Latest News Briefs: Catch Up Quickly!

Frontline is excited to present our latest News Briefs—your quick and easy way to catch up on news and events from across the organization over the past few months.

If you have any news or happenings that you’d like to submit for consideration in an upcoming edition, please click here.

VNS Health Creates Home Care Nursing Scholarship with Touro University  

VNS Health is partnering with Touro University’s New York School of Career and Applied Studies to provide scholarships that cover all educational expenses for Touro’s five-semester Associate Nursing Degree program, including tuition, textbooks and other fees. In exchange, scholarship recipients pledge to join VNS Health Home Care as full-time nurses for at least two years following graduation and will also work at VNS Health as paid interns in between semesters. The program’s curriculum includes home-care specific courses not typically offered in nursing school, which will be taught by VNS Health nurses. With the fall semester now in full swing, the first group of scholarship students has begun attending classes at Touro’s Times Square campus. The plan is to have 20 students enter the program each September and January. Anyone interested in becoming a nurse is welcome to apply. Click here for detailed information about the program as well as the requirements.

Job Well Done! Here Are Our Most Recent ABCD and Initiative Award Winners!  

Here they are from across the organization, all in one place—the most recent group of VNS Health team members who received ABCD Awards or Initiative Awards for going above and beyond in their work. The list, which covers from June 1st to August 31st, features 444 VNS Health team members. Congratulations to all! Click here to view the awardees’ names.

Crain’s Names VNS Health Health Plans to Its 2024 Best Places to Work in NYC List

Our Health Plans team has been named to the 2024 Crain’s New York Business list of Best Places to Work in New York City. We were selected for this list based largely on feedback from our own Health Plans team members via an independent Crain’s survey on employee engagement, technology and benefits. This is an important recognition that will help us recruit and retain top talent. For more information about the Crain’s list, click here.  In addition, below are photos from the celebration event at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, where team members from Health Plans and our HR team were present to receive the recognition.

Michelle Antonucci Featured in a Story Collider Podcast About Caring for Her Deaf Mother

Sometimes life throws a curveball and children end up being the ones looking after their parents. This is the theme of a just released Story Collider podcast featuring our own Michelle Antonucci, Director, HR Shared Services Operations.  Michelle told her story about caring for her deaf mother in front of a live audience (and without notes!) earlier this year in lower Manhattan. 

To hear Michelle’s moving story, click here.

Congratulations to Our Latest Nurse Residency Graduates!  

Furdicia Morancie, Aaliyah Butler, and Petro Romanko are our newest Nurse Residency Program graduates as of September 2024! The VNS Health Nurse Residency Program is a comprehensive, two-year program designed to help make the growing field of home-care nursing more accessible to new nurses. The curriculum includes several weeks of daily classes, after which the nurse residents shadow experienced VNS Health nurse preceptors in the field, gaining invaluable hands-on experience, skills, and confidence. For more about the Nurse Residency Program, click here.

Congressman Ritchie Torres Joins VNS Health Clinicians on Bronx Home Visit 

On September 3rd, Congressman Ritchie Torres joined VNS Health RN Jean Verlus and social worker Margarita Roldan on a home visit in the Bronx to a VNS Health Home Care patient (and Torres constituent). The visit, which was covered on social media, was an opportunity for VNS Health and Representative Torres to jointly publicize the need for improved access to home care in the South Bronx and other “home care deserts.” To see our post on LinkedIn, click here.

Congressman Torres has been an important champion for home health. At our request, he is leading a New York delegation letter calling on the Biden Administration to halt next year’s Medicare cuts to home care, and will be taking other actions in Congress aimed at stopping these cuts over the long run.

Latest “10 Minutes with Keith” Gives Financial Update for the First Half of 2024

In the latest “10 Minutes with Keith” video, host and Chief Financial Officer Keith Patterson walks viewers through important financial factors that shaped the first two quarters of 2024 at VNS Health and takes a look at what’s ahead for the rest of the year. Keith also sits down with Jim Rolla, SVP, Personal Care and Teresa Lin, VP, Cultural Market Development to chat about growth opportunities across the organization. To watch the video, click here.

