Position Spotlight: Director of Recovery Care at Home

Ashley started her career as a medical-surgical nurse in a local hospital. She then began a career with Amedisys Home Health in 2012 as field case manager. This is where she developed a passion for providing care for people in their home. Ashley moved on to become a clinical manager and then progressed to director. In 2022, Ashley made the transition to high acuity care with Contessa where she was able to assist with the launch of the Penn State Health Home Recovery Care, which is a program that allows patients to receive hospital-level care and rehabilitation care in their homes. 

Ashley is married and has two teenagers who keep her very busy. Outside of work, her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family. 

What does a Director of Recovery Care at Home (HRC Director) do at Contessa? 

As the director I oversee the daily processes of Penn State Health Home Recovery Care. I work with the Recovery Care Coordinators (RCCs) to make sure we help and identify and meet with patients eligible for our programs. I am responsible for overseeing quality and operational metrics to ensure they are being met. I also work closely with the health system to make sure they have a good understanding of our programs and to determine how we can best work with them to make sure patients receive the care they need and want.  

Why did you choose a career in healthcare? Specifically, this career? 

I grew up in a family of nurses and caring for people is something I always felt I was called to do. I have worked in healthcare since working in long-term care in high school, and never looked back. Healthcare is my calling.  

How does the work you do at Contessa differ from other jobs? 

At Contessa we get to be very innovative and figure out how we can best meet the needs of the patient outside of the four walls of the hospital every day. 

What is the best part of your job? 

The best part of my job is knowing that we get to care for patients at home where they want to be, surrounded by comforts like their home, family and pets.   

What’s the most challenging part of your job? 

The most challenging part of my job is not being able to bring a patient home who wants to go home for reasons beyond our control, such as their acuity level being too high or insurance denial. But this is also important because it ensures the right patients are safely transferred home. 

What inspires you to come to work every day?  

At Penn State Health Home Recovery Care, we have an amazing group of clinicians and providers who share the same passion for wanting to provide patients with the best quality care. I love coming to work every day with people who share the same excitement over what we do.