---
title: "From the Desk of the COO: Jay Duty Reflects on Home Care 100"
description: Maxwell TEC COO, Jay Duty, shares his insights from the 2026 Home Care 100 Leadership Conference and why operators' collective clarity stood out most.
---

[Expert Resources for Care at Home ](https://blog.maxwelltec.com/resources)

# [From the Desk of the COO: Jay Duty Reflects on Home Care 100](https://blog.maxwelltec.com/resources/from-the-desk-of-the-coo-jay-duty-reflects-on-home-care-100)

 Written by [Jay Duty](https://blog.maxwelltec.com/resources/author/jay-duty) | Feb 06, 2026

[Hear More Executive Insights from Home Care 100 [Last Visit First Podcast]](https://blog.maxwelltec.com/resources/last-visit-first-insights-from-home-care-100-leadership-conference)

I just returned from the 2026 **[Home Care 100 Conference](https://homecare100.com/) **in Scottsdale, AZ, and as always, the conversations were energizing, candid, practical, and timely.

What stood out most wasn’t a single technology or trend—it was the *collective clarity* operators are gaining around what matters most over the next 12–24 months.

Here are some of my top takeaways from the event:

## **1. Patient Engagement Is Not Optional**

Home health and hospice executives were aligned on one thing: **engagement and communication with patients must improve**.

Whether it’s reducing missed visits, avoiding re-hospitalizations, improving patient satisfaction, or supporting clinicians in the field, organizations recognize that intermittent and disconnected touchpoints aren’t enough.

The focus is shifting from *documentation-first *workflows to [**patient-centric communication models**](https://maxwelltec.com/products/nanaconnect) that extend beyond visits—without creating more burden for clinicians.

## **2. Data Is Everywhere… and Nowhere at the Same Time**

Another consistent theme was frustration with fragmented data.

Leaders are sitting on valuable insights spread across:

The challenge isn’t necessarily the lack of data, but rather a **lack of cohesion**. Executives are looking for [ways to pull signal from noise](https://maxwelltec.com/data-analytics), normalize data across systems, and turn analytics into daily operational decisions—not retrospective reports.

## **3. Tech Decision Fatigue Is Growing**

The market is flooded with new tools, AI promises, and “next-gen” platforms. Many leaders shared the same concern:

*How do we choose the right solutions without chasing every shiny object?*

There’s a growing appreciation for [**intentional technology selection**](https://maxwelltec.com/consulting-services/tech-enabled)—tools that integrate cleanly, solve a defined problem, and support people and process rather than replacing them blindly.

## **4. AI: Replace the Right Things, Not Everything**

AI was everywhere at Home Care 100—but the tone has matured. Executives aren’t asking *if* AI will play a role at this point; they’re asking [**where it should and shouldn’t**](https://maxwelltec.com/consulting-services/tech-enabled).

With reimbursement pressure continuing, the focus is squarely on:

The winners will be organizations that **apply AI precisely and intentionally**.

## **5. M&A Activity Is Strong, But Integration Is the Real Work**

Both provider and private equity activity remain high across home health and hospice. But the conversation has shifted from *getting deals done* to *making them work*.

Leaders are keenly aware that:

The ability to integrate acquisitions into a [scalable, repeatable platform](https://maxwelltec.com/consulting-services/mergers-and-acquisitions) is becoming a core competency—not a back-office afterthought.

## **Final Thoughts from the 2026 Home Care 100 Leadership Conference**

Home Care 100 reinforced something we see every day at Maxwell TEC: **execution beats ideas**.

The organizations pulling ahead are the ones simplifying complexity, aligning technology to strategy, and staying focused on what truly moves outcomes—for patients, clinicians, and operators.

The future of home-based care isn’t about more tools. It’s about **clarity, integration, and intentional transformation**.

 

[View full post](https://blog.maxwelltec.com/resources/from-the-desk-of-the-coo-jay-duty-reflects-on-home-care-100)

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