Quickly Find Out What’s Happening … News Briefs from Around VNSNY!
Welcome to November’s “News Briefs from Around VNSNY”—a Frontline feature that provides brief updates on recent news and events across the organization. If you have a news brief you’d like to be considered for an upcoming edition, please click here.
November is National Home Care and Hospice Month!
Hats off to everyone at VNSNY for helping to provide home care and home hospice services to our patients, clients, and health plan members! Click here to read 5 interesting facts about VNSNY and the home care and hospice industry.
Our Care Management Organization Has a New Name: VNSNY Care360˚Solutions
This branding reflects the comprehensive “360 degree” care management that VNSNY’s recently launched care management organization provides to high-risk insurance plan members. VNSNY Care360˚Solutions is now managing the care of more than 400 CHOICE members, its highest enrollment to date. In addition, the business unit just signed its first contract with an outside insurer, Healthfirst, in which VNSNY Care360˚Solutions will manage the post-acute care of 1,500 Healthfirst members over the next year!
“The way you make people feel is what they remember more than anything” — Hospitality Training Launches
VNSNY has rolled out a hospitality workshop for all employees. A mix of 20 staff members will attend each class, and senior leadership will participate as well. The workshop focuses on the people-centered and communication skills vital for success in work and life. This is one big step in our efforts to foster a culture of hospitality across VNSNY.
VNSNY Hospice Is America’s 8th Largest Hospice Program!
That’s according to the latest data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). With an average monthly census of 1,200-plus patients, VNSNY Hospice is also the largest hospice program in New York State!
VNSNY Makes Official Debut in 2019 NYC Veterans Day Parade
For the first time ever, VNSNY had an official contingent in New York City’s annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11th. The marchers were led by VNSNY Hospice Veterans Program Supervisor Joe Vitti.
Staff Are Saluted for Their Military Service at VNSNY Veterans Breakfast
On November 12th, VNSNY held its own Veterans Breakfast at our 70th Street headquarters for staff members who have served in America’s armed forces. “As a group, you are woven into the fabric of VNSNY,” noted VNSNY President and CEO Marki Flannery in her remarks to the gathering, “and our organization is stronger and wiser as a result.” Click on the slide show below to see VNSNY’s veterans as well as tributes from staff members to their family and friends who served the nation.
$50,645 and Counting for VNSNY’s Charitable Care Programs! Strength from Within Update!
Many thanks to the staff members who have already contributed to our 2019 Strength from Within Employee Giving Campaign. Through your generosity, the campaign has already raised $50,645! Staff members who haven’t yet given but would like more information or are ready to participate, please click here. Reminder: The deadline for donations is December 31, 2019. And to all of our VNSNY colleagues, thank you for the many ways you help ensure New Yorkers receive the care and services they need!
Happy 20th Anniversary, Chinatown Community Center!
On October 17th, more than 400 guests gathered at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association to celebrate VNSNY’s longstanding commitment to New York City’s Chinese American community. The event, marking the 20th anniversary of our Chinatown Community Center, included award presentations to the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association for Community Leadership, to Dr. Henry Chin for Visionary Leadership and Dr. Warren Chin for Physician Leadership. Since its inception in 1999, the VNSNY Chinatown Community Center has served more than 143,280 clients, has more than 10,456 members and hosted more than 4,170 events. Elected officials attending the event included New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh and Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “In addition to recognizing our 20 most dedicated volunteers, we also acknowledged Jack Luk, VNSNY’s multicultural physician liaison, for his 20 years of dedicated service to the Chinatown Community Center as well as our ‘oldest members’ of the Chinatown Community Center and the Chinatown NNORC who are 106 years old and 93 years respectively,” reports Teresa Lin, VNSNY’s Director for Cultural Market Development. Special thanks to the incredible team in Chinatown and all others for putting together such a heartwarming celebration. Click on the slide show below for more photos of the event!
195 First-Time Moms Graduate from Bronx Nurse-Family Partnership!
VNSNY’s Bronx Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) held two ceremonies, on October 3rd and November 7th, to celebrate the graduation of 195 young, first-time mothers from its program. In addition to members of VNSNY leadership and various elected officials, the graduates were joined by their NFP nurses, who provide one-on-one guidance and support to each participating mom starting in pregnancy and continuing through their child’s second birthday. Clarissa Davis-Igle, a former Bronx NFP nurse and supervisor who now serves as NFP Supervisor for New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, addressed both groups, and attendees heard from a number of the newly minted graduates as well. VNSNY President and CEO Marki Flannery also spoke at the October ceremony, while EVP and Chief of Provider Services Andria Castellanos addressed the November ceremony. “We had lots of dads in attendance too!” notes Carol Odnoha, NFP Director for VNSNY.
VNSNY’s Home Care Rolls Out Parachute — an Online Referral Platform
The new digital platform, known as Parachute, will eliminate the use of paper order forms, enabling a faster, more accurate referral process for patients being referred for VNSNY Home Care services by physician practices and skilled nursing facilities. The Parachute system is already being used by these provider groups to order durable medical equipment, so the transition is expected to be a smooth one.
“Billing Blitz” Team Resolves Millions of Dollars in Unbilled Accounts
As VNSNY’s Provider Services continues to adjust to its new electronic medical records system, the number of unbilled visits ballooned earlier this year. To clear out the backlog, an interdepartmental group has been meeting daily at 220 East 42nd Street to conduct a “billing blitz.” In the past six weeks alone, the team—which includes representatives from MD Orders, Intake, Revenue Cycle Department and Operations—has completed and submitted for reimbursement 7,000 previously unbilled patient visits, worth a total of $5 million! The “billing blitz” team consists of: Habeebah Hamid, Naseebah Khan, Latice Hardy-Roker, Asad Esa, Raby Jairam, Benita Bortey, Raaid Lallmohamed, Anny Wan, Adam Lefebvre, Wayne Huang, Lorna Canlas and Lawrence Lepelstat.
Last Wednesday Was Compliance Awareness Day at 220 East 42nd Street!
Wednesday, November 13th was VNSNY Compliance Awareness Day. To mark the occasion, VNSNY’s Compliance team set up shop in the Grand Café at 220 East 42nd Street, where attendees could enjoy food and drinks while learning about VNSNY’s Annual ABC (Always Best to Comply) Compliance and HIPAA Awareness Campaign. “We’ll also be hosting events at the CHOICE Contact Center on December 3rd and the Brooklyn Regional Office on February 27th of next year,” says Annie Miyazki-Grant, SVP and Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer. “Events at other Regional offices will follow as well, so watch for emails from our team with more details!” Event photos are below!
Biometric Screenings, Investment Advice and a Free Chair Massage!
These were all available at VNSNY’s Well-Being Fair, held on October 22nd in the 5th Floor conference area at 220 East 42nd Street and on October 23rd at VNSNY’s Brooklyn office. In addition to getting a stress-relieving shoulder and neck massage, employees had the opportunity to meet with representatives from a range of organizations, including medical institutions, employee benefit companies and financial firms. “The event included a focus on every aspect of people’s well-being—financial, emotional and physical!” explains Angela Courtenay, VNSNY’s Director of Health Services, who helped organize the fair.
VNSNY Development Launches Bequest Challenge
The Development Department has announced the launch of the Levan-Ross Bequest Challenge, sponsored by VNSNY donor and Hospice Bereaved Jeanne Levan and her partner, Robert Ross. For the next 30 new bequest commitments (or other planned gifts) that VNSNY receives, Jeanne and Robert will send a check for $500 for a total contribution of $15,000. In addition, they have made their own generous bequest commitments. It is anticipated that the Challenge will help raise approximately one million dollars in gifts to VNSNY. Read more about Robert and Jeanne’s hospice experiences and the challenge on our website.
Al Roker Speaks at VNSNY Hospice Fundraising Event
Weather and feature anchor of NBC News’ TODAY, Al Roker was the guest speaker at an October 28th VNSNY Hospice cocktail party. The event was one of two “Food for Thought” evenings that together raised $25,000 to help support the delivery of expert, compassionate end-of-life hospice care for New Yorkers.
And in Case You Missed It… Check Out These Amazing Halloween Costumes!
When it comes to Halloween, VNSNY staff members are all in! Click here to see a Frontline slide show featuring the great costumes you and your colleagues wore to work for Halloween this year!
Conferences, Presentations and Honors!
A team from the VNSNY Center for Home Care Policy & Research is attending the Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Austin, Texas from November 13 through 17. Their participation will include presentations of research findings co-authored by Center Director Kathryn Bowles, Center researchers David Russell and Lizeyka Jordan, and Hospice Clinical Nurse Specialist Fran Dooley. The Center will also host a booth at the conference’s exhibition hall, spearheaded by Associate Director Margaret McDonald….
On October 7th, VNSNY teamed with Maimonides Cancer Center, the Chinese American Medical Society and the American Liver Foundation to hold a free Hepatitis B screening and education workshop….
On October 17th, VNSNY’s East 70th Street Headquarters was host to a “Conversations on Cultural Competency” seminar focused on understanding the needs of LGBTQ New Yorkers. Sponsored by the New York-Presbyterian PPS (Performing Provider System), the event brought together health and social service professionals to discuss such issues as culturally competent language and communication protocols for promoting positive interactions with LGBTQ patients and clients. Five VNSNY staffers were featured speakers at the event: Scott Gale, Rhonda Soberman, Lauren Benyola, Shannon Whittington, and Arthur Fitting….
On November 6th, Shannon Whittington, Clinical Director of VNSNY’s Gender Affirmation Program, gave an educational presentation to local members of the National Nurses Honor Society on gender affirmation surgery nursing and other transgender health issues. The event was organized by Arthur Fitting, Deborah Wilson, Patricia Johnson, Seema Madhavan and Joan Benzie….
Hayley Gonzalez, a nurse with VNSNY’s Bronx Nurse-Family Partnership, was selected from among hundreds of applicants to be one of 40 recipients of a Seleni Maternal Mental Health training scholarship. Through the scholarship, sponsored by the Seleni Institute, she will receive intensive online clinical training in the diagnosis and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders….
Sergey Bahdasaryan of Recruiting and Staffing was named a 2018-2019 Outstanding Commitment Award winner by CUNY Citizenship Now! for his work with the organization, which provides free immigration law services to individuals and families on their path to U.S. citizenship….
And congratulations to Peter Conforti, Senior Financial Analyst, who completed this year’s New York City Marathon in 4:04:18. Peter notes, “I couldn’t have done it without the cheers and support throughout the year from my family, friends, team, and various employees here at VNSNY!”
