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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Watch the Debut Episode of “30 Minutes with Dan” — An Exciting New Talk Show Hosted by CEO Dan Savitt and Featuring Your VNSNY Co-Workers!
February 23, 2021–In a VNSNY first, we’re pleased to announce “30 Minutes with Dan” — an exciting new 30-minute video talk show hosted by VNSNY CEO Dan Savitt. This 30-minute program is designed to be watched in a single sitting or in bits and pieces — whichever works best for you. In each episode, Dan chats with different staff members on topics that are of interest to all of us, shares an interesting fact about VNSNY, gives someone a special “High-5” for a job well done, and takes viewers “Around with Dan” as he heads into the field to talk with staff. In this first episode of the series, Dan discusses the meaning and promise of Black History Month with his featured guests: Shama Barrett, Karen Boothe, Edgar Allan Juane, Christina Lomax, Keith Peters and Osman Thomas. To watch this episode, click on the screen below.
Important: New Partners in Care Supervisor Phone Number
February 22, 2021–Dear Partners in Care Home Health Aides: Starting today, Tuesday, February 23, please use this phone number:212-609-4442 to contact your Supervisor, Payroll, Compliance, HR/Benefits or if you are looking for work. Once you are connected, you will be prompted to enter your supervisor’s phone extension which can be found by clicking here. Thank you.
We Will Stop Administering First Doses of COVID Vaccine After March 20th — So Make an Appointment to Get the Vaccine Now, While Slots Are Still Available!
February 19, 2021–We have made the decision to end VNSNY’s COVID-19 vaccine program on Saturday, March 20th for first doses. After that date, our VNSNY Vaccine Clinic will only be administering second doses of vaccine to individuals who have already received their first dose there. So please make your appointment to get vaccinated now, if you haven’t already. How to Schedule a COVID Vaccination Appointment To make an appointment at VNSNY’s Vaccine Clinic at 220 East 42nd Street: fill out a Vaccine Request form by clicking here. Home health aides can also schedule a vaccine appointment at VNSNY by calling 212-609-4126. (For Chinese-speaking home health aides, call 212-609-7776.) If you get a recording, leave your name and phone number, and a scheduler will call you back. All Home Health Aides Will Receive an Extra $100 After Your Second COVID Vaccine Dose! The Moderna COVID vaccine is given in two shots, 28 days apart, by VNSNY
Get both doses of the COVID vaccine, and $100 will be added to your next paycheck!
February 17, 2021–Dear Partners in Care Home Health Aide, VNSNY is offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to all Partners in Care home health aides. We are strongly encouraging aides to be vaccinated as soon as possible, before VNSNY’s vaccination program ends. To schedule your vaccine appointment at VNSNY, please call 212-609-4126 now, before the program ends. If you reach a recording, leave your name and phone number and a scheduler will call you back. The vaccine is given in two shots, 28 days apart, by VNSNY nurses. Every aide who has received the second shot will receive $100 (less required taxes) as compensation for the time you took off from work to get vaccinated, and in appreciation for doing the right thing for yourself, your patients, and your families. If you have already received your two vaccine doses, you will also receive the $100. Watch for the payment labelled “VACPTO” on your
Must-See Video: Wonder What It’s Like to Get Vaccinated at Our VACCINATE VNSNY! Clinic?
February 12, 2021–Now you can see just how easy it is to get vaccinated at our 220 East 42nd Street VACCINATE VNSNY! Clinic. In this short video, you can see exactly what happens when you come in to get vaccinated, from beginning to end. You’ll also meet some of the dedicated VNSNY staffers in the clinic who are working so hard to protect us from COVID-19! To view the video, click below.
Dr. Jay Dobkin and Dr. Ritchell Dignam Explain Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
February 11, 2021–Frontline spoke with Dr. Jay Dobkin, Chief Medical Officer of VNSNY CHOICE and a communicable disease expert, and Dr. Ritchell Dignam, Chief Medical Officer for VNSNY Provider Services, about why it’s more important than ever that you get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as you are eligible. Here are seven essential things they’d like you to know about the COVID-19 vaccine, and why you shouldn’t wait to get it. COVID-19 vaccines are among the most effective vaccines in history. In a study of 30,000 people, the Moderna vaccine (the vaccine used by VNSNY) was found to be nearly 95% effective—a remarkable number in the fight against COVID-19. The Pfizer vaccine showed similar results, and the newer COVID vaccines aren’t far behind in terms of efficacy. There are several reasons for this success. Researchers had already invested years in developing vaccines for other kinds of coronaviruses before we even knew about
Friends & Family Standby Vaccination Program Expanded!
February 11, 2021–Dear Colleagues, We are expanding our Vaccine Standby Program to any individual who meets the criteria for New York’s Phase 1a, and 1b (as of 2/15/2021). This includes individuals under 65 with select health conditions, as well as certain categories of frontline essential workers (e.g., teachers, first responders, grocery workers, transit workers). New York’s eligibility criteria are detailed here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility.page As part of this Standby Program, we will be administering doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine that remain at the end-of-the-day to eligible friends/family of VNSNY employees. If you have friends or family members you would like to include in this program, please read the program requirements below and then click here to submit an eligible individual. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND DETAILS Who is eligible to participate in the program? Any friend or family member of yours who meets the criteria for Phase 1a, 1b, and 1c (as of 2/15/2021), and
Information on Non-VNSNY Vaccination Sites
February 7, 2021–All individuals aged 12 and older are eligible to show up as walk-ins at COVID vaccination sites across the city—with no appointment needed. Click here for a complete list of the “walk-in” NYC vaccination sites in all five boroughs along with their hours of operation. For residents of New York State, please check this website for eligible groups but it does include home care workers (including VNSNY field clinicians and all home health aides); doctors, nurses and other health care workers; people age 12 and over; first responders, teachers, public transit workers, grocery store workers and public safety workers; and people with certain underlying conditions. The New York State DOH website has vaccine information and where to find sites near you by clicking here. For New York City vaccination centers in NYC, click here. Or call the hotline to set up a vaccine appointment, call 1-877-VAX-4NYC (1-877-829-4692). For residents of New Jersey, information on getting the COVID-19
Black History Month at VNSNY: Meet Jessie Sleet Scales, the First African American Public Health Nurse
February 3, 2021–As part of VNSNY’s recognition of Black History Month, Frontline is featuring profiles of several pioneering African American nurses. Today’s profile, the first in the series, spotlights Jessie Sleet Scales, the first African American Public Health Nurse. To read the profile of Elizabeth Tyler, VNSNY’s first African American nurse, click here. To read the profile of Edith Carter, VNSNY’s second African American nurse, click here. Jessie Sleet Scales was born in Ontario, Canada just as the American Civil War was ending in 1865, and would go on to help found the Stillman House Settlement—a branch of VNSNY (known then as the Henry Street Settlement Visiting Nurse Service) on Manhattan’s West Side. In 1895, Jessie graduated from the Provident Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago—the first African American-owned and operated hospital in America, and the first to host a school dedicated towards educating Black women in nursing, during a time in American history where