Team Members in the News: March Highlights
Talk about a jam-packed month! From The New York Times to the Albany Times Union, from The New York Daily News to NY1 Noticias, news organizations featured many VNS Health team members this past month.
Team members making news in March included:
- Hany Abdelaal, President, Health Plans
- Elizer Cooper Audain, Associate Vice President
- German Buitrago, Outreach Counselor, PEARLS program
- Jaren Cabassa, Social Work Assistant
- Andria Castellanos, Chief of Provider Services
- Monica Cayemitte, Clinical Manager, Nurse Residency Programs
- Esther Conteh, VP, Care Management, Health Plans
- Dr. Jay Dobkin, Chief Medical Officer, Health Plans
- Tracy Dodd, Chief People Officer
- Yvonne Eaddy, VP Regional Patient Services
- Jasmin Fearon, HHA
- Arthur Fitting, LGBTQ+ Manager
- Nurse Residency Program HR Recruitment Team
- Personal Care Medical Escort Team
- Jorene Peters, HHA Supervisor
- Alice Rainford, Clinical Education Manager
- Jim Rolla, SVP, Personal Care
- Dan Savitt, CEO
- Betty Velez, RN and Clinical Specialist, Contact Center
Below, you’ll learn more about each media placement as well as find links to the actual articles.
The New York Times Highlights VNS Health in Story on the Importance of Medical Escorts
A new story for the “New Old Age” column in The New York Times details the need for medical escorts to help individuals who need someone to accompany them to/from outpatient procedures involving anesthesia. In the piece, “You May Need That Procedure. But Do You Really Need an Escort?” VNS Health is highlighted for the important role they play by offering medical escort services. Read the whole piece on Frontline here.
The Times Union Features Op-Ed from CEO Dan Savitt on the Home Health Crisis in New York
A powerful new Op-Ed from CEO and President Dan Savitt in the Albany newspaper The Times Union outlines the ongoing home health crisis going on across New York State, and the consequences it has on the health of the community. In the piece, “The ripple effect of our home health staffing crisis,” Savitt outlines the importance and role of home health care within the health care ecosystem, and why it is so crucial that it be properly funded to meet the growing demand. Read the whole piece on Frontline here. In addition, HomeCare Magazine put a spotlight on the OpEd in their influential daily newsletter, “HomeCare Now”.
Nurse Residency Program Wins Home Care Association of NYS’s Prestigious Trailblazer Award
This month the Home Care Association (HCA) of New York State announced their distinguished group of 2023 annual HCA awardees. Among those honored, The Trailblazer Award for Quality and Innovation was awarded to the Nurse Residency Program at VNS Health. Accepting the award on behalf of the program will be Yvonne Eaddy, VP Regional Patient Services, Elizer Cooper Audain, Associate Vice President, Education and Development, Alice Rainford, Clinical Education Manager, and Monica Cayemitte, Clinical Manager, Nurse Residency Programs. The award recognizes teams that have implemented innovative initiatives with improved outcomes in terms of client satisfaction, population health improvement, and/or cost reduction or avoidance. Read more on Frontline here.
Andria Castellanos Makes City & State’s “2023 Above and Beyond: Women” List
Andria Castellanos, EVP and Chief of Provider Services is one of the 50 remarkable women included on City & State’s annual “Above and Beyond: Women” list. The annual list honors inspiring and exceptional leaders from across New York State, including outstanding executives, advocates, organizers and others whose accomplishments merit recognition on this exclusive list. Read more on Frontline here.
Joint New York Daily News OpEd from Hany Abdelaal, President, Health Plans, and CEOs of MetroHealth Plus and Amida Care, Highlights Benefits of Medicaid-Managed Care Plans
The New York Daily News featured a powerful joint opinion piece from Health Plans President Hany Abdelaal, together with the CEOs of MetroHealth Plus and Amida Care. The op-ed calls for reconsideration of a proposed pharmacy benefit “carve out,” that would shift the pharmacy benefit to a fee-for-service model, causing “unnecessary harm to New York’s most vulnerable populations, including those diagnosed with HIV. Read the whole piece on Frontline here.
