Michelle Cone wasn’t interested in developing new services for the homebound patients of HomeWell Franchising simply for the sake of developing new services.

Leveraging data and proven processes that she had learned during more than two decades of experience in the long-term care and post-acute industry, she created new specialty care programs, including Go-HomeWell Post-Medical Care, SureStep Fall Prevention, a life enrichment activities program, and hospice and dementia supports.

She also ensured that the company could deliver more personalized care, dedicating an expert care manager to develop an individual care plan for each client and his or her family.

Such dedication and innovation are key ingredients that helped elevate her into a “Thought Leadership” honor in the 2023 McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards.

Proof that the approach is working can be found in HomeWell’s 88% growth over the past three years, a period during which the company has expanded into more than 25 new states.

Cone joined HomeWell in 2016 as the company’s vice president of operations before becoming senior vice president of training and brand programs in 2020. Before HomeWell, Cone held a variety of positions, including director of outpatient admissions at Wichita Valley Rehabilitation Hospital, senior sales executive for Kindred at Home, and home health administrator for Angels Care Home Health.

A licensed home health administrator, Cone has paved the way for continued development into new programs using research to ensure that more older adults and homebound individuals receive the help they need to live happier and healthier lives.

A graduate of West Texas A&M University in 1995, she also is a member of the board of advisers for Careswitch, a free home care agency management software program.

The McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. Honorees were recognized March 7 at a dinner and awards ceremony in Chicago. The program’s Platinum sponsor was MatrixCare. Omnicare was a Silver sponsor, and additional sponsors included Pinnacle Quality Insight, HealthDirect and Sentrics.

Editor’s note: McKnight’s Home Care, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Senior Living are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards honorees daily in April and May. For additional McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards content, visit this page.