so leaders need to be open to new ideas, technology, and better ways of doing things. They also need the courage to make difficult decisions, advocate for their teams and clients, and stay focused on the people who depend on home care every day.