Hospice Care
Latest Hospice Care News
Team Members in the News: December Highlights!
January 13, 2026–December may be a time when much of the world slows down, but when it comes to great stories in the press, VNS Health was full speed ahead last month! From our MAP and MLTC health plans achieving 5 Stars to powerful accounts of care and compassion delivered at home, our organization continues to make headlines,—reflecting the many ways VNS Health team members go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others so that they can continue to live at home and in their communities. Team members featured in December news stories include: Associated Press Highlights VNS Health MAP Plan’s 5-Star Ratings The Associated Press reported that VNS Health’s dual-eligible Medicaid Advantage Plus (MAP) plan, VNS Health Total (HMO D-SNP), earned a five-star Overall Quality Rating from the New York State Department of Health for the second consecutive year—making it once again the only MAP plan in the state
Bringing Joy to Hospice Patients During the Holidays
December 16, 2025–Kenny, a 70-something VNS Health Hospice patient with developmental disabilities who had end-stage cancer, had a special holiday request: he asked if maybe Santa could visit him at home. This got Leslie Marseglia, who was Kenny’s VNS Health Social Worker, to thinking… “I thought, ‘This might actually be something we can make happen,’” says Leslie. Her empowering moment: To provide Santa visits to Kenny as well as three pediatric patients who are also on hospice. “Our goal in hospice is to make the end of life as fulfilling, comfortable and positive as possible,” says Leslie. “There are many things our patients would like to do that we cannot feasibly make happen. But these Santa visits were an opportunity to make something joyful happen.” Leslie’s theater friends connected her with a charity rental on a Santa suit through a nonprofit theater costume shop. And three fellow hospice team members stepped in
See the Photos, a Video, and a Recording of the 2025 VNS Health Annual Awards Ceremony!
November 4, 2025–On Monday, October 27, team members from across the organization gathered for a very special evening to celebrate 38 team members who were honored at our 2025 VNS Health Annual Awards Ceremony. Over 400 people also watched the celebration simultaneously through a live-stream link. Now you can see the celebration photos, watch a video about the event, and watch a recording of the full celebration. Congratulations to all the team members who were honored! Here is a video highlighting the event with Charity Shubert reporting! Here is a recording of the awards ceremony: To see our 2025 VNS Health Award winners and read their stories, click here! To see a complete list of all the nominees, click here!
Announcing Our 2025 VNS Health Award Winners!
October 27, 2025–Read Their Stories and See the Full List of Nominees! Last night, on Monday, October 27, team members from across the organization were recognized and celebrated as the very best of the best in exemplifying VNS Health’s mission and Core Values of Empathy, Integrity and Agility! The event included those who had received awards earlier in the year, as well as presentations to the newly announced winners of the Phyllis Mills Living Legend Award, the ESPRIT Awards, and the VNS Health Outstanding Team Performance Award. To see all the team members who were nominated for these awards, click here. Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners! Click on their names here below to read more about them and their award. Home Care Nurse Preceptor Team 2025 Outstanding Team Performance Award Teresa Lin 2025 Phyllis Mills Living Legend Award (Click here for the finalists.) Michael Alcantara 2025 ESPRIT Award Jonelle
Meet Our 2025 ESPRIT Award Winner: Dr. Eugene Perlov
October 27, 2025–A VNS Health Hospice Team Physician, Dr. Eugene Perlov leads two interdisciplinary hospice teams in the Bronx. In his more than two decades of dedicated service at the organization, Eugene has helped guide adult and pediatric patients and their families through some of life’s most challenging moments. “Hospice builds a safe space during a vulnerable time,” he says. “We work to bring comfort, transforming stress into growth, and offer steady presence and support to both patients and their loved ones.” Eugene blends clinical expertise with a profound sensitivity to the emotional and spiritual dimensions of end-of-life work. In conversations with families, he sets clear expectations while honoring their experience. “We remind the family that they’re doing an incredible job in a very hard time,” he says. “My goal is to help them find peace and move toward acceptance.” Colleagues describe Eugene as a thoughtful listener and a creative problem-solver, especially
Meet Our 2025 ESPRIT Award Winner: Lorraine Nicolo
October 27, 2025–For Lorraine Nicolo, Director and HR Business Partner at VNS Health, the most rewarding part of her job is “when I make someone’s day.” That might happen when a colleague comes to her with a complex problem and she helps them think it through, offering a new perspective that leads to a solution. It can also happen when a person she’s helped, regardless of outcome, says, “thank you for listening, and for allowing me to be heard.” Those moments reflect the deep trust Lorraine has built over her three-plus years at VNS Health. “In the past, concerns were often raised anonymously by team members,” Lorraine explains. “Now, people feel comfortable coming directly to me. They trust that I’ll keep our conversation confidential and that I’m listening.” When Lorraine arrived at VNS Health, her supervisor challenged her, noting that the people she’d be supporting needed to feel listened to in order
Want to Feel Inspired? Read Our Latest Batch of Letters and Commendations!
September 30, 2025–“Wow!” “A gem!” “Exceeded all expectations!” These are just some of the many wonderful things VNS Health patients, members, and clients said about our team members in the latest batch of letters and commendations. To view their grateful notes and comments, simply scroll down or click on any of the areas below: Bronx “Thank you to the Bronx North Hospice Team!” A Hospice patient’s daughter wrote to express her gratitude for the Bronx North Hospice team. “Through the care, support, and training provided by VNS Health hospice nurses and social workers, my father found comfort, and we found guidance,” she noted. “They became more then caregivers, they became family. I am forever grateful for their professionalism, their kind hearts, and even their laughter during the most difficult days. They helped us face each moment with strength and dignity.” “Sincere, honest, loving, and an extremely hard worker.” A client called to praise her
VNS Health Named “Best Place to Work” by Crain’s
September 17, 2025–
It’s Official: VNS Health Named to Crain’s 2025 Best Places to Work in New York City List!
September 16, 2025–This important achievement reflects how well we work together, support each other, and create an environment where we can all thrive. Congratulations to the entire VNS Health team! To watch a short (30 seconds) video on what makes VNS Health such a great place to work, click below! And here are some photos from the September 16, Crain’s 2025 Best Places to Work event.