“My motivation is rooted in a desire to enhance patient care on a larger scale, ensuring that healthcare systems are efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered,” affirms Dr. Andrea.
Her journey from a physical therapist to a healthcare innovator epitomizes the transformative power of vision and determination in the medical field. As the Co-Founder and President of Neon City Unity Foundation and Founder of Barrett Health Care Consulting, she has leveraged her 13 years of experience in contract therapy staffing to address systemic issues plaguing the healthcare industry.
Andrea’s career began with a focus on individual patient care, helping people regain mobility and independence. However, her keen insight into the broader challenges within the healthcare system sparked a pivotal shift in her professional trajectory. Recognizing the potential for wider impact, she transitioned from clinical practice to healthcare consulting and advocacy.
This bold move has positioned her at the forefront of healthcare reform. Her unique blend of hands-on clinical experience and strategic thinking enables her to bridge the gap between patient needs and system capabilities. Through her consultancy work, Barrett influences policy, streamlines operations, and promotes best practices that benefit both healthcare providers and patients.
The Neon City Unity Foundation, co-founded by her, stands as an example of her zeal for community health. Meanwhile, Barrett Health Care Consulting serves as a platform for her to drive systemic improvements in healthcare delivery.
As healthcare continues to evolve, leaders like Andrea play a crucial role in directing its future. Her dedication to creating more efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered healthcare systems is not just admirable—it’s essential. In a field where change often comes slowly, Barrett’s work serves as a catalyst for progress, promising a future where quality care is accessible to all.
Let us learn more about her journey:
Bridging Healthcare and Technology for Optimal Patient Care
Barrett Health Care Consulting was founded with the initial focus of helping healthcare businesses navigate value-based purchasing. After leading a home health team for over a decade, the individual prioritized high-quality patient care, outcomes, defensible medical documentation, and patient satisfaction before these factors were tied to reimbursement. While researching and developing tools for navigating the intricacies of value-based purchasing, they became involved locally with organizations and nonprofits also dedicated to improving healthcare quality.
The rise of AI sparked individuals’ interest in software development, prompting them to explore bridging the gap between tech companies and healthcare organizations. Barrett Health Care Consulting now stands at the intersection of healthcare and technology, dedicated to enhancing patient care and operational efficiency through innovative solutions. Their mission is to empower healthcare providers with the tools and insights needed to thrive in a growing landscape, ensuring they deliver the highest quality care to their patients.
Neon City’s story is one of unity, purpose, and a shared conviction to be architects of positive change in Las Vegas. The twelve women at the helm of this initiative were brought together by a singular event: a Catalyst Mixer organized by the individual’s consulting business, aimed at igniting positive change within the local community. The passion to address the pressing issues facing the community—from substandard healthcare and educational systems to underserved seniors and veterans—coupled with the need for functional, tech-forward education to surmount access and language barriers—drew them together.
Within just 60 days of that pivotal gathering, their combined expertise spanning health, wellness, education, community outreach, aging services, and technology translated into decisive action. They pooled their minds, passions, thoughts, assets, and energies to lay the foundation for a non-profit organization designed to directly address and provide solutions for these challenges. Their mission is clear: to create a future where quality healthcare, education, and senior services are not just ideals but realities accessible to all.
From Student Debt to Entrepreneurship:
Starting her career as a DPT, Andrea’s $1800 monthly student loan payment equaled her biweekly paycheck. Realizing her full-time job couldn’t cover living expenses and loan repayment, she founded her home health therapy business.
Over the course of the course of four years, she balanced full-time work with building her business, driven by the need to eradicate her student debt. This financial challenge ignited her passion for home health care and shaped her career path. As she navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship, Andrea gained valuable insights into the healthcare industry. She witnessed firsthand the importance of prioritizing patient care, outcomes, and satisfaction. This experience laid the foundation for her future endeavors in value-based purchasing and healthcare consulting.
Empowering Seniors
During home visits to seniors, Andrea quickly identified a significant gap in quality healthcare and a lack of resources. Many seniors were falling victim to financial scams, fraud, and abuse. To address this, she took proactive steps by continually advocating for her patients. She educated seniors on navigating technology and protecting their golden years.
For instance, she implemented an educational series on digital literacy and financial safety, empowering seniors to recognize and avoid scams. By providing these essential educational resources, she significantly improved the seniors’ ability to safeguard their finances and enhanced the overall quality of care they received.
Advocating for Quality Healthcare Through Value-Based Purchasing
Providing the best care for patients was always Andrea’s priority. Transitioning from clinical care to consulting was a difficult decision after over a decade of dedicated service. However, she recognized the need to address systemic obstacles and improve the overall quality of healthcare.
Founding Barrett Health Care Consulting allowed her to focus on value-based purchasing, advocating for high-quality care, patient outcomes, and satisfaction across all healthcare organizations. Her motivation was to ensure that these values, upheld by her team, became standard practices industry-wide, ultimately benefiting more patients and enhancing the healthcare system as a whole.
Guiding Healthcare Transformation Through Change Management
Transitioning from a hands-on clinician to a strategic consultant, the individual has honed their ability to guide clients through complex changes using the R.O.A.R. Model of Change Management:
- Respect: Every interaction acknowledges and uplifts the personal and professional stories of those they meet.
- Open-mindedness: Andrea values diverse ideas, understanding that innovation springs from our shared wisdom.
- Authenticity: Authentic connections, where integrity is inherent, are at the core of their approach.
- Readiness for Change: Andrea embraces each challenge with agility, fostering growth for their clients.
The R.O.A.R. Model is not just a method but a reflection of Andrea Barrett’s deep commitment to healthcare transformation. This approach ensures that she doesn’t just adapt to change—she seizes it, shaping a narrative of continual progress and innovation. Her experience in guiding clients through complex changes has made her adept at fostering a culture of respect, open-mindedness, authenticity, and readiness for change, driving meaningful and sustainable transformation.
Championing Change
Andrea Barrett’s broader vision of change management and advocacy for vulnerable populations is deeply aligned with Gwen’s story. As a home health provider, she has witnessed firsthand the day-to-day challenges faced by seniors, including the pervasive threat of fraud and abuse. Gwen’s ordeal, which included a scammer swindling $25,000 and a deceptive insurance switch, underscored the urgent need for vigilance and advocacy.
This experience fuels Andrea’s mission to enhance protections against waste, fraud, and abuse, ensuring that seniors live their golden years with dignity and safety. Gwen’s legacy drives her to champion this cause, advocating for systemic changes that support and protect the most vulnerable.
Andrea’s Aging Gracefully initiative aims to enhance the lives of seniors via innovative technology and comprehensive support services, improving safety, quality of life, and access to caregiving, volunteer services, and necessary insurance. She also established the G.W.E.N. Multi-Use Volunteer Initiative—Giving, Wellness, Empathy, and Nurturing—in Gwen’s honor. This program provides essential services like emergency bedside companionship, caregiver support, and emergency pet sitting for those in hospitals or rehabilitation, ensuring the safety and well-being of the community’s most vulnerable members.
Gwen’s story is just one of many that highlight the challenges faced by seniors, driving Andrea’s commitment to address these issues through her initiatives. Gwen’s legacy inspires her work, and she is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of seniors.
Blending Analytics and Healthcare Expertise for Holistic Change Management
At Barrett Health Care Consulting (BHCC), Andrea blends analytics with healthcare acumen to create holistic change management action plans that drive meaningful improvements. By leveraging data analytics, she identifies key performance indicators and uncovers patterns that highlight areas for enhancement. This analytical approach, combined with her deep understanding of healthcare operations and patient care, ensures that the strategies she develops are both data-driven and patient-centered.
For example, Andrea uses data to track patient outcomes, staff performance, and resource utilization, helping her pinpoint inefficiencies and design targeted interventions. Her plans emphasize value-based care, improving patient outcomes, and maximizing operational efficiency.
She also integrates advanced tools and technologies to streamline processes and ensure that her clients are equipped to adapt to evolving healthcare landscapes. This blend of analytics and healthcare expertise allows her to create comprehensive action plans that foster sustainable change, enhance patient care, and improve overall organizational performance.
Leveraging Analytics and AI for Senior Protection
Andrea combats Waste, Fraud and Abuse (WFA) in healthcare by leveraging advanced analytics and AI-driven solutions. Currently, her software AI application is in the research and proof-of-concept phase on its road to a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Future generations of this tool will feature capabilities specifically designed to help seniors protect against financial scams.
Her approach involves identifying and analyzing patterns of fraudulent activities, developing preventative measures, and implementing robust systems to detect and mitigate WFA. By combining her healthcare acumen with cutting-edge technology, she aims to create tools that offer real-time alerts and educational resources to seniors, empowering them to safeguard their finances.
This proactive stance not only enhances the security and well-being of vulnerable populations but also ensures a more ethical and efficient healthcare system. Through continuous innovation and advocacy, Andrea strives to make a substantial impact on reducing WFA in the healthcare industry.
Navigating Senior Care Decisions with Confidence
Andrea partnered with Dementia Friendly Clark County, a community action group, to offer an educational series aimed at empowering families in their decision-making. She recently presented “Selecting the Right Home Caregiving Agency,” utilizing an objective scale to ensure informed, unbiased choices. This initiative is designed to help families secure the best care for their loved ones.
Additionally, she is hosting an upcoming Livestream Lunch & Learn program with Cleveland Clinic titled “Assessing Care Quality for Aging Loved Ones: What to Ask, What to Know.” This session will provide step-by-step guidance on evaluating the safety and quality of care provided by home care providers and facilities. Participants will learn effective questioning techniques, objective measures, and how to interpret government ratings to ensure peace of mind in their decision-making process.
A Clinician-Turned-Consultant’s Transformative Approach
Andrea’s transition from a seasoned clinician to a strategic consultant has uniquely equipped her to not just manage but actively redefine change in the healthcare industry. With almost 20 years of direct patient care experience, she brings a deep understanding of the nuanced challenges and needs within healthcare settings. This firsthand knowledge informs her approach to consulting, allowing her to craft strategies that are not only theoretically sound but also practically applicable.
Andrea’s ability to navigate complexities and innovate from within is further enhanced by her strategic outlook, honed through years of guiding healthcare businesses towards excellence in value-based purchasing. This blend of clinical insight and strategic acumen positions her uniquely to transform challenges into opportunities, fostering change that is both impactful and sustainable. Her expertise ensures that healthcare organizations not only adapt to changes but thrive in new realities.
