2015 Business Class Honoree: Phoenix Home Care Inc.

Phoenix Home Care Inc. will not face a shortage of clients for some time.

“We have 10,000 baby boomers a day turning 65, so when you think about that there is going to be such an avalanche of people needing care,” says Phil Melugin, Phoenix co-owner and president.

Founded in 2011, Phoenix provides an array of in-home health services, from private duty nursing to specialized care for elderly, acutely ill or special-needs patients. Phoenix can help people postpone or eliminate the need to move to a skilled or assisted-living facility, as well as provide certain therapies at home.

“We are part of the overall solution to get you off to a great start, and we help you stay out of the hospital or the ER or (not) return to the doctor earlier than you have to,” Melugin says.

A finalist and two-time winner of Springfield Business Journal’s Economic Impact Award and the No. 1 company in this year’s Dynamic Dozen, Phoenix employs more than 2,000 people in Missouri, Kansas and Colorado.

Its revenue grew nearly 40 percent last year, and Phoenix provides more than 1.8 million annual hours and visits of care – everything from setting up medication and taking blood pressure to overnight shift work.

Because it takes a lot of people to provide the kind of care Phoenix offers, Melugin says a committed and consistent focus on company culture is critical.

Phoenix views everyone from the caregiver to the therapist to the patient as customers.

“We understand as a management team we need to connect at a highly rewarding emotional level with our staff that is going into the home,” Melugin says.

Motivated, valued and happy employees who feel fulfilled are more apt to provide exceptional care and also recruit people to work at Phoenix who have a similar outlook and approach to work, which often results in a decrease of low morale and negativity, Melugin says.

To that end, Phoenix spent much of last year developing Taking Flight, a program that teaches the company’s principles of customer service for patient care as well as office work. Although culture and core values have always been important at Phoenix, Taking Flight formalizes the company’s approach to success and is rolling out throughout 2015, Melugin says.

“We understand culture of a workplace will direct the goals and achievements,” says Machelle Farmer, Phoenix’s public relations manager. “It is a high priority that employees and clients benefit from a caring and consistent environment. Our leadership and field staff participate in our culture classes of Taking Flight, which workshops our mission, values and principles for a successful journey with empowerment.”

Service is one way Phoenix competes in a field that consistently faces reimbursement restrictions.

“The biggest challenge is knowing what the rules are on our ability to get reimbursed tomorrow or six months from now,” Melugin says.

Despite the ongoing upheaval in health care, he sees opportunity for companies that seek diversification while continuing to deliver at a high level. For Phoenix, that means more growth: Future plans include expanding services in Colorado and entering the Illinois market.[[In-content Ad]]