Jim Rolla Shares Creative Solutions to Home Health Industry Challenges in McKnights
A new joint commentary piece in McKnights Home Care from Jim Rolla, SVP, Personal Care, written with leadership from HHAeXchange, outlines the biggest challenges facing the home health industry, and provides actionable solutions. Read the whole piece on Frontline here.
Chief People Officer Tracy Dodd Featured in Home Health Care News Story on Workplace Safety
A new story in Home Health Care News puts a spotlight on the ways VNS Health and other home health organizations are addressing workplace safety. In the story, EVP and Chief People Officer Tracy Dodd explains the extensive safety efforts VNS Health has in place to help keep staff safe, and outlines why safety is a priority for VNS Health. Read the whole story on Frontline here.
VNS Health’s Rebrand Takes Home an Aging Media Network Aspect Award
The Aging Media Network announced winners of their annual Aspect Awards. Among the distinguished group of industry leaders in the group, VNS Health won an award for their 2022 rebrand. Aspect Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Awards feature the industry’s best examples of marketing and advertising. The awards honor projects and campaigns that showcase the industries, their customers, employees and services they provide. Read more on Frontline here.
NY1 Noticias Shares Inspiring Story about PEARLS Program in Queens
NY1 Noticias put a special spotlight on the work of the VNS Health PEARLS Program in Queens, and the positive impact Outreach Counselor, German Buitrago has had on the life of one of his clients. The story details the challenges that brought one Queens local to the PEARLS program, and how German’s support helped him better manage life’s challenges. In addition, German speaks to the stigma that may exist for some within the Latino community, and encourages people to not be afraid to reach out for help. Watch the video and read the English transcript on Frontline here.
VNS Health Featured in a Bronx Times OpEd on the Importance of Funding Home Health
A new opinion piece in The Bronx Times from Assemblymember Karines Reyes and State Senator Nathalia Fernandez details the home health crisis facing the Bronx and New York State, as Gov. Hochul and the Legislature determine budgets for the coming year. The piece features statistics and data from VNS Health that show the extent of the crisis, as well as what is at stake for the Bronx community. Read the whole piece on Frontline here.
Minority Nurse Spotlights Esther Conteh as a Champion of Nursing Diversity
A new inspiring Q&A from Minority Nurse puts a special spotlight on Esther Conteh, Associate Vice President, Care Management, Health Plans. Esther is featured as part of the new “Champions of Nursing Diversity” series at Minority Nurse, which highlights healthcare leaders who are prominent figures in their organizations and are making transformational impacts in nursing. Read the whole piece on Frontline.
The Northern Westchester Examiner Profiles Long Career of Betty Velez, RN and Clinical Specialist
An inspiring story in the Northern Westchester Examiner celebrated the long career and dedication of Betty Velez, RN and Clinical Specialist, Contact Center, ahead of her retirement this year. Betty shared stories of her many years serving the Bronx community, and why she has loved working in home health. Read the whole story on Frontline here.
LGBTQ+ Manager Arthur Fitting Interviews Dr. Jay Dobkin on the Future of HIV/AIDS Treatment in Medium
LGBTQ+ Manager Arthur Fitting had an in-depth conversation with Dr. Jay Dobkin, Chief Medical Officer, Health Plans on the past, present, and future of HIV/AIDS treatment and care, and where the health care community can look next. The piece, published on Medium, tied to coincide with HIV/AIDS is Not a Crime Day, reflects on the experiences of Arthur and Dr. Dobkin on their earliest days on the frontlines of the epidemic. Read the whole piece on Frontline here.
BronxNet TV Features Social Work Assistant Jaren Cabassa for Social Workers Month
Timed to coincide with Social Workers Month, Social Work Assistant Jaren Cabassa joined BronxNet TV’s Open show to share his experiences working with children and young adults in the Bronx. In addition, he shared his perspective on why social workers are so important. Watch the whole interview on Frontline.
Queens Voice Features HHA Supervisor Jorene Peters on the Importance of Supporting New Team Members
A new story in The Queens Voice from HHA Supervisor Jorene Peters details the experiences of Home Health Aide Jasmin Fearon when she first started working at VNS Health, and how Jorene helped advocate for Jasmin. Read the whole story on Frontline.