Our Brooklyn Office Moves to a New Location—See the Photos!  

On July 15th, VNS Health’s Brooklyn office moved two blocks to a new 21,000-square-foot space on the 5th floor of 1715 East 13th Street. The office is home to our Behavioral Health, Home Care, Hospice, Business Development and Legal teams, and offers touchdown stations for visiting team members. The move is part of the organization’s ongoing push to reduce its real estate footprint and related costs: The previous Brooklyn office, which had been occupied by VNS Health since November 2006, was nearly three times the size of the new space.

R.A.I.N. Organization Presents Legacy Award to VNS Health CEO Dan Savitt

On September 12th, the New York City-based organization R.A.I.N. presented VNS Health CEO Dan Savitt with one of its Legacy Awards at the organization’s annual Gala. This year’s event celebrated the 60th anniversary of R.A.I.N., which provides personal care, housing support and other services to Bronx seniors, and also runs a number of older adult centers in the Bronx and upper Manhattan. Accepting the award on Dan’s behalf was Michael Bernstein, EVP and Chief Experience Officer. A number of other VNS Health senior leaders were in attendance as well. To see photos of the event, click on the slide show below.

VNS Health Team Members Enjoy a Yankees/Mets Game and Raise Money for Nurse Residency Program—Photos!  

On July 23rd, 98 VNS Health team members convened for a fun-filled evening at Yankee Stadium, where they watched the Yankees take on the Mets in a Subway Series contest. Each ticket came with a New York Yankees hat bearing the VNS Health logo. A portion of the proceeds from each ticket sale went towards VNS Health’s Nurse Residency Program, raising a total of $980. See the photos here!

CDC Adds New Code for Sepsis Aftercare Based on VNS Health Research  

On October 1, a new “Encounter for Sepsis Aftercare” diagnostic code (z51A) will be added to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) list. When included in a patient’s medical records, the new code will alert care providers that the patient recently had sepsis while in the hospital so they can develop their plan of care accordingly. Patients who have had sepsis require close monitoring after discharge from a hospital to prevent readmission. More than 20% of sepsis survivors are rehospitalized within 30 days of discharge. Among those readmitted, nearly one-third are readmitted within seven days. The need for this new code was first identified in a 2020 study by VNS Health researchers. Dr. Kathryn Bowles, Director of the Center for Home Care Policy & Research at VNS Health, and her team then led a successful effort to convince the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the need for the new diagnostic code. Improved communication and identification of sepsis survivors may lead to improved outcomes for the 1.7 million Americans who survive a sepsis episode each year. Read more about the study in VNS Health TODAY by clicking here.

To Meet the Bronx Community’s Evolving Needs, VNS Health’s Bronx Behavioral Health Clinic Expands Its Services  

VNS Health’s Behavioral Health clinic in the Bronx (formerly the FRIENDS clinic) is in the final stages of transitioning to the federal Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model in order to better meet the community’s evolving needs. Supported by a $4 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the evidence-based CCBHC model offers rapid access to integrated behavioral health care at no cost. As a part of this integrated approach, VNS Health, for the first time, will be providing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment to the residents of the South Bronx in addition to mental health services. The expanded clinic is expected to be fully operational by the end of September. To read about how the CCBHC model extends VNS Health’s mission and contributes to our Top Company Objectives, click here.

Each Month We’ve Been Asking Our HHA Team Members to Tell Us About Themselves. Read What They Said!

Each month this year we’ve asked our HHAs a question about themselves for a chance to win a $200 raffle. Three winners are then chosen at random from those HHAs who answer the question of the month. From special ways they take care of themselves each day, to favorite foods they like to make for their clients, to tips for activities to do with clients, we can see what makes VNS Health HHAs so amazing. Click here to check out what we’ve learned.

