Bent Philipson

Bent Philipson is the founder of Philosophy Care, a consulting firm providing a range of services to skilled nursing facilities throughout New York and New Jersey. Philipson has over thirty years of experience working as a healthcare entrepreneur and executive. What started with just one small nursing home in Great Neck, New York, has quickly become one of the premier nursing and rehab consulting organizations under Philipson’s leadership.

Throughout his entire career, Bent Philipson has promoted high-quality care to ensure every senior can live a full life with dignity and respect. His keen eye for evolving healthcare trends, new regulations, technological innovations and patients’ needs has helped Philosophy Care guide it’s partner facilities in serving some of the most at-risk populations in the country, including Alzheimer’s care, stroke recovery, cardiac rehabilitation, and palliative care, among others.

Under Bent Philipson’s leadership, Philosophy Care’s partner facilities have greatly expanded their ventilator services with the most advanced ventilators on the market. The ‘Heart Smart’ program is yet another example of Philosophy Care’s advanced care capabilities. Developed by top dieticians, this special heart-healthy diet served at Philosophy Care’s partner facilities helps decrease congestive heart failure and a variety of other illnesses that occur as a result of poor nutrition.

Before working at Philosophy Care, Bent Philipson served as COO for a consulting company that serviced one of the largest groups of nursing homes in New York. He was responsible for ushering in new short and long-term rehabilitation initiatives and unique nursing programs to residents across 25 care facilities.

Bent Philipson is also a devoted philanthropist. He supports a number of Jewish healthcare and educational organizations, like Colel Chabad, Hatzalah, and Hillel International. He has also hosted and funded a variety of events that benefit single mothers, sick children, and troubled teens. Philipson is a Chairman for Mir Yeshiva, the largest yeshiva in the world.

Bent Philipson was born in Denmark, grew up in the United States, and currently lives in New York with his family.

Where did the idea for Philosophy Care come from?

Philosophy Care was born out of necessity. As our footprint expanded, we needed a strong infrastructure to manage all of our facilities. We currently have seven affiliates, and all of these locations allow us to take on sicker patients and sicker populations that other nursing homes normally don’t want.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I usually start every day reviewing how every Philosophy Care partner facility fared overnight, as well as the day before. This helps me to create my schedule for the day because I know all of the tasks that need to be added to my to-do list. After that, I focus on completing everything I need to accomplish that day as well as dealing with other issues that arise.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I always consult my team of dedicated staff with my ideas. Their feedback is critical in setting these ideas into motion, and then I am able to devise a plan where everyone takes ownership over their specific function. This is how we take an idea from thought to action.

What’s one trend that excites you?

I get excited when I am able to implement new programs or innovations that have not been done in the industry before. Just recently, for example, we put in the most advanced ventilator machines in the market in one of our facilities. It’s not only better for infection control and prevention, but it frees up nursing time and allows patients to have less restricted transportation. In my industry, it’s critical that facilities usher in new technological advancements in order to offer a higher quality of care to patients.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I personally like to double and triple-check everything myself. This way, I can make sure the facts that I’m given to work with are correct so that the right decisions can be reached.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Put yourself out there and take risks. Entrepreneurs are often overly cautious, assuming one wrong decision could spell the end for their careers, but this isn’t true. Even I still need to remind myself that success comes with taking risks and a willingness to court innovation.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

The healthcare industry as a whole is expected to step up the level of care provided, but unfortunately the facilities of yesteryear are a far cry from what we are dealing with today. Innovation in care does not happen overnight and must be addressed on a consistent and ongoing basis.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Double-check everything people tell you. You can never fully rely on their words.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Never be afraid to take on new challenges and develop new initiatives. Doing so has helped us stay ahead of the competition by caring for patients in ways that other facilities cannot.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

I’m not sure when or where I picked up this trait, but I can often be too cautious in my approach to anything. I am a bit of a perfectionist and tend to overthink my decisions, which has its benefits, but being too cautionary can also be a hurdle for innovation and risk-taking. I look to my team to support me in this, as their input and feedback have been critical to the growth of Philosophy Care. They prevent me from sitting on a decision for so long, and also bring fresh perspectives to the table that have inspired me to challenge my own thought process.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

With the expansion of telehealth across the healthcare industry, I’ve always thought it would be beneficial if there could be a collaborative ‘notes’ application that physicians and patients could update anytime from anywhere, rather than just the provider doing it within the allotted appointment time.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I support various charitable organizations, so the money I give to people in need is always the most meaningful money I can spend. This is especially true during incredibly tough times like we’re currently experiencing. It’s not only important to give back to people who may be suffering even more in these moments, but supporting your community also helps to spread love and hope.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

These aren’t incredibly new tools, but my mobile phone and my iPad are some of my favorite pieces of technology. I can take them anywhere with me, which is incredibly important in my role as it allows me to get back to people immediately.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The Last Kings of Shanghai — The Rivan Jewish Dynasties That Helped Create Modern China by Jonathan Kaufman. It shows how one family adapted in various difficult times, kept taking on new challenges, and ultimately succeeded.

What is your favorite quote?

“The value of an idea lies in the using of it.“ – Thomas Edison

Key Learnings:

• Always consult new ideas with your team. Their feedback is incredibly beneficial.
• Never be afraid to tackle new challenges head-on.
• When you can, give back to those in need. It makes the world a better place.