Caring – the essential element of a rewarding career journey A conversation with Brecken Anderson, senior vice president (SVP) of home health operations
In her role at LHC Group, Brecken Anderson oversees the administration of 100 home health agencies and more than 3,000 employees. Her career journey at LHC Group has been remarkable – starting when she accepted a position as a home health nurse in 2008. We spoke with Brecken to learn more about her journey, what makes home health so special, and what advice she has for those considering a career in this profession.
Why did you first join LHC Group in 2008?
“I was a travel nurse with several years of experience and I was looking for an opportunity that offered me flexibility. At that time, I needed a career that enabled me to be closer to my family long-term and home health offered me a schedule that supported our needs. I didn’t have prior home health experience, but after two days in my role, I was hooked!”
Now that you serve as SVP of home health at LHC Group, tell us more about your journey to your current role.
“I have been truly fortunate. LHC Group invests in its people, and that’s how I was able to grow my career here. Our company actively hires and promotes from within, allowing people to grow their skillset and experience. My story is a great example – I started out as a home health nurse in the “field,” then advanced to a variety of roles, including patient care manager, clinician director, Ops support director, regional vice president, and others. I’ve been fortunate to have so many opportunities to actively pursue the next step in my career, thanks to the support of my LHC Group mentors and the education opportunities the company provided along the way.”
What guidance would you give someone considering a career in home health?
“To succeed and find meaning in a home health career, a commitment to delivering quality care must be the driving force behind all you do. We are a small but incredibly important sector of the healthcare industry, and your experience will most likely be different than any you’ve ever had. I always recommend reaching out to one of our agencies to request a ride-along or to shadow someone in the field for the day. This is a great way to see if a career in home health is a good fit for you. We are always willing to connect with someone considering a career with us.
“I’m also a big advocate of clearly and frequently communicating your career goals with your leaders. I always say that you must be an advocate for yourself – express what you want and ask what it will take to achieve it. LHC Group offers multiple growth opportunities and continuing education resources to help you achieve your career goals.”
If you could use one word to describe your career journey thus far, what would it be?
“Rewarding. Not only do you get to care for the patient, but you get to develop meaningful relationships with them, their families, our care teams, and operational partners. Home health is truly the most rewarding career path I could have taken, and I am so proud to be here.”
In learning more about Brecken’s journey, it was clear that she is genuinely passionate about LHC Group’s mission – helping people. And she was quick to point out that this isn’t limited to patients.
“Careers at LHC Group are all-encompassing,” she said. “From the many different partners and teams you get to work with, to the resources and benefits we offer, we always come together to support our people.”
Thanks to Brecken for taking some time from her schedule to tell us more about her remarkable career journey. Going forward, we’ll be sharing more stories from a diverse group of people serving in a wide range of roles here at LHC Group. Watch our blog for more on careers with LHC Group.
LHC Group is committed to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally other protected characteristic.
JOB SCAM ALERT©2024 LHC Group Inc. All rights reserved.
SCAM Alert
As we continue to evolve through the digital age, consumers need to be aware of online scams that use false employment opportunities. These opportunities can service in a multitude of ways from a fraudulent job posting to scammers reaching out to you about a potential work-from-home job. LHC Group cares about the communities we serve and we want to ensure you are prepared for these criminal acts.
Here are a few key steps to help identify the authenticity of the job you are interested in:
1. Be skeptical of personal e-mail addresses. Any legitimate recruiter, HR person, or hiring manager will contact you from a corporate e-mail and never Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, Yahoo, or other free personal e-mail addresses.
2. Never pay to get a job. Legitimate employers will never ask you to send money to acquire a job.
3. Never accept money before working. Never agree to have money deposited into any of your accounts during the job search process.
4. Video interviews – Ensure the company representative is live in the interview. Legitimate recruiters, HR and hiring managers will always show their live self during a video interview.
5. Work from Home – Be cautious of any work from home job opportunity. Especially if you have been contacted by a person with a personal e-mail address, offers to conduct interviews without displaying their live image, and wants to send you money before you work.
6. Verify the job – Legitimate employers will post the position on their career site. Verify that job is on the career site and apply directly through the company’s official site. If you don’t find the job OR a similar job, chances are it is a scam.
If you have been victimized by a scam job offer, please use the resources below for additional help and to report the incident:
- Your state’s Attorney General’s Office
- Your local police department
- Internet Crime Complaint center at iC3.gov
- Department of Justice at www.stopfraud.gov
- Better Business Bureau at bbb.org