HHA Resources
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 2024 Halloween Selfies and Photos Are Here!
November 5, 2024–VNS Health team members — and their friends and family — certainly had a lot of fun this Halloween! Click through the slideshow to see the scary, creative, adorable, and funny costumes that were sent in from across the organization! Thanks to everyone who submitted their photos! If you have any additional pictures to share, please send them in by clicking here. Happy Halloween from VNS Health!
Meet Our 2024 James R. Withrow Jr. Home Health Aide of the Year Winner: Monica White
October 29, 2024–There’s nothing that brings Personal Care Home Health Aide Monica White greater reward than helping her clients achieve the goals they set for themselves that day. It could be getting out to the store, or dinner in a restaurant—something that brings them joy, but that they wouldn’t be able to accomplish without her. “I make a difference in their day because they know there is someone to rely on, someone to help get them out of the house,” says Monica, who has been with VNS Health for more than 10 years. “There is a trust that I will come, and it gives them assurance that someone will always be there for them. They look forward to seeing me and it provides a routine.” She is also there for her clients’ families. “I like being able to help the family caregivers,” she says. “Some of them are so overloaded. I’m so
Meet Our ESPRIT Award Winner: Ellen Percoco-Pilutis
October 29, 2024–Ellen Percoco-Pilutis, Clinical Case Manager for VNS Health Personal Care, is a great listener. In fact, that act of listening is responsible for her entry into a career that demands deep and active listening. She had worked as an owner of a Carvel Ice Cream franchise for 21 years when one day her daughter said to her, “You like being with older people—why don’t you try working for VNS Health Personal Care?” Ellen listened—and pivoted to work as a home health aide for the agency. Sometime later, she had her ears open once again when she had a conversation in a Target with a nursing school student—and got to thinking. She asked if there were any age limits to becoming a nurse, then registered for nursing school at age 56. “VNS Health supported me through nursing school,” Ellen says, expressing deep gratitude. Gale Storm-Bryant, Senior Nurse Instructor, Personal Care, told
2024 Personal Care Honor Awards: Here’s the Full List – and Photos!
October 11, 2024–The Personal Care Honor Awards ceremony was held on Thursday, October 3rd at 5 Penn Plaza, where Personal Care has their offices. Here below is a complete list of all the Personal Care team members who received Honor Awards. Congratulations to all the winners! Aura Castillo, HHA, was presented with the Richard Flender Grace Award for showing grace under pressure. One morning earlier this year, Aura arrived at work and found her patient hunched over on the sofa, unconscious. Aura immediately called 911 and, with their assistance, was able to resuscitate her patient. Sharon George, HHA, won the Stephen V.R. Goodhue Spirit Award for her generosity, calm attitude, and amazing reliability. Ellen Percoco-Pilutis, Clinical Care Manager, received the Clinical Professional Excellence Award. Ellen was recognized for her knowledge, hard work, team spirit, and for leading with excellence and passion. Shama Barrett, Unit Manager, was the winner of the Management
See Our Community Outreach in Action!
November 8, 2023–From street fairs and health fairs to neighborhood celebrations, representatives from our Health Plans and other VNS Health teams are a familiar presence around New York City. In this video “VNS Health In-Action” reporter Isaac Lama is on the scene to interview Community Outreach team members and residents of the community about how VNS Health has impacted their lives. Watch here below to see this lively report on why our Community Outreach teams are so important.
The 2023 Halloween Selfies Are Here!
November 6, 2023–VNS Health team members — and their friends and family — certainly had a lot of fun this Halloween! Click through the slideshow to see the scary, creative, adorable, and funny costumes that were sent in from across the organization! Thanks to everyone who submitted their photos! If you have any additional pictures to share, please send them in by clicking here. Happy Halloween from VNS Health!
20 Minutes with Dan: Caring for Older New Yorkers—from “Grand Dames” to the 100-Year-Old-Plus Club!
October 24, 2023–In this latest episode of “20 Minutes with Dan,” CEO Dan Savitt spotlights how team members are delivering our mission to patients, members and clients in their 80s, 90s and even 100s. Watch this “five-hanky episode” here bellow. On-the-Go Segments Dan’s Intro, “How We Care” Team Member Slide Show, and “I’m a Grand Dame!” Cameo—Part 1 101-Year-Old Ruth and HHA Veronica Egharevba, RN Judith Spencer-Thomas and PT Steve Wong—Part 2 “Uncle Lew’s” Story with Care Coordinator Yan Ying Su and HHA Shu Mei Guan—Part 3 Justina’s Story With Psychiatric Social Worker Evelyn Pozo—Part 4 Rosa’s Story with Geriatric Mental Health Specialist Beth Glick and a Big High 5—Part 5
The Great Rainfall of September 2023, Seen Through the Eyes of VNS Health Team Members
October 6, 2023–Over eight inches of rain recorded in a single day in New York City … flash floods across the metropolitan area… half of the city’s subway lines closed down… streets turned to ponds… snarled traffic… delayed plane flights—no question, that was one massive and historic rainfall that hit the New York area on Friday, September 29! VNS Health frontline team members are famous for overcoming obstacles and delivering care in every type of weather, no matter how bad. As you’ll see in the stories that follow, they rose to the occasion yet again in the Great Rainfall of September 2023 with its thunderous rain that just wouldn’t quit. Here’s their report: Soaked shoes, happy client “I had to battle through the storm and floods, shoes all soaked, so my client could be taken care of,” recalls home health aide Carlos Cruz. He adds that the reception he got was worth
From HHA to RN: Donna Wilson’s Inspiring Journey
August 15, 2023–When Clinical Care Manager Donna Wilson started working as a home health aide (HHA) at VNS Health, she had a vision that she would one day become a registered nurse (RN). As a child growing up in Guyana, health care became her passion thanks to her paternal grandmother, who was a nurse. Her grandmother would often take Donna with her to work, where she mostly cared for elderly patients. “That’s where my love for the geriatric population began,” says Donna. “That feeling continues today. I have a love for seniors, and the sentiment seems to be mutual.” From HHA to RN Donna served as a teacher and an assistant tax inspector in Guyana prior to moving to the United States in 1989. In the U.S., she worked in insurance and banking before becoming an HHA in Personal Care (then known as Partners in Care). Donna was drawn to the position