Homecare Homebase Honors VNS Health  

In June, VNS Health was honored at the Homecare Homebase (HCHB) conference in Las Vegas with a Home Health KPI Excellence designation, awarded to clients in the top 3% for 60-day re-hospitalization rates. The award was accepted by Elsa Lam, Vice President, Regional Patient Care, who attended the conference with VNS Health colleagues Minerva Gamarra, Laura Garcia, Catherine Schaefer, Jared Shure, Naseebah Khan, Ted Barszewski, Habeebah Hamid and Bob Orlando. The VNS Health team also participated in pre-conference cabinet sessions where they gave input on upcoming HCHB products.

Asha Lyons Recognized for Her Contributions to the LGBTQIA+ Community  

On June 14th, Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson recognized Asha Lyons, a social worker with VNS Health’s Gender Affirmation Program (GAP), for her “hard work in the Bronx and commitment to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community in New York City.” Asha joined other Bronx luminaries who were recognized by the Bronx Borough President’s Office during this year’s Pride Month.

VNS Health Hosts Community Campaign on Lung Cancer and Mental Health Awareness  

Earlier this summer, VNS Health hosted two press conferences and a series of educational workshops on lung cancer and mental health awareness, respectively. VNS Health team members were joined at the press conference hosted at the Chinatown Community Center by a number of community partners, including the Coalition of Asian-American IPA (CAIPA), the Chinese American Medical Society (CAMS), the Association of Chinese American Physicians (ACAP), NYU Langone Health and Maimonides. The press conference was covered by the Chinese media outlets NTDTV, Sing Tao Daily, China Press, and Epoch Times. The mental health awareness campaign was a partnership with Rendr which included a press conference hosted at the Flushing Community Center.

“Lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, and there’s been an increase in its rate among non-smoking Asian women,” explains Teresa Lin, Vice President, Cultural Market Development. “Events like these raise awareness of how lung cancer screening and early detection can improve health outcomes and quality of life.  In addition, Teresa noted, “mental health issues are often stigmatized in the Chinese community, and raising awareness can help reduce this stigma and encourage individuals to seek help.”

City Hall Rally Supports Funding for Community Health Programs  

On June 11th, City Hall in Manhattan was the site of a rally organized by VNS Health’s community partners, InUnity Alliance, UJA Federation of NY, United Neighborhood Houses, and Citizen’s Committee for Children of NY. New York City Council Member Eric Bottcher and several local program leaders and clinicians discussed the crucial needs facing our communities and called on the City Council members to provide full funding to community health programs that benefit vulnerable New Yorkers.

Our Behavioral Health team had a strong presence at the rally, with Deirdre DeLeo speaking on behalf of VNS Health, “These funds are vital for organizations like VNS Health to continue providing critical lifesaving services to all New Yorkers who need them,” Deirdre noted.

Inside News: Two New Columns Debut on Frontline

On July 23rd, two new columns were launched on Frontline: Inside Provider Services with David Rosales and Inside Health Plans with John Burke. The two columns will provide regular insights from David and John on the areas of VNS Health they oversee.

• Inside Provider Services takes a closer look at Home Care, Hospice, Behavioral Health, Personal Care and our Care Management Organization (CMO), spotlighting the great work these teams are doing.

• Inside Health Plans gives perspective on what’s taking place in our Health Plans, including their expansion across upstate New York and the opening of walk-in Neighborhood Offices in underserved communities.

Check them both out today!

Our Health Plans Provider Network Just Got Even Better!   

On August 1st, VNS Health signed an agreement with NYC Health + Hospitals (the municipal health care system administered by the City of New York) to expand our Health Plans provider network across all five boroughs with the addition of 11 hospitals and their affiliated facilities. The agreement adds hundreds of providers across our Health Plans product portfolio, which includes VNS Health EasyCare, EasyCare Plus, SelectHealth, and Total. This is the first time that NYC Health + Hospitals has participated in our Health Plans provider network, marking a significant milestone for the organization.

“The expansion of our provider network aligns with our mission to care for the underserved and vulnerable populations of NYC,” said David Robinson, Vice President, Sales and Partnership Development. “These providers practice in the same neighborhoods where we are engaging thousands of plan members every year and enrolling them into our Health Plans. We made this enhancement to our provider network so we can meet our members right where they live.”

Kathryn Bowles and Max Topaz Among Top Three Most Prolific Nursing Infomatics Authors in the World! 

On July 28th, at the International Nursing Informatics Conference in Manchester, England, VNS Health’s Center for Home Care Policy & Research director Kathy Bowles was honored as the most prolific author in nursing informatics worldwide, outshining 1,555 other researchers in the field. Research Center senior scientist Max Topaz, a former mentee of Bowles, secured the third spot. The study, which analyzed literature from 1989 to 2023, highlights the organization’s commitment to leading-edge research and policy development.

“This recognition underscores the critical role VNS Health plays in advancing clinical decision support, evidence-based practice, and nursing informatics,” said Kathy, who also serves as Professor and van Ameringen Chair in Nursing Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania. “We have strong, prolific teams, and their ability to produce groundbreaking work is supported by the participation of clinicians, patients and caregivers, as well as the robust resources available through our partnerships with prestigious academic institutions.”

Need HR and Benefits Info? Introducing Our New HR Hub…  

In response to feedback on the need to strengthen the employee experience, on July 24th our HR team launched the new HR Hub. Located on the VNS Health Intranet, the HR Hub is a one-stop online shop where team members and people managers can access resources and support when and where they’re needed, from HR-related information on benefits to on-demand learning tools. You can find training materials for the HR Hub here, and please reach out to [email protected] if your team would like a live tour or training on the HR Hub.

… And Our New Employee Handbook

The HR team has also published a new Employee Handbook, a comprehensive, easy-to-understand and navigate online resource that provides you with key information on policies and procedures related to your employment with VNS Health. The handbook covers employment practices on a variety of topics including: workplace conduct, benefits, leaves of absence, compensation, timekeeping/attendance, learning and development, performance, recruitment, health, safety, and security and much more. A link to it can be found here. For additional support, reach out to your HR Business Partner or HRConnect team. Access to HRConnect can be found on the HR Hub.

Health Plans Participate in Upstate New York Golf Scramble  

On September 9th, VNS Health joined the Addictions Care Center of Albany (ACCA) at their “Step Aside Scramble” golf outing as one of the sponsors for the event. ACCA has long been a part of the community, strengthening the lives and improving the futures of thousands of individuals in the Capital Region. VNS Health is excited to have ACCA in-network as one of our valued participating providers for our Health Plans, and we look forward to supporting ACCA as a valued partner as we continue to expand in upstate New York!

Senior Physical Therapist Billy Campbell and PT Student Fatima Choudry Featured on APTA’s “Home Health on the Go” Podcast—See the Video!

The American Physical Therapist Association’s “Home Health on the Go” podcast featured Senior Physical Therapist Billy Campbell and PT Student Fahima Choudry on a recent episode. During their segment, Fatima reflected on her experiences in the VNS Health PT Student Affiliations Program and shared how Billy’s mentorship as her Clinical Instructor helped her gain the confidence she needed to succeed. In turn, Billy elaborated on his work as a PT in home care and explained what makes this specialization so unique. You can watch a video recording of their interview by clicking here.

A Banner Year for Interns at VNS Health This Summer!  

This past summer, VNS Health welcomed 71 interns to our 10-week internship program—our highest number of participants ever. The interns worked with teams across the organization, from Government Affairs, IT and Finance to Home Care, Legal and Behavioral Health. 

Some of our summer interns shared their thoughts on what they found most meaningful about their experience here at VNS Health. To see their comments and some photos, watch the slideshow below—and for a complete list of this year’s interns, click here.   

To see past editions of News Briefs, click here.