VNS Health Team Members in the News: January Highlights!

Starting the year off on a definite high note, the expertise and experience of VNS Health team members and leadership were front and center in the news this January. Highlights include:

• CEO and President Dan Savitt was named to the prestigious 2023 City & State 2023 Health Care Power 100 List, spotlighting top leaders and changemakers across the health care industry in New York.
• In a thoughtful piece for Amsterdam News, Hospice Nurse Berkis Oken shared tips and advice about end-of-life planning that included insights from Hospice Social Worker Leona Abrams.
• Allison Simms, Associate Director of Rehabilitation Services, was given a prominent platform in Long Island Weekly to explain why falls prevention is so important, and what people can do to limit the chance of it happening to themselves or loved ones.

VNS Health Recognized for Innovative Leadership Making a Difference

VNS Health CEO and President Dan Savitt was named to the annual  2023 City & State 2023 Health Care Power 100 List. The list showcases leaders in the health care field and sheds a light on these decision-makers in the medical world in New York, including prominent public officials, influential hospital and health care executives, heads of other nonprofit providers, union leaders, academics and an array of advocates and activists who take their case to Albany and City Hall. The 2023 ranking considers the legislative victories, newly launched initiatives, and other noteworthy developments from the past 12 months.  

The story notes Dan’s strong leadership throughout 2022, including the VNS Health rebrand, and the organization’s successful push for the federal government and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reverse reimbursement cuts to home health care in 2023.

Read more on Frontline.

City & State New York is a weekly news magazine and website covering New York local and state politics and government. It reaches an audience of 211,179 through their magazine, website, and social media. 

Amsterdam News Features Expertise on EOL Planning from Hospice Nurse Berkis Oken and Hospice Social Worker Leona Abrams

A new piece published in The Amsterdam News features a helpful guide for the start of a new year on the importance of end-of-life planning from Hospice RN Berkis Oken. The piece also includes thoughtful takeaways on the importance of timing and tone for these family conversations from Hospice Social Worker, Leona Abrams.   

As Berkis notes, “When you get together with family and look forward to a year of new family memories, I offer my motto (from experience!): Caring is preparing. Where there is order, there is calm—and a better quality of life for everyone.” Read more on Frontline here.

Published weekly, Amsterdam News is the voice of one of the largest and most influential Black communities in the country and the world. It has a print circulation of 15,000 and monthly page views of nearly 450,000.

Long Island Weekly Features Falls Prevention Advice from Allison Simms, Associate Director of Rehabilitation Services

In their latest issue, Long Island Weekly featured a new piece from Allison Simms, Associate Director of Rehabilitation Services at VNS Health on actionable tips and advice for avoiding falls. In addition to prevention guidance, the piece notes, “’Leaves are supposed to fall. People aren’t.’” Allison details why falls need to be taken seriously, and the importance of rehab services in supporting the health of older adults.

“In my role at VNS Health, my colleagues and I see this firsthand when we visit patients in their homes following a fall,” said Allison. “As home-based clinicians, we work closely with them to address their concerns and create a plan of care where they can recover and prevent future falls.” Read the whole story on Frontline here.

Long Island Weekly is published weekly for the residents of Long Island, NY. The newspaper covers local news, sports, and community events. It reaches an average audience of 22,864 through print circulation, their website, and social media.