Team Members in the Media: December Highlights!
2023 was an exciting year for VNS Health, with inspiring national and local news stories of our clinicians and other team members appearing in print, online, on broadcast TV and more!
December highlights include uplifting profiles of team members going above and beyond, as well as accolades for VNS Health leaders who are making a difference. Once again, VNS Health expertise and mission-focused content is driving the conversation around the future of home health care.
Team members featured in news stories this December include:
- Malaika Alleyne, Hospice RN
- Jennifer Brullo, Senior VP, Patient Care Services
- Natalie Cheltham-Festa, Associate VP, Hospice Care
- Esther Conteh, VP, Care Management
- Dania Davidson, Hospice RN
- Marc Desormeau, Hospice RN
- Adelmis Grano de Orono, Nurse Family Partnership RN
- Ashley Eustache, RN
- Michelle Fanizzi, RN
- Jessica Fear, SVP, Behavioral Health
- Emma Finn, Hospice Social Worker
- Beth Glick, Geriatric Mental Health Specialist
- Xiang Jin, RN
- Natalie LoDolce, Hospice LPN
- Maxine Morales, Hospice LPN
- Dan Savitt, President and CEO
- Catherine Schaefer, Associate VP Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
- Jasmine Tsai, Hospice RN
- Milena Zaprianova, Hospice Clinical Director
- Veteran’s Program Team
- Nurse Residency Program
TODAY Show Spotlights VNS Health Hospice Care Clinicians
In an exciting spot on NBC’s TODAY with Willie Geist, VNS Health Hospice Care clinicians received an extra-special shout-out during the show’s weekly “mug shots” segment. In the featured picture, the group is decked out in their VNS Health gear and all smiles as they gathered on the 220 East 42nd Street Terrace with the NYC skyline behind them to “cheers” National Home Care and Hospice Month with their yellow TODAY mugs. Clinicians featured in the photo included RN Malaika Alleyne, Clinical Director Milena Zaprianova, RN Jasmine Tsai, RN Marc Desormeau, LPN Natalie LoDolce, LPN Maxine Morales, Social Worker Emma Finn, and Natalie Cheltham-Festa, AVP Hospice Care.
Newsday Story Features NFP RN Adelmis Grano de Orono Making a Positive Impact with Families
A heartwarming story in Newsday illustrates the outsized impact VNS Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership is having on the lives of new mothers in Nassau County. The piece, “Nurse-Family Partnership Provides a Boost to Low-Income Moms,” tells the story of one mother in the program, and how VNS Health RN Adelmis Grano de Orono helped her client every step of the way during the client’s pregnancy and the first two years of her child’s life. Adelmis also shares what inspired her to become a nurse in NFP and why she loves her work. In addition, the piece points to the successful health outcomes the program has had locally and nationally.
Read the whole story on Frontline here.
Crain’s and NYN Media Share News of Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Grant Awards
Crain’s Health Pulse and New York Nonprofit Media shared news of newly awarded funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, which will go to support the Nurse Residency Program and Veteran’s Program at VNS Health. A $1.5-million grant was awarded to the innovative Nurse Residency program, which provides training and mentorship for the next generation of home care nurses. In addition, $300,000 was awarded to the VNS Health Veterans Outreach program, which works to connect veterans to community resources.
Read more about these grants here and here.
CEO Dan Savitt Provides Insight on What’s to Come in 2024 for Home Care Providers
A forward-looking piece published in Home Health Care News gathers insights, perspective and predictions from home care leaders across the country on what’s to come in 2024. In the piece, CEO Dan Savitt provides his view on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. He focuses on the impact that finalized CMS rules will have, as well as the ongoing challenge of balancing the rising demand for home care with labor shortages. He also points to exciting opportunities such as increased linkages between home care patients and community-based mental health providers, and the power of AI to improve clinical care delivery.
Read Dan’s analysis on Frontline here.
Esther Conteh and Jessica Fear Named 2024 McKnight’s Pinnacle Award Finalists
Influential industry outlet McKnight’s Long-Term Care News announced the finalists for their second Pinnacle Awards, which honors industry veterans in skilled nursing, senior living, and home care who have made a difference in care delivery. Among the 30 distinguished honorees, Jessica Fear, SVP, Behavioral Health was named a finalist for the “Thought Leader” award, and Esther Conteh, VP, Care Management was selected as a finalist for the “Inspiration” award.
Congratulations to Esther and Jessica! Read more about the awards and see a full list of awardees on Frontline.
Inspiring Stories of Nurses Serving Their Home Communities
In a blog for Medium, Jennifer Brullo, SVP, Patient Care Services, shares how home care clinicians fill a unique role, specializing in knowing their service areas and drawing on that knowledge to make connections that elevate people’s quality of life and sustain better health at home. The piece features perspective from several VNS Health nurses who work in neighborhoods they know inside and out, including RNs Michelle Fanizzi, Ashley Eustache and Xiang Jin, and Hospice NP Dania Davidson.
Read the full piece on Frontline.
Geriatric Mental Health Specialist Beth Glick Interviewed on BronxNet TV
VNS Health Geriatric Mental Health Specialist Beth Glick was a special guest on the popular Open show on BronxNet, discussing how to spot signs that someone might have the “holiday blues.” In the segment, Beth also explains that help is available and provides actionable advice on what to do if a loved one is experiencing depression during the holiday season.
Home Health Care News Spotlights How Data Informs VNS Health’s Work
A story in Home Health Care News, “VNS Health, Intrepid USA, Frontpoint, Using Data To Identify Pain Points,” spotlights the ways home health providers, including VNS Health, utilize data to improve quality of care. In the story, Catherine Schaefer, AVP of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement, discusses the importance of analyzing patient outcomes in order to improve care delivery and determine the appropriate intervention for each unique patient.
Read more on Frontline here.
