About

Andrew Eaves is the principal of a.m.eavesConsulting, LLC and has been a leader in the non-profit home healthcare industry for over 22 years. Andrew is passionate about helping VNA and non-profit homecare and hospice leaders elevate the industry and their organizations’ stature in today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape. He has helped his clients take advantage of the exciting opportunities that exist in their marketplaces. His clients have been able to raise the bar in their efforts to compete and grow in their marketplaces, by identifying and leveraging their competitive advantages and engaging in more effective approaches to business development.

Andrew brings a track record of innovation, business development and growth to his practice. Before entering the consulting field, Andrew had success in senior level business development roles at three significant non-profit organizations, which each had home healthcare, hospice and private duty divisions.

Andrew has spoken nationally on topics such as strategy, business development, sales, customer service and branding. He is a former board member of the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home & Hospice and chaired its Community Awareness Committee for several years.

As a graduate with distinction from Babson College, majoring in Entrepreneurial Studies, with a concentration in Communication, he has brought an enthusiasm for innovation and “big picture” strategy to his roles, while remaining focused on practical, value-added solutions for his clients. 

 

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

 

a.m.eavesConsulting, LLC –  Cape Coral, FL
Principal –  2012 to present

  • Major accomplishments on behalf of clients:
    • Long term engagement (7+ years) with prominent MA independent VNA, working as a member of the senior team to build a highly capable growth effort, including the proposal, securing and growth of a formalized preferred provider relationship with a prominent hospital/physician group that has led to several subsequent projects and significant growth in patient volume
    • Helped integrate a formal Lean Management system into a VNA setting
    • Comprehensive strategic planning and re-branding for two independent VNAs, aligning Mission, Vision and strategic objectives with a clear positioning of the organization in their marketplaces
    • Development and launch of formal service excellence program and training for major urban VNA’s home health, hospice and private duty divisions.
    • Other successful projects on behalf of VNA clients include developing and implementing strategic and business development plans, restructuring departments, launching new programs, recruiting and onboarding key staff, conducting successful fundraising events and leveraging new brand positioning

 

VNA HealthCare: A Hartford HealthCare Affiliate   – Hartford, CT
Vice President, Marketing & Sales – 2010 to 2012

  • Led the marketing efforts of one of Connecticut’s largest homecare organizations; $50 million home health, hospice and private duty affiliate of a $2 billion integrated health system
  • Led a 4-agency, multi-state (CT, RI, ME & DE) work group to collaborate on innovative projects affecting non-profit VNAs
  • Created a comprehensive outreach with clinical specialists to develop care collaboratives with community healthcare partners
  • Developed sales standards, reports, tools to measure team performance
  • Created and launched new consumer-driven program to meet emerging needs of the marketplace
  • Participated in health system committees, lean training and task forces

 

VNA Health Systems, Inc. (VNA of South Central CT & CareSource, Inc.)   –  New Haven, CT
Vice President, Business Development  –  2006 to 2010

  • Recruited to the organization to create a business development strategy and team, which turned a $17MM organization around from loss to profitability
  • Expanded organization’s leadership position in a region that had intense competition and positioned it as the go-to organization for community care initiatives
  • Realized an 18% growth in average monthly admissions by FY09 vs my arrival in FY07
  • Through a sophisticated approach, requiring diplomacy and tact, established many high-level relationships with key regional stakeholders, providing VNA/SCC with unique opportunities for partnerships in health care systems
  • Created the position of Director of Continuous Care Management to oversee an innovative transition management program, to partner with local hospitals in re-hospitalization reduction
  • Responsible for securing over $600,000 in grants to support agency needs and conduct innovative programs in the community that gained the agency significant attention and furthered its mission
  • Responsible for the oversight of the Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing, a statewide series of galas celebrating nursing; this event helped to leverage important relationships for VNA/SCC
  • Represented VNA/SCC on regional CEO-level health and human service committees and business councils

 

Visiting Nurse Services (VNS) of Connecticut, Inc.   –  Bridgeport, CT
Director, Marketing & Customer Relations  –  1998 to 2006       

