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National Nurses Month Special: Saluting Years of Dedicated Service
May 11, 2022–This year, in celebration of National Nurses Month, VNSNY honors—and thanks— all of the nurses whose hard work and dedication make such a vital and colossal contribution, and difference, to the lives of our patients, clients and members across the organization. As a special highlight, Frontline spoke to the longest-serving nurses in each part of the organization. Click on their names to go directly to their stories or just scroll here to read them all! Myrna Agosto Susan Banner Myra Cohen Eloise Goldberg Lisa Miller Elisabeth Regis Karen Terry Betty Velez Nancy Washburn Deborah Wilson Myrna Agosto, Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Queens/Brooklyn Mobile Crisis Unit, Behavioral Health — 33 years at VNSNY “I see the possibilities.” As a psychiatric nurse practitioner in the Queens/Brooklyn Mobile Crisis Unit, Myrna Agosto spends her days working with vulnerable patients at very difficult times in their lives. “Typically, we’ll get a referral
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The “10 Moments” When Home Healthcare Workers Should Clean Their Hands
May 7, 2019–This past Sunday wasn’t just Cinco de Mayo. It was also World Hand Hygiene Day! For anyone in the health care business, washing hands or using hand sanitizer is one of the single most important things you can do to ensure your own health and the health of your patients. According to the World Health Organization, good hand hygiene can prevent health care-acquired infections caused by microorganisms that can survive for hours on the hands of healthcare providers, if they’re not cleaned properly. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control notes that some providers practice hand hygiene less than half of the times they should. “Hand hygiene is a simple and effective way to prevent the transmission of dangerous microorganisms,” says VNSNY Infection Prevention Specialist Victoria Adams. “But despite everything we know about how hand hygiene protects patients’ health, studies show that many providers are still not practicing
Can We Talk? Announcing the 10,000 Conversations Initiative!
April 24, 2019–Have you heard? VNSNY just launched a new, enterprise-wide communications initiative, 10,000 Conversations: A Culture of Connection. The goal is for every VNSNY employee to have at least two networking conversations with a colleague in another department by the end of this year. “Just two 15-minute conversations—that’s all it takes,” says Ted Traver, Direct Response Manager for VNSNY’s Development Department, who was part of the group that designed the initiative. “If everyone participates, we can achieve 10,000 conversations across VNSNY!” By helping people learn about areas of VNSNY outside their own department, adds Ted, these conversations will bring the organization closer together and promote collaboration. For a tip sheet and information on how to find a conversation partner, visit this 10,000 Conversations information page on the VNSNY Intranet. The page includes a “10,000 Conversations Log” where you can track who you spoke with and share what you learned. Department supervisors can also
Put Frontline VNSNY on Your Phone!
March 13, 2019– To add the Frontline icon to your iPhone screen, just follow these 6 easy steps: Open Safari. Go to – frontline.vnsny.org Tap the “Share” button…usually at the bottom of the screen. (It’s the box with the Up arrow.) Tap Add to Home Screen…you may need to scroll right Click “Add” at the top right of the screen The Frontline icon will appear on your home screen Directions for adding the Frontline icon to your Android screen: Open Chrome or Firefox Go to – frontline.vnsny.org Tap the “Menu” button…usually at the top right of the screen – it’s the box with the Up arrow For Chrome – Tap Add to Home Screen from the list of options For Firefox – Tap Page from the list of options and then tap Add Page Shortcut The Frontline Icon will appear on your home screen Read the latest VNSNY news on the subway, bus, or commuter train. Put Frontline on your phone today!
New VNSNY Interactive Timeline Showcases 125 Years of Caring
October 11, 2018–Since 1893, VNSNY’s many contributions to health care and New York have been nothing short of remarkable. In addition to pioneering public health approaches that are now in use worldwide—including preventive hygiene, the tracking of infectious disease, and community vaccination programs—Lillian Wald and her successors literally invented the field of home care. In celebration of VNSNY’s 125th anniversary, we’ve collected many of our organization’s pivotal moments in a new illustrated interactive timeline, which includes images, video footage, and content for you to discover. To explore this fascinating journey through the past century and a quarter of VNSNY’s history, simply click on the link VNSNY Interactive Timeline.
New York Times Ad Highlights What VNSNY Does Every Day—That Is, What You Do Every Day!
May 24, 2018–This past Sunday, May 20th, VNSNY’s new “Touching Lives” branding campaign debuted in New York Times Magazine’s annual Health Issue. The ad, depicting a VNSNY clinician providing physical therapy to an elderly New Yorker, appeared on page 19—directly opposite an installment of Dr. Lisa Sanders’ popular medical mysteries column “Diagnosis.” Circulation of The New York Times Magazine is over one million—more than one-third of whom live within the New York metropolitan area—with an estimated three-plus readers per copy. “The fact that this ad is also reaching millions of readers outside New York is an added benefit, since many of those readers are transplants with loved ones living in our service area,” notes Catherine Callaway, Vice President, Marketing and Development. VNSNY’s “Touching Lives” campaign will continue throughout 2018. Another major VNSNY ad placement will take place next month in New York magazine’s Top Doctors issue, which is immensely popular among consumers as
Moving to 220 East 42nd Street? Here Are Seven Key Updates You May Find Helpful
May 23, 2018–Starting in August, VNSNY’s workforce at 1250 Broadway will begin moving to our new location at 220 East 42nd Street. Here are some key updates: 1) The renovation of Floor 7 is now complete, and furniture has been delivered and is being installed on the floor. The remaining floors—VNSNY will occupy three full floors and parts of four others— are in various stages of completion. 2) Coming soon: The exact dates of each department’s move. Specific departmental move dates should be available by the time of the VNSNY Move Fair (see Key Update #3). 3) Mark your calendars: The VNSNY Move Fair will take place at 1250 Broadway on July 16th and 17th. Photographs from the construction of the new offices will be revealed at the Move Fair, and the VNSNY Move Team hopes to be able to share finalized floor locations for each department as well. You’ll
Legendary Nurse Marilyn Liota Looks Back—Part 5: Marilyn Responds to Your Questions!
May 1, 2018–We received many emails from people across VNSNY commenting on how this series has resonated with them, in terms of both Marilyn’s own experiences and how her story highlights the history and ongoing importance of VNSNY’s mission. “I’m really enjoying reading the feature you have compiled,” wrote one VNSNY staff member. “It is an incredible perspective on the changes in nursing and health care over the years, and gives one an appreciation of the work that VNSNY continues to do. I think it is especially important, during this time of transition at VNSNY and in health care throughout the U.S., to have someone look back and say: ‘See, over the last 50 years there have been drastic changes and we’ve managed to pull through and become better and continue our mission.’ It also gives those of us who are not clinicians a deeper appreciation for all that our nurses, HHAs, therapists,
Legendary Nurse Marilyn Liota Looks Back—Part 4: The 1990s and 2000s
April 25, 2018–To celebrate VNSNY’s 125th anniversary, Frontline VNSNY is publishing a four-part reminiscence by legendary former VNSNY nurse, Marilyn Liota. During her six decades at VNSNY, from 1952 to 2012, Marilyn rose from a field nurse to become the Regional Administrator and Vice President for Home Care in Queens. During this time, she saw incredible changes, both in New York City’s patient population and at VNSNY. As you read these installments, we invite you to submit any questions you might have for Marilyn. Her replies will be posted as a special feature during National Nurses Week. Your questions can be emailed to Michael Delaney. In this final installment, Marilyn recalls working for VNSNY in the 1990s and 2000s, as the organization continued to add new capabilities to meet the needs of an evolving healthcare landscape. VNSNY in the 1990s and 2000s: The Organization Continues to Diversify Following FDA approval of the first
The VNSNY CHOICE Provider Call Center: Ready for Any Challenge
April 11, 2018–Every weekday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., a team of 22 skilled associates in the VNSNY CHOICE Provider Call Center respond to as many as 700 phone calls from VNSNY CHOICE Health Plans’ care providers. Wearing headsets and answering the calls on their “soft” phones (which send silent alerts directly from their computer screen), these adept VNSNY customer service representatives address the concerns of medical professionals ranging from doctors’ offices and hospitals to skilled nursing facilities and adult day care centers. The majority of the calls are related to the status of various claims, but when a Call Center CHOICE staffer answers with a friendly, “Thank you for calling VNSNY CHOICE Provider Services—how may I help you today?” she or he is ready to assist with whatever the challenge may be. If it’s a pharmacy calling, the customer service rep will redirect the call to a different help desk.