Homecare Is Where the Heart Is

Since starting my journey in pediatric homecare as Personnel Coordinator with Family First in Sarasota, Florida, I’ve retained an immense amount of knowledge and gained even more respect for not only our nurses but the people who work behind the scenes to make it all possible. It was very clear from the beginning that the unique group of individuals I work with know their job impressively inside and out. We’ve celebrated good days and shared pain in the bad ones, but one thing that stood out in these individuals was their hearts. 

The team members I work with all have one simple thing in common – they are good people who care deeply. They have a strong desire to help, and because of that, success is the only option. It’s such a simple recipe, but it works. We all like to have fun, but we know when it’s time to put our heads down and grind. We have integrity, we are honest with each other, and we care about the families we work with because, at the end of the day, that’s who we are showing up for. 

Three woman and two men stand in front of a christmas themed family first backdrop dressed in funny props like scarfs and giant glasses
From left to right: David, Katlyn, Olivia, Halee, and Leandro at the Family First holiday party.

Leo, Director of Operations:

He is the first to check in and make sure everyone’s heads are in the right place. He’s also the first to crack a joke and make the whole office laugh. Known as the “office jokester,” he is constantly finding ways to make us smile. He always wants to know how he can help and what he can take off our plates. Those leadership qualities are what set him apart from others. 

David, Service Coordination Manager:

David places the energy he once had as a U.S. Marine into scheduling for his families. He is dedicated, professional, and caring. I hold a lot of respect for David, as he received the Combat Action Ribbon and The Navy Achievement Medal, a high-precedence decoration awarded to those who participated in ground combat. 

Halee, Service Coordination Manager:

She is a rockstar whom I respect with my whole heart, and is quite frankly the hardest worker I’ve ever met. She puts 100% into her work, guaranteeing her families get the coverage and care they need. She’s often the first in the office, the first to offer you a coffee, and the first to ask how your weekend was. It’s the small details that really matter, and she honors that.

Olivia, Director of Nursing:

Olivia always brings her warm smile and laughter to work, and adding a certain je ne sais quoi to balance the office. She’s patient and always makes the time to answer any and all clinical questions, no matter how busy she may be. When Olivia is in the office, everyone is happy.

Working in pediatric homecare takes a special heart. The Family First culture says it best – We seek to set our standards higher simply by treating each other like family. With our families, we celebrate the big victories and small wins. We all remember why we are in pediatric homecare, to help make a difference, even when it seems so small.

“A house is made with walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let’s get you home.

Written by: Katlyn Doyle,  Personnel Coordinator