Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2024 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 1 to Aug. 13. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.
Shellie Rachal knows how to get things done the right way, colleagues said.
Since 2019, she has been the regional vice president of operations for Elara Caring’s southern region. Her team is responsible for 61 branch locations with a combined total of 9,000 patients under their care. All of those branches have achieved or surpassed the 4-star rating level for home health from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and her outstanding work has earned her numerous achievements and recognitions from her colleagues.
Prior to her start at Elara, Rachal had worked as a registered nurse in an intensive care unit, a field registered nurse for a home health provider, a branch manager and a director of nursing. In 2010, she became vice president of operations for CareCycle, overseeing 30 home health centers in Louisiana and Texas.
Now, with Elara Caring, Rachal pioneers new ways to help staff members succeed and patients thrive. In 2023, she developed and implemented a first-of-its-kind value-based care partnership with a Medicare Advantage plan in Louisiana. She also led a successful behavioral health program for adults with comorbid conditions, and the places where she contributes are leaders in reducing patients’ risk of rehospitalization.
Friends and coworkers have remarked on her masterful communication skills. Rachal is clear and respectful, they said, and makes sure to foster a collaborative, fun work environment. Her enthusiasm for caregiving is infectious, one colleague said, and her knack for creating a positive culture are key to her team’s success.
More about Rachal:
- Rachal is part of a long line of caregivers. Her grandmother was a nurse, her stepdaughter is a nurse and her son is pursuing a pre-nursing degree.
- She often gives back to her community and has helped run charity drives for blankets in the winter.
- Rachal is very close with her family and recently became a grandmother.
The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. Healthcare Services Group was the Platinum sponsor of this year’s McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards and Forum. PointClickCare was the Gold sponsor, and PharMerica was the Silver sponsor. Other sponsors included Curana Health, DirecTV for Business, Easyshifts, Hireology, Reliant Rehabilitation, ShiftKey and Sentrics.
Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2024 and previous years.
