Expert Resources for Care at Home

Last Visit First: Rich Johnson's Journey to Healthcare CEO

Written by Maxwell TEC | Mar 13, 2026

Maxwell TEC is a proud sponsor of Last Visit First with Tom Maxwell, a podcast bringing leaders, innovators, and caregivers together to talk honestly about the choices shaping the future of home health and hospice.

Rich Johnson’s path to becoming a healthcare CEO began in a juvenile courtroom where a judge gave him two choices: jail or the service. Choosing the Air Force didn't just change his life; it gave him the logistical blueprint to manage a $90 million appropriation by age 18 and eventually build ViaQuest, Inc. into an integrated healthcare powerhouse. Today, Rich oversees 4,500 employees providing a "Circle of Care" that spans hospice, behavioral health, and services for the IDD community.

This discussion pulls back the curtain on how military discipline translates to healthcare culture and why the integration of mental health is the missing piece in the modern hospice puzzle.

They also dive into the technical "headwinds" facing the industry, ranging from the regulatory shift of Section 504 to the potential for AI agents to solve the hiring crisis for home health and hospice agencies.

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