Recently, the Young Health Professionals Society (YHPS) spoke with George Purcell (GP) to discuss his professional experiences and work at the ASAP Services Corporation (website).

YHPS: What does your current job entail?

GP: As an Administrator, I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of my home health agency, which provides nursing and therapy care for the elderly in Washington, DC.

YHPS: Where do you see your field progressing in the next five years?

GP: I believe that, for a very long time, home health care was seen as a service that only impoverished individuals received. In the past, nursing homes were the places where many geriatric individuals went to continue their lives. Now, as adults are living longer, staying more active, and can be more self-sufficient, it seems that they would prefer to stay in their own homes while receiving personal care services.
In the next five years, I believe that you will see many more agencies develop and overall services expand as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law in March of this year. The reforms included in the bill encourage hospitals to provide treatment and further minimize costs because insurance companies are being required to cover the cost for many more people.
Ultimately, I believe that we will witness a shift in the health care provider market that will demonstrate the growing needs and demand for home health care services. In many respects, the home health industry is the future, concerning the growing long-term care needs of many individuals throughout the country.

YHPS: What are the biggest challenges facing your organization right now?

GP: The biggest challenge is staying up to date with the technology advancements that are coming down the road. Health care and technology are now required to go hand-in-hand if a corporation wants to stay relevant.

YHPS: What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

GP: Maintaining the balance of quality care and profitability. Home care requires more hands-on, long-term care than other medical settings. Additionally, getting qualified and dedicated nurses to work in a nontraditional setting is very difficult. Typically, nurses and therapists want to work in a hospital, and we spend valuable time and resources trying to convince them to consider home care as a possible career track. We wish to attract the best and the brightest, and we’ve got to stay agile and committed to this cause in order to compete with hospitals.

YHPS: Do you have any other work experience in the health field?

GP: I don’t. I was a real estate developer and kind of fell into the health care field. My father started this company in 1981 and it has always been a business that has helped people. In 2006, we repositioned the business in an effort to enter into the home health field and we have been operating in this realm ever since.

YHPS: What is your educational background?

GP: I am a native Washingtonian. I attended the Landon School for Boys and graduated in 2001. After completing high school, I attended Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA, where I received a bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications and a minor in General Business.

YHPS: What are your long-term professional interests?

GP: My long term professional interest is to see health care become more affordable for all. I believe that it is my duty as a health care professional to assist those who need help in acquiring affordable, quality care – especially those in the District of Columbia.

YHPS: What three tips would you give young professionals just starting out in the health field?

GP: 1) Stay focused on providing quality care. 2) Know the facts. 3) Read commentary that can provide different points of view.

YHPS: What are your other interests and hobbies?

GP: I play basketball a few times a week and I also like to travel.

To contact Gerorge Purcell, use our contact form.