Then and Now: The VNS Health Nurse’s Bag… and Rolling Bag Backpack
May 31, 2023–In celebration of National Nurses Month, Frontline did some digging through the VNS Health archives that are housed at Columbia University. We unearthed some historic photos of a nurse’s bag, like this one from 1953 of a VNS Health nurse laying out the contents of her bag. We also came upon this photo from approximately 1938, showing a display of the contents from a nurse’s bag. 85 years later, what’s changed in the supplies that VNS Health nurses take with them on home visits, and what’s stayed the same? Let’s take a look! In 1938, a VNS Health nurse carried: Today, VNS Health nurses carry: Hygiene Materials:SoapAlcohol SwabsHand SanitizerPaper Towels Isopropyl Alcohol Personal Protection Equipment:Isolation GownApron 3 Ply Earloop Mask N95 Respirator Mask Goggles Head Covers Shoe Covers Patient Care Materials:Blood Pressure Cuff Stethoscope Documentation Materials:Tablet Start of Care Packet Patient Care Supplies:Towel Drapes 4”x4” Gauze Gloves
Top Stories
Neighborhood Spotlight: See Our Mission In Action In This Very Moving Memorial Day Video
Congrats to Katie Gildea, VNS Health’s 2023 SLP of the Year!
Making a Difference: VNS Health Nurses Share Some of Their Most Memorable Cases
PIX11 Shares Inspiring Story of BH Nurse Rebecca Miller-Martinez and Outreach to the Unhoused Community
Team Highlights
In This Special Nurses Month Video, Learn How Our Nurse Residency Program Embraces New Nurses
May 16, 2023–Earlier this month, the New York State Home Care Association (HCA) presented its prestigious Trailblazer Quality & Innovation Award to VNS Health’s innovative Nurse Residency Program and its related RN Preceptor position. In case you missed the video that was presented at the HCA’s Annual Conference, here it is.
VNS Health’s Speech-Language Pathologists Share Some of Their Most Memorable Cases
May 18, 2023–May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and May 18 is National Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Appreciation Day. These recognitions are an opportunity to highlight the life-altering care provided by SLPs at VNS Health and other health care organizations nationwide. Whether it’s assisting an aphasia patient to find the words that are eluding them, treating a swallowing disorder in someone recovering from a stroke, or training a laryngectomy patient to use a voice prosthesis, these skilled therapists help their clients regain the ability to eat, speak and communicate every day. To get an inside look at the important work they do, we asked several VNS Health speech-language pathologists to share some of their most memorable professional moments. “Because we get involved with our patients’ lives on a more personal level, we become aware of issues they hadn’t been able to communicate.” Charlene Cano, Senior Speech-Language Pathologist, Queens “A few years ago,
Nurses Month Special: A Day in the Life of Brooklyn Nurse Preceptor Bridget McQuilkin
May 8, 2023–Welcome to another edition of “A Day in the Life”—a Frontline series that follows staff members from different parts of VNS Health as they go about a typical day at work. Frontline recently met up with Bridget McQuilken, who works in VNS Health Home Care’s Brooklyn region as a nurse preceptor. In this role, which is part of VNS Health’s Nurse Residency Program, she mentors recent nursing school graduates who are just starting out in the home care field. Bridget has been with the organization since 2018. Born in Grenada and raised in England, she was a schoolteacher before transitioning into the health care field. With over a decade of nursing experience in both the hospital and the home under her belt, she started at VNS Health as a field nurse in Manhattan before becoming a nurse preceptor last year. We asked Bridget to take us through a typical day
PIX11 Shares Inspiring Story of BH Nurse Rebecca Miller-Martinez and Outreach to the Unhoused Community
May 15, 2023–
Neighborhood Spotlight: How VNS Health’s Health Home Program Helped Get Adrian Soto Back
April 26, 2023–The latest episode of “20 Minutes with Dan” featured Adrian Soto, who, with VNS Health’s help, went from living on the streets to running the NYC marathon. To view Adrian’s heartwarming story from start to finish, uninterrupted, watch here below.
“20 Minutes with Dan” Spotlights Our Health Home Program
April 11, 2023–As baseball season gets underway, this month’s “20 Minutes with Dan” celebrates yet another VNS Health “home run.” In this episode, CEO Dan Savitt spotlights Behavioral Health’s Health Home program—and client Adrian Soto’s moving journey from homelessness to running the NYC Marathon. Watch here below to see how Adrian got his life back on track. After you watch the episode, take our quiz to be entered into a $200 gift card raffle by clicking here. On-the-Go Segments Introduction to VNS Health’s Health Home Program and Adrian’s Story Part One “Sticking with the Program” Adrian’s Story Part 2 “Rebuilding Hope and Strength” Adrian’s Story Part 3 “Go Do It” Adrian’s Story Part 4 and the High-Five To view other episodes of “20 Minutes with Dan”, click here.
