Written by 
Today, July 1, 2024, marks my 40th year work anniversary with Interim HealthCare. It has been a wonderful ride over these 40 years with a lot of successes, a few failures and many common themes along the way! I was brought on board in 1984 to start a Management Company for this Organization that had lofty plans. The Management Company was TSO Management which stood for The Salo Organization. In 1971, the Salos were one of the first 5 Franchise owners who took a risk on a start-up Organization called Medical Personnel Pool. In 1992 Medical Personnel Pool became Interim HealthCare. Eino and Nina Salo were the Founders and Harry Salo was the General Manager. Mr. & Mrs. Salo took out a second mortgage on their home to finance four locations, Columbus, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and Pittsburgh. Talk about taking a risk!
The Management Company was located in Media, PA which is where Harry resided. The Management Company moved to Columbus in 1993. When I came on board TSO just signed a lease and literally was starting from scratch. At that time the 4 operations generated about $10 million in revenues. The Strategic Plan for the Organization was to grow from $10 million to $40 million in revenues in 10 years. No problem! The Plan was implemented but after 10 Years revenues ONLY increased to $28 million! I’m still trying to answer the question of whether we were successful in achieving the 10-year Plan goal. The implementation of the 10 Year Plan led to the amazing development of our organization in my 40 years.
- We grew from 4 locations to 70 locations.
- We expanded to outlying areas where we were the only national independent provider in these territories.
- We expanded our service reach from 2 states to 5 states.
- We opened a temporary help business in Akron. We failed miserably!
- We successfully built a Specialty Compounding Pharmacy.
- We started our own IT Company because no IT Company could provide the Platform for all our lines of business.
- We started Hospice and are now providing Hospice care in 9 locations.
- At our peak we provided over 100,000 hours of service weekly.
- I estimate that over the course of our history we have provided 100,000,000 hours of care to over 125,000 patients and clients.
- I estimate that we have employed 100,000 caregivers.
- We are the largest Interim HealthCare operation. We have been for over 20 years.
- We have survived many roadblocks to our success over the years. Changes in reimbursement not keeping up with increased costs, changes in government regulations, the Medicare Choice Demonstration project which increased administration burden on Providers like us, and, of course, Covid and the Great Resignation
I sometimes am amazed that we have survived and ask how that is possible. So many of our competitors both large and small are no longer in existence. I think there a few reasons for our survival:
1. Our Core Values – Integrity, Compassion, Customer-focused, Innovation and Fiscally Responsible.
2. Our quality care – there are certainly many ways to measure quality care. Home Care Compare, HHCAHPS scores, SHP scores etc. I have measured our quality over the years by the number of concerned calls that I have NOT received. I mentioned that we have cared for over 125,000 patients over the years. I can say that the number of calls received is less than 100.
3. Our Leadership – our Leadership team has done a phenomenal job in reorganizing our Organization to meet the challenges of today’s health care environment. Under the direction of Chris Oswald, we can successfully operate in the post Covid world and provide the quality care for which our organization is known.
4. And our PEOPLE – our Caregivers and Support Staff are second to none. Always have been. I have so much respect for all of you, in what you do, and how you provide the quality care to those we serve.
Because of our business success, we have been able to give back to Organizations in our communities. My favorite organization is A Kid Again which gives medically fragile kids Hope, Happiness and Healing by providing fun adventures which allows these kids to be A Kid Again! Through our Charitable Giving Program, you have had the opportunity to support other great causes.
What started out 40 years ago as a job, became a passion. There is nothing better than providing care to those that we serve. THANK YOU to all who are a part of our wonderful Organization. This has been the most rewarding time in my career!!!