Why Choose VNA Care Network & Hospice
VNA Care Network & Hospice is at home with your health, helping many generations of Massachusetts residents cope with illness and injury while remaining at home. When you or a loved one needs home health care, palliative care, hospice, or wellness services, choose VNA Care Network & Hospice for our:
DEPTH AND BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE
- Caring for people at home since 1891.
- More than 70 programs and services for a truly comprehensive, flexible approach to care.
- Range of services means there's no need to be discharged from one health care provider and admitted to another as a patient's medical needs change.
- Preferred provider for numerous HMOs in asthma, cardiopulmonary disease management, and other specialty services.
- One of only a few home health agencies able to provide a full compliment of IV therapy services.
- Extensive array of disease management and specialty services including diabetes, wound care, fall prevention, geriatric care, joint replacement therapies, maternal child health/early maternity discharge, and medication management.
- Free health care services, such as Keep Well Clinics and medication management programs for seniors, promote the health of local communities.
EMPHASIS ON PATIENT AND FAMILY SATISFACTION WITH CARE
- Received the Pinnacle Award for Patient Satisfaction multiple times from Visiting Nurse Associations of New England.
- Staff knowledgeable about and link patients and families to community resources such as Meals on Wheels, transportation, and support groups to help patients remain at home and support families in their roles as caregivers.
- Liaison nurses available to help individuals and families in the transition from a medical facility to home.
- Physician and two nurse practitioners on staff to oversee palliative care and hospice services.
- Nonprofit mission that is focused on providing excellent patient care.
- Electronic patient record management system gives a complete picture of a patient's history day or night resulting in well-coordinated care.
- Telemonitoring equipment enhances care by offering "virtual" nursing visits in addition to traditional, in-person care. Use of the equipment has resulted in the early detection of and intervention with problems and decrease in emergency room/hospital visits.
PIONEER IN THE FIELD OF HOME HEALTH CARE, HOSPICE, AND COMMUNITY CARE
- Opened the first Medicare certified hospice in Massachusetts in 1984.
- Opened the first hospice home in Massachusetts in 1991 and currently operate three hospice residences in the state.
- Recipient of numerous grants for studies on new approaches to home health care including telemedicine.
- Partner in pilot studies such as a new approach to palliative care for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
- First VNA in Massachusetts to use the Nursing Anne patient simulator as a training tool for nurses.
- Developed a nursing intern and preceptor training program to help with the shortage of home health care nurses with the support of a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration. VNA Care Network & Hospice then trained other home health care agencies throughout the country in nursing recruitment and retention strategies.
- Introduce unique programs to meet community needs such as breast cancer treatment support to help women with limited income complete treatment.
- Opened the first inpatient hospice facility in the Central Massachusetts/MetroWest area.
- Became one of only three Massachusetts home health/hospice agencies in 2005 approved to offer continuing education programs for nurses or organizations that will be honored in all 50 states.
EXPERTISE OF STAFF RECOGNIZED AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL
- Karen Green, president and CEO, was named a health care hero in 2006 by the Worcester Business Journal.
- Joanne Kramer, vice president of finance and chief financial officer, serves on the board of directors of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America.
- Mary Whalen, vice president of hospice, serves on the Massachusetts Pain Initiative's Steering Council.
- Rosalie Lawless received the 2006 Frances S. Perkins Award from the Central Massachusetts Regional Employment Board for her leadership in employment, education, and training initiatives.
- Our senior enterostomal therapist is a past recipient of the clinician of the year award from Visiting Nurse Associations of America.
- Recognized for achievement in pain management by MassPro as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Home Health Quality Initiative.
- Awarded the gold seal of approval from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
- Certified by Medicare and Medicaid.
- Staff are presenters and speakers at state, regional, and national conferences on numerous topics including cultural competency and nursing recruitment and retention strategies.
- Trained over 2,000 health and human service providers in providing culturally sensitive/appropriate care to patients and their families.