Community Collaborations Hosts a Webinar on “Happiness”
March 16, 2023–On Thursday, March 30, 2023 from 3:30 – 4:30 PM, VNS Health’s Community Collaborations will host a presentation on “Happiness.” How do you define happiness? Does happiness mean you have to be happy all the time? Learn how allowing yourself to feel all your emotions can contribute to happiness and overall well-being. We’ll look at what happiness is, where you can find it, and stuff that affects it. Click here or use the following link to register for the presentation: https://vnshealth.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MkYcT4pBSDCE9ebQ-yENWQ. For more information contact [email protected] To learn more, visit the Community Collaborations website at https://www.vnshealth.org/in-the-community/events/.
Volunteer with VNS Health Cares in a Shoreline Cleanup at Canarsie Pier on March 25th
March 16, 2023–Join VNS Health Cares and volunteer in a Shoreline Cleanup at Canarsie Pier on March 25th, from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM. VNS Health team members will join the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, Assemblymember Jaime R. Williams and Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse for a shoreline cleanup at Canarsie Pier. Volunteers will help remove trash and debris from Canarsie Pier’s important shorelines while enjoying incredible views of Jamaica Bay! Gloves, bags, and tools will be provided. Volunteers are encouraged to wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy, closed-toe shoes, and bring their own water and sunscreen. Event is rain or shine. How to Sign Up to Volunteer: To sign up, click here. Once you have signed up, click here to complete the required VNS Health Cares Volunteer form.
Opening of New Flushing Community Center Makes Front Page of the Queens Times
December 22, 2022–
Neighborhood Spotlight Video Series Wins “Award of Excellence” from The Communicator Awards
May 9, 2023–The Communicator Awards “Award of Excellence,” which is the highest honor given to video productions by the organization, recognized three of VNS Health’s Neighborhood Spotlight videos: “Little Odessa,” “Ghanian Children and Families in the Bronx,” and “How the Health Home at VNS Health Helped One New Yorker in the Marathon of Life.” The Communicator Awards is the leading global awards program honoring creative excellence for marketing and communications professionals. If you haven’t watched these terrific videos yet, you can view them by clicking here.
VNS Health Wins Aging Media Network Aspect Award for Rebrand
March 15, 2023–
Dan Savitt Pens OpEd for The Times Union on the Impact of the Home Health Crisis in New York
March 15, 2023–
Minority Nurse Spotlights Esther Conteh as a Champion of Nursing Diversity
March 29, 2023–
Joint New York Daily News OpEd from Hany Abdelaal and Industry Leaders Highlights Benefits of Medicaid-Managed Care Plans
March 9, 2023–
Care Coordinator Constance Washington Joins BronxNet TV to Share Advice for American Heart Month
February 23, 2023–
Congrats to Katie Gildea, VNS Health’s 2023 SLP of the Year!
May 25, 2023–As we approach the end of Better Speech and Hearing Month, we’re proud to announce that speech-language pathologist (SLP) Katie Gildea has been named VNS Health’s Speech-Language Pathologist of the Year! Leaders from VNS Health Provider Services reviewed this year’s nominations and selected Katie as someone who exemplifies how our SLPs go above and beyond to achieve the best possible outcomes for their patients—delivering outstanding service while also embodying VNS Health’s Core Values of Integrity, Empathy and Agility. Katie started out in speech-language pathology almost 20 years ago, working with children and adults recovering from brain injuries. After several years, she moved to New York and joined VNS Health. Now approaching 15 years with the organization, she has spent much of her career working with patients on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “I feel very lucky to be in home health care right now,” said Katie. “I find that all my
VNS Health’s Speech-Language Pathologists Share Some of Their Most Memorable Cases
May 18, 2023–May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and May 18 is National Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Appreciation Day. These recognitions are an opportunity to highlight the life-altering care provided by SLPs at VNS Health and other health care organizations nationwide. Whether it’s assisting an aphasia patient to find the words that are eluding them, treating a swallowing disorder in someone recovering from a stroke, or training a laryngectomy patient to use a voice prosthesis, these skilled therapists help their clients regain the ability to eat, speak and communicate every day. To get an inside look at the important work they do, we asked several VNS Health speech-language pathologists to share some of their most memorable professional moments. “Because we get involved with our patients’ lives on a more personal level, we become aware of issues they hadn’t been able to communicate.” Charlene Cano, Senior Speech-Language Pathologist, Queens “A few years ago,
In This Special Nurses Month Video, Learn How Our Nurse Residency Program Embraces New Nurses
May 16, 2023–Earlier this month, the New York State Home Care Association (HCA) presented its prestigious Trailblazer Quality & Innovation Award to VNS Health’s innovative Nurse Residency Program and its related RN Preceptor position. In case you missed the video that was presented at the HCA’s Annual Conference, here it is.
Hospice RN Daniel McCarthy Explains Why He Loves Being a Nurse in Univision 41 Story
May 31, 2023–English Transcript: HOST #1: It’s 05:12 a.m. Thank you so much for being with us today. Very soon, there’ll be a shortage of 40,000 nurses for the patients of the State of New York, which means right now it’s a good day to start studying to become a healthcare professional. HOST #2: That’s right. And due to the lack of staff crisis, there are new incentives to go to nursing school. Alejandro Condis talked to one local nurse today. DANIEL: *Singing* I’d like to be a fish to put my nose against your fishbowl… REPORTER: With the same melodies as this hospice nurse attends to his patients… DANIEL: *Singing* I don’t know how to forget… REPORTER: I met Daniel McCarthy. DANIEL IS IDENTIFIED ON SCREEN AS A VNS HEALTH RN DANIEL: I sing to the patients to cheer them up in their last moments, especially the ones who don’t understand
Neighborhood Spotlight: See Our Mission In Action In This Very Moving Memorial Day Video
May 22, 2023–Arnold Waage was a U.S. Army Specialist during the Vietnam War who was cared for by VNS Health during his last days of life. In this latest Neighborhood Spotlight video Arnold’s wife, Cecilia, talks about their life together and how team members from our Veterans’ Program helped Cecilia keep the Staten Island home she and Arnold had shared for the past 30 years – a home that was filled with memories of their time together. Please click on the link below to watch this moving Memorial Day Tribute.
Freethink features Clinical Director Milena Zaprianova in Story on Terminal Lucidity
April 25, 2023–
Here’s What Some HHA Team Members Had to Say About the New HHAx App!
April 28, 2023–VNS Health is always looking for new ways to support you and make it easier for you to deliver care to your clients. The new HHAeXchange phone app (HHAx) allows you to clock in and clock out of patient visits more easily. In addition, the HHAx app lets you document tasks completed faster and more easily. All this can even speed up processing time for your paycheck. So how’s it going? We connected with several home health aide team members to get their take on the new app and find out how they like earning VNS Health Rewards points for using it. Here’s what they had to say: “It is easy, though it took some getting used to.” —Tamika Jordan, Manhattan “The HHAx app is very easy and straightforward, though it did take some getting used to. It is much simpler than our previous system, and it was very easy
When HHA Sharon Davis Referred Andrea Wilson to Become an HHA…
April 5, 2023–It Was a Win-Win! Sharon Got an Employee Referral Bonus, and Andrea Got HHA Training—and the Perfect Weekend Job! One of the best ways that VNS Health hires home health aides and clinicians is through referrals from our own team members. All referrals are welcome—whether you’re referring a relative, a friend, a colleague you used to work with, or even a casual acquaintance. As you’ll see in the following story, it’s easy to refer someone. While bonus amounts vary depending on the position and location of the job, if you refer a home health aide you could receive a bonus for as much as $500! To learn more and to find out how to make a referral, click here. The Team Members: Sharon Davis, Home Health Aide, Queens Andrea Wilson, Weekend Home Health Aide, Brooklyn The Backstory: Sharon: Andrea and I met about 20 years ago, when our children were
Jim Rolla Shares Creative Solutions to Home Health Industry Challenges in McKnights
March 30, 2023–
VNS Health Extends Its Mission to Other States
January 10, 2023–On January 1st, in a ground-breaking step that will help our organization grow and diversify, VNS Health began managing hospice benefits for Medicare Advantage (MA) members of Vantage Health—a health insurer based in Louisiana that offers MA plans in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. This collaboration is one of the first initiatives to be launched by our Professional Services team. It includes a third partner as well, the nationwide palliative and hospice care provider, Compassus, who will deliver palliative care and hospice services to Vantage MA plan members in their homes. Why It Matters Under its contract with Vantage Health, VNS Health is managing the 2023 hospice benefit for several thousand Vantage MA plan members in the three states where Vantage operates. “This is exciting news for our organization,” says Dan Savitt, President and CEO of VNS Health. “It’s the first example of taking what we do so well here in
Josefina Aquino, Director, Product Management, Shares with Healthcare Business Review How a New MA Model Could Transform End-of-Life Care
November 17, 2022–
Home Healthcare News Spotlights VNS Health HELPS Tool, Featuring Insights from David O’Malley, SVP, Product Strategy
October 24, 2022–