  • Responsible for the overall marketing, brand management, communications and customer relations functions for a $32 million home health and hospice agency, serving nearly 50 communities and 10,000 patients annually. Managed a staff of 14 sales, customer relations and support staff
  • As designated Corporate Compliance Officer, reported directly to the Board of Directors and ensured that ethical, legal and policy standards were upheld, through employee education, investigation and resolution
  • As a key member of a senior level transition team, successfully completed acquisition/integration of one of VNS’ largest competitors
  • Led the organization through a complete market analysis, internal discovery process and re-branding, repositioning the agency to more successfully compete in a highly competitive marketplace
  • Directed the activities of a retained advertising and design firm to produce a visually and emotionally powerful brand image and collateral materials that established the agency’s competitive position
  • With HR, applied marketing and branding principles to recruitment, including developing a highly successful external focus group that led to improved recruitment and retention
  • Participated in successful accreditation processes, including making formal JCAHO presentation on new agency process for improving patient satisfaction

  

EDUCATION

 

Babson College  – Wellesley, MA
B.S. w/Distinction – Major:  Entrepreneurial Studies;    Minor Concentration: Communication   –  1989

  • Innovative major employed case-study methodology, used to analyze entrepreneurial organizations. Emphasized holistic approach to leadership and management, suited to real-world problem solving and innovation
  • Areas of focus included financial analysis, marketing, organizational behavior and general management

STRENGTHS CONTRIBUTING TO SUCCESS

 

  • Motivational leader, engaging teams and groups to excel and innovate
  • Strong partnership and interpersonal skills, inspiring trust and collaboration with staff and external partners
  • Exceptional public speaker, spokesperson and representative
  • Talented writer, effectively conveying ideas and successfully presenting concepts and proposals
  • Strategic planner and vision-focused
  • Promote accountability and high standards, raising the organizational bar
  • A catalyst for pro-active change, continuously identifying improvements to processes and outputs; seek out best practices to add value to existing processes; a proponent of Lean Management principles
  • Well-honed problem solving, financial management/budgeting and analytical skills
  • Highly effective project leader and meeting facilitator
  • Quality driven, avidly pursue customer satisfaction and improved outcomes

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

  • 2017 – New England Home Care Conference, “Getting and Building an Effective Health System Partnership”
  • 2017 – New England Home Care Conference, “Maximizing Patient Safety, Achieving Operational Excellence and Employee Engagement through Principles of the Lean Management System”
  • 2015 – New England Home Care Conference, “Meeting the Needs of Evolving Healthcare Partners & Payors: Aligning Telehealth and Business Development in a Value-Based Strategy for Revenue Growth”
  • 2013 – Presentation, CT Association for Healthcare at Home, “Leveraging Home Care’s “New” Value Proposition for Agency Success Under the Affordable Care Act”
  • 2013 – Speaker, New England Home Care Conference, “Positioning Your Agency for Success: Aligning Your Business Development Strategy with Your Brand Promise”
  • 2013 – Presenter, VNAA Teleconference, “Positioning your Agency for Success in Today’s Challenging Health Care Marketplace”
  • 2012 – Keynote Speaker, Visiting Nurse Associations of New England, Annual Meeting, “Positioning the VNANE Network for Success”
  • 2012 – Speaker, Transitions: A Living & Planning Expo for Active Adults and Seniors, “Home Healthcare 101″
  • 2010 – Speaker, VNAA Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL: “Winning the Battle of Patient Satisfaction: Improving Your Performance on CAHPS Through Exceptional Customer Service”
  • 2009 – Speaker, VNAA Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX: “Getting Value from your Corporate Values: Using Your Corporate Values to Raise Standards, Create a Culture of Service and Grow Your Business”
  • 2008 – Panelist, VNAA Business Development Committee national teleconference: “Marketing Results and the Use of Incentives”
  • 2008 – Speaker, VNAA Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN: “Becoming a Sales & Service Focused Agency Through Organizational Redesign and Culture Change”
  • 2007 – Panelist, VNAA Business Development Committee national teleconference: “Branding Your VNA”
  • 2007 – Speaker, VNAA Annual Meeting, Desert Springs, CA: “Slaying the Silent Killer; Improving Customer Service to Improve Employee Retention”
  • 2006 – Speaker, VNAA Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL: “Taking the Plunge: Implementing a Customer Service Program for Your Home Care Agency”

OTHER

  • Past Board Member, Connecticut Association for Home Care and Hospice (CAHCH)
  • Past Chairperson, CAHCH Community Awareness Committee
  • Past Chairperson, CAHCH Marketing and Fundraising Special Interest Group
  • Represented the needs of the home care industry to state and federal legislators in Hartford, CT and Washington, DC
  • Guest lecture, Quinnipiac University, Foundations in Healthcare Management – “The Business of Home Care”