Connecter Newsletter Archives

Below are archived issues of our employee e-newsletter, The Connecter.

Please contact Kelly Frew at kelly_frew@vnacare.org with any questions.
  • 2016
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 35)  (8/30/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 34)  (8/23/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 33)  (8/16/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 32)  (8/9/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 31)  (8/2/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 30)  (7/26/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 29)  (7/19/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 28)  (7/12/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 27)  (7/5/2016)
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 26)  (6/28/2016)
  • IN THIS ISSUE:
    - VNA Service Standard of the Week: Professional Language
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Appointment of Director of Palliative Care Services
    - Certified Medical Records Moves to Southborough
    - CDC Recommends Against Flu Nasal Spray
    - Behavioral Health: Making a Difference
    - Reflections from the Opioid Town Hall Meeting
    - Patient Consent in New Handbook
    - Make Immunization a Standard of Patient Care In Your Practice
    - Recertification Reminder
    - Q2 OASIS Sessions
    - McKesson Clinicians: New IV Therapy Service Codes
    - McKesson Laptop Clinicians - Is there Anything Under your SP Button?
    - Access to our Buildings
    - Goldman Sachs Improves Landscaping at Tippett Home
    - Employee New Hire Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - IT Maintenance in Woburn Wednesday
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 25)  (6/21/2016)
  • IN THIS ISSUE:
    - VNA Service Standard of the Week: Professional Image
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Congratulations on Staff Achievements!
    - Welcome to our New Rehab Services Manager
    - Celebrating Diane Bergeron!
    - Antibiotic Stewardship
    - Q2 OASIS Sessions
    - McKesson Update for VNAB Home Care and Hospice July 11
    - Encore Codeload/Software Upgrade 06.00.0400: Tuesday 6/28
    - Change to the Transfer Form Post Code Load 06.00.0400
    - Patients and Families Honor Staff through Thanks for Caring Society
    - Employee New Hire Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 24)  (6/14/2016)
  • IN THIS ISSUE:
    - VNA Service Standard of the Week: Customer Contact
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Christine Gill Assumes Resident Service Director - Position at New Horizons
    - Celebrating Diane Bergeron! (check out the video!!)
    - Pneumonia Vaccine
    - VNA Care New Certified Home Health Patient Handbook!
    - Bed Bug Kit Available
    - Heart Failure Education Tips for Rehab Staff
    - Q2 OASIS Sessions
    - McKesson Users and Laptop Transfers
    - Encore Users: Codeload Needed (Software Upgrade)
    - Employee New Hire Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 23)  (6/7/2016)
  • - VNA Service Standard of the Week: Customer Loyalty
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Telegram Article: Worcester couple's bond endured to the end
    - Celebrating Diane Bergeron! (check out the video!!)
    - VNA Care New Certified Home Health Patient Handbook!
    - An Update from the Clinical Redesign Group
    - Encore Wound Reminders For Nursing Staff
    - Quincy Office Move Update
    - Celebrating the Contributions of our Supporters
    - Annette Benoit Retirement
    - BCBSMA has a new mobile app: MyBlue Member
    - Employee New Hire Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
    - Joint Commission Corner: Oxygen Safety
    - C. Diff Continues to be a # 1 Concern
    - Temperature Taking and Documentation
    - Use of More Than One POC
    - Q2 OASIS Sessions
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 22)  (5/31/2016)
  • - VNA Service Standard of the Week: Teamwork
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Celebrating Diane Bergeron!
    - Special Announcement
    - Awards, Appointments and Recognition
    - VNAB Summer Safety In-services
    - EAP Employee Newsletter - June 2016
    - BCBSMA has a new mobile app: MyBlue Member
    - Employee New Hire Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
    - Joint Commission Corner
    - Q2 OASIS Sessions
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 21)  (5/24/2016)
  • - VNA Service Standard of the Week
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Celebrating Diane Bergeron!
    - 40 and Still Counting!
    - McKesson Laptop Clinicians and Removing Visits
    - Encore Medispan Update for Encore/Delta Users
    - Thanks for Caring Society
    - BCBSMA has a new mobile app: MyBlue Member
    - Employee New Hire Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
    - 2016 - Year of the Joint Commission for VNA Care Network
    - HIV Update
    - Q2 OASIS Sessions
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 20)  (5/17/2016)
  • - Service Standard #8: Workplace Safety
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Chronicle Segment Making a Difference for Patients
    - When to Take a Wound Photo
    - Speech Therapy Referrals
    - SafeSide: You can do something about it
    - Focus on Falls Prevention
    - North Shore Spring Fling Raises Over $40,000
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
    - Flu is Winding Down in US, but in OASIS Terms it is Over!
    - Recently Released FDA Warning on Abilify
    - Q2 OASIS Sessions
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 19)  (5/10/2016)
  • - Service Standard #7: Communication Etiquette
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Watch the Atrius Health "Our Brand. Our Story." Video
    - SCORE Survey - Final (final) Week!
    - New Atrius Health Website is LIVE!
    - Attention Encore Users: Encore Update Patch 06.00.0320
    - Hughes Interviewed for Simmons College Alumni Profile
    - Quest Diagnostics Update
    - Dine-Around Raises Nearly $90,000 for Hospice
    - Celebration of Life Service in Worcester 5/12
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
    - Upcoming Changes To Your Email Address
    - Scoring M1860 and M1850 upon discharge to Hospice services
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 18)  (5/4/2016)
  • - Introducing VNA Care!
    - Service Standard #6: Employee Empowerment
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - ZuHone Nominated for Salute to Nurses
    - SCORE Survey - Final Week!
    - Pets and Patient Visits
    - Focus on Fall Risk Reduction
    - Clinical Services - Meetings Revamped 2016
    - Quincy Office Moving to Weymouth
    - Staff show support in annual walk for Gloucester nonprofits
    - Celebration of Life Service in Worcester 5/12
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - IT Department On-Call Staff
    - Adding Zoster Vaccination to McKesson
    - Advance Care Planning: One of three New Measures in HHVBP
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 17)  (4/26/2016)
  • - Service Standard #5: Service Recovery
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - VNA Care Rebrand Launching Next Week!
    - SCORE Survey - Complete Today!
    - Hospice to be Featured on Chronicle
    - Boston Globe Subscribers: Last Week to Donate Ad Space
    - Yoffie Bequest Supports Clinical Education
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - Network Downtime in Needham & Charlestown this Week
    - IT Department On-Call Staff
    - OASIS Guidance: M0090 Date Assessment Completed - Transfer OASIS Tools
    - Continuing Improvement in Medication Teaching
    - