The Washington, D.C. branch of Professional Healthcare Resources Inc. (PHR), founded by Asian American Registered Nurse-turned- entrepreneur Eileen DeCesare in 1994, has made it to "The 2006 HomeCare Elite," a list of the industry’s Top 100 agencies nationwide.

PHR president DeCesare said, "I’m so proud of my team. We made the top 100 of the 8,000 agencies, so in essence we’re in the top 1% of all 8,000 homecare agencies. "That’s a great achievement!" She immediately credited Patricia Kelly, RN, "our administrator in DC," and the PHR DC branch staff. "Patricia is truly a most remarkable professional."

PHR company, based in Annandale, Virginia, provides skilled personal or private home care to patients at home. It has branches in Annandale, D.C., Richmond, Norfolk, and Roanoke. It has about 760 employees.

Outcome Concept Systems, Inc. (OCS) releases The HomeCare Elite, an inaugural compilation of the most successful home care providers nationwide, listed alphabetically. The list includes the top 25 percent of agencies whose performance measures in Quality of Care, Quality Improvement and Financial Performance are the best. It also includes providers who were included in the top 100 and the top 500 of providers in the U.S. The list is based on data of individual agencies reported to the US government's Medicare program.

Professional Healthcare Resources is the only agency in the nation’s capital to be recognized. Ms. DeCesare stressed, "This honor recognizes the many years of struggle and hard work that it took to make this company great." PHR Human Resources Manager Tristan Nall, PhD, added, "It proves that hard work, dedication, and a vision will truly lead to great success."

Ms. DeCesare, originally from the Philippines, came to the US in 1964. She was the former director of nursing of the D.C. General Hospital, responsible for a $55-million budget and a 780-member staff. When she retired in 1994, she decided to start her own company with the help and support of her husband Ron DeCesare, her sons Ken, Anthony and Ron, and her sister Pilar Godoy. She was featured on Asian Fortune’s front page series of outstanding Asian Americans in 1998.