The Association for Home & Hospice Care of NC (AHHC) President and CEO Tim Rogers presented the prestigious Leslie Carswell Leader of the Year Award to BAYADA Home Health Care Area Director of Government Affairs Lee Dobson, who accepted the honor during the 44th Annual AHHC Conference and Expo held recently in Durham, NC.
“This award recognizes the excellence of individuals who are dedicated to promoting healing, extending life, and alleviating pain and suffering, all the while keeping families together and providing the greatest degree of freedom, independence, and dignity possible,” said Rogers.
Dobson has worked in home care since 1994, and has served on numerous boards and committees, including her current role on AHHC’s board of directors and Government Affairs Committee. In addition, she has served on the board of the Hospice & Home Care Foundation of NC and the AHHC’s Medicaid Liaison, Division of Health Services Regulations, and Regulatory Affairs committees.
“Since joining BAYADA in 2009, Lee has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring access to quality home care for the frail, elderly, and disabled residents of North Carolina,” shared BAYADA Chief Marketing and Government Affairs Officer David Totaro. “She worked tirelessly to secure an increase in the Medicaid Private Duty Nursing rate. This allowed home care agencies across the state to offer qualified nurses the pay rates they deserve, which helped to attract and retain more nurses to care for the state’s most vulnerable population.”
According to Totaro, Dobson’s accomplishments include working with BAYADA staff on grassroots campaigns to successfully oppose expansion to a sales tax on medical services and to advocate for autism reform so that families living with autism get the care they need.
“Lee understands the importance of educating legislators about the positive impact of home care as a patient-preferred, lower-cost option,” said BAYADA Regional Director Shannon McCarson, who nominated Dobson for this honor. “She coordinated a campaign to educate legislators on the value of home care, resulting in the hosting of over 20 legislative home visits with clients and their caregivers, nearly 100 district visits, and several town hall meetings.”
Dobson was thrilled to be named the Leslie Carswell Leader of the Year. “I am humbled by this honor,” she said. “Thank you to Shannon McCarson and to AHHC for recognizing my efforts to champion policies that help people remain in the comfort and safety of home, where they want to be. It is important to recognize that all of these legislative efforts would not have been possible without the commitment and engagement of BAYADA staff. They have been able to see the connection between our work and the legislative and regulatory process and have truly become Hearts for Home Care advocates.
BAYADA has more than 300 offices in 22 states, including more than 55 locations in NC. In 2015, BAYADA served nearly 16,500 NC residents and employed more than 800 home care professional and office staff throughout the state. Find a BAYADA office near you.
The Association for Home & Hospice Care of North Carolina was founded in 1972 and is the largest and oldest North Carolina home care association, and it is the largest and oldest combined state association for home care, home health, and hospice in the United States. With a membership of 825 agencies, AHHC is the voice for home and hospice care. Its mission is to provide resources, education, advocacy and leadership to home care, home health, and hospice providers in 100 counties in North Carolina who serve 400,000 recipients and employee 100,000 NC residents. For AHHC membership information and educational offerings, email infor@homeandhospicecare.org.
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