viperfish

Thank you all for your comments - this was just what I was looking for. Let me comment on each reply. Speculating, I respect your opinion, and this is the kind of feedback I was looking for. I do realize that the person I hire as Administrator/Supervising Nurse can make or break the company, but I thought such risk was not that unusual to new companies. I am also a bit surprised at your suggestion that this person might deliberately do something to hurt the business - I would think they would have an incentive to see it prosper, especially since I fully intend to involve them in profit sharing or even partner status. I thought the risk was that they would turn out to be incompetent. John, I think you hit the nail on the head - I really want to be an entrepreneur, and I believe I am a very quick learner. I am afraid if I only stick to exactly what I know, I am not going to get very far. I am a prorammer, but really have no inclination to start yet another software services company, and you could argue that even though I have been a programmer I really don't know much about the business end of finding clients, marketing, negotiating, etc. Your point about a mentor is well taken, in fact, when I was speaking of hiring that critial first person as Administrator, I was thinking of a particular nurse that came out to take blood for a life insurance company screening that seemed a very friendly, intelligent person, just the kind that would fit the bill here. Unfortunately, I just remembered that she is a X-ray tech during the week, not a home health nurse, but I might give her a call anyway ( if I can reach her). I have met lots of potentially great candidates for this position in the past! ( but it was before I was thinking of this business idea). If I proceed with this idea, I will defintiely prefer someone that I personally know or that was referred to me rather than put an ad in the paper. Suzanne, I have looked at my state regulations here in Texas, that was the easiest research to do since it is all on the web. It seems the minimalist agency can get by with 2 people, a Administrator/Supervising Nurse and an alternate. Keep 'em coming! -Sam

Hi, all, Just wanted your thoughts on whether it is possible to (successfully) start a home health care business without any personal experience in the health field. I was thinking of hiring an RN as Administrator /Supervising Nurse, and rely on him/her for a lot of the day to day decisions and advice, at least initially. Look forward to hearing from you, -Sam