Kimberly Greenberg, Director of Rehabilitation and HHA at Innovive Health, 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.
Greenberg 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?
Greenberg: I was drawn to the home health industry because it allows therapists to treat patients in their natural environments. In a hospital setting, therapists try to simulate what the patient’s home environment looks like to ensure they are preparing the patient to return home safely. However, in the home environment you truly understand the patient’s day-to-day routines and how their physical environment affects them. Being in the home allows therapists to make a concrete difference in patients’ lives by addressing their occupations in the natural environments in which they occur.
HHCN: How would you describe your leadership style, and how has it changed over time?
Greenberg: I learn something new from the therapists that I manage each day.
Every therapist has their unique style and brings their own background/training to home health. From this, I have developed an empowering leadership style. I ask my therapists what they need from me to support their work, rather than simply telling them what to do or how to approach problems. This collaborative dynamic fosters a sense of trust and creates a culture where therapists feel comfortable speaking with me regarding issues, big and small. It also helps the therapists feel confident in their work and in their decision making.
HHCN: What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned while serving the home health & home care industry?
Greenberg: The biggest leadership lesson I’ve learned while serving the home health industry is the importance of community partners.
The complex behavioral health patients we serve at Innovive Health have often fallen through the cracks of traditional healthcare systems due to barriers related to their mental and physical health. These challenges are compounded when patients are struggling to pay their rent or electric bills each month. Social determinants of health, such as economic instability, unsafe environments, and food insecurity, affect the health and quality of life for our patients.
We cannot solve all of these challenges as a home health agency. However, by partnering with state agencies and community partners, we can ensure that we address these factors to improve our patients’ lives and quality of life. Collaboration with other leaders is key in this setting.
HHCN: In one word, how would you describe the home health & home care industry and why?
Greenberg: I would describe the home health and home care industry as the “future.”
The average length of stay in hospitals has steadily declined over the past decade, with patients returning home with significant healthcare support needs. In addition, patients naturally want to age in place rather than move to an institutional setting. Home health can fill these gaps by helping patients recover from recent illness/injury as well as remain in their homes as they age. Based on this, I believe that home health will continue to grow as a major sector for healthcare services.
HHCN: What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges currently facing the home health & home care industry?
Greenberg: In my opinion, the biggest opportunities in home health involve value-based care for patients with complex healthcare needs. At Innovive Health, we are expanding across states to provide healthcare services for behavioral health patients through partnerships with various insurance entities. We have demonstrated that by integrating nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy services, we can significantly reduce hospitalization rates. For therapy, this often involves creating a fall prevention plan and helping patients engage in healthy daily routines. Demonstrating the value of these services and their potential for cost-savings is essential as healthcare expenses continue to rise.
One of the biggest challenges in home health is the workforce shortage, which impacts the ability to expand and offer this valuable care. At Innovive Health, we are working to expand our therapy department as we recognize the value of occupational therapy and physical therapy for our patients. However, the demand for clinicians continues to grow across all healthcare sectors. The workforce shortage can be addressed by offering a work setting with significant clinician autonomy, collaborative support, realistic caseload expectations, and competitive salaries, all of which are offered at Innovive Health.
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?
Greenberg: I believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will have the most impact in the home health and home care industry over the next 5-10 years. It is already being used across many healthcare systems for electronic medical record review and generating medical records/notes.
In the future, I envision how AI could ensure patients are completing their home exercise programs, engaging in hygiene routines, and following fall risk precautions outside of therapy visits through remote monitoring.
A challenge that occupational therapists and physical therapists face is helping patients engage in their plans of care and follow safety precautions outside of their skilled sessions and after discharge. AI may bridge this gap and improve the safety and quality of life of home health patients long-term.
HHCN: In your opinion, what qualities must all Future Leaders possess?
Greenberg: Future Leaders must have a curiosity and hunger for continued learning. Home health care is never stagnant; it is always changing based on patient needs and the stakeholders involved. That curiosity fuels me every day working at Innovive Health.
Each day brings new challenges and new successes. I am passionate about diving into these learning experiences to support patients’ rights to live and thrive in their homes and communities.