Michelle Haskins, Vice President of Clinical Services (Massachusetts) at Innovive Health, has been named to the Frontline Honors Awards Class of 2025 by Home Health Care News.
To become a Frontline honoree, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be:
- A dedicated, high-performing frontline worker who delivers exceptional experiences and outcomes
- A passionate worker who knows how to put their vision into for the good of their respective industry, the patients and residents they serve, and their families
- An advocate for their industry and their fellow colleagues
Home Health Care News recently caught up with Haskins to discuss her time in the home health & home care industry.
HHCN: What drew you to this industry?
Haskins: I was drawn to the healthcare industry because of a deep passion for helping others and a desire to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. The potential for growth, innovation, and impact in this field excited me, as well as the opportunity to work alongside passionate individuals who share the same vision.
Working at Innovive Health, a home healthcare company based in Massachusetts, Iowa, and Colorado, dedicated to caring for patients with multiple complex comorbidities, has undoubtedly grown my passion for the healthcare industry. As Vice President of Clinical Services, I am proud to oversee a team of nurses who share this same vision — a passion for not just helping patients with their health necessities, but truly making a difference in their lives.
I’ve worked at Innovive Health for 12 years, and I feel deeply gratified by the amazing impact our nurses have on patients. I’ve been able to see how home healthcare is truly life-changing for these vulnerable patients who may otherwise face frequent hospitalizations and long periods of instability.
HHCN: What’s a misconception you had about this work before you started – and how has reality differed?
Haskins: Before working at Innovive Health, I had initially believed that this work would be purely about following procedures and guidelines. Although this is an integral part of being a nurse, the reality is that the role also requires a great deal of empathy, adaptability, and creative problem-solving on a daily basis. In all my roles in the healthcare industry, engaging with patients and their caregivers on a personal level has proven to be just as crucial as any technical skill.
HHCN: Was there a moment in your career when you realized, “This work really matters”? What happened?
Haskins: When I first started as a nurse on the road at Innovive Health, I received heartfelt feedback from a patient I would see regularly. This proved to be one of the most memorable moments of my career, as it showed me that this patient’s life had been positively transformed thanks to our services. Hearing that patient’s gratitude made me realize that the work we do is not just a job, it’s a lifeline for many people.
Before joining Innovive Health, I had worked in a hospital emergency department. In this fast-paced, acute work, I rarely got to see how patients improved or progressed. At Innovive Health, the nature of home healthcare allowed me to follow a patient’s healthcare journey from the start, and therefore allowed me to see the tremendous difference nurses can make in patients’ lives over time.
For example, some patients at Innovive Health have been seen by our nursing team for over 10 years. This type of long-term home healthcare has allowed many patients to live with their families, children, or loved ones — an opportunity they otherwise wouldn’t have without this kind of service.
HHCN: What’s the most valuable skill you’ve developed on the front lines that people often overlook?
Haskins: One of the most valuable skills I’ve developed while working as a frontline nurse is active listening. From my experience, I’ve learned that truly understanding a person’s needs through active listening creates a stronger bond and ultimately leads to more effective solutions tailored to the patient’s needs.
Now, as Vice President of Clinical Services, I continue to use this skill of active listening to oversee my team of nurses and keep up to date with patient needs. Having understood the value of clear and consistent communication, I developed a daily shift report for all nurses to complete at the end of their shift. This report helped improve nurses’ quality and consistency of care, as it allowed for each nurse to have a thorough understanding of each patient’s needs and background.
HHCN: What’s one decision leaders make that has a bigger impact on frontline workers than they might realize?
Haskins: Building off my answer to the previous question, from experience, I have learned that transparent communication is necessary for the success of frontline workers. Although a seemingly simple skill, its power and effectiveness can often be underestimated by leaders. When leaders choose to communicate transparently and involve frontline workers in decision-making processes, it fosters an environment of trust and empowerment that significantly enhances morale and job performance.
HHCN: What’s a simple change – policy, tool, or mindset – that would make frontline work more effective?
Haskins: In my role at Innovive Health, I have helped to implement a flexible scheduling policy that has greatly enhanced frontline work effectiveness. At Innovive Health, we allow nurses to select a schedule that works best for them and is tailored to their lifestyle needs. For example, if a nurse is also a mother who needs to pick up her children from school in the afternoon, our scheduling system would accommodate that nurse’s need to work morning shifts.
This flexible scheduling policy, granted that all patient demand is met, allows nurses to manage their work-life balance better, reducing burnout and increasing overall job satisfaction, which ultimately leads to improved service delivery.
HHCN: What gives you optimism about the future of this industry, despite its challenges?
Haskins: Since starting to work in this field, and particularly after the pandemic, I’ve witnessed an increase in awareness about the importance of frontline work and the commitment to innovation within the industry. There is a growing network of support and resources being invested in this sector, such as clinical practice, technology, and a deeper understanding of mental health, which bodes well for improving practices and enhancing the experiences of both healthcare workers and the communities they serve.
I can also say that, as a leader at Innovive Health, the talented and dedicated team of nurses I am surrounded by every day gives me a sense of great optimism. I am proud to serve as a mentor to nurses beginning their careers and help them grow into leaders who I feel confident will continue to positively impact this industry and patients in need of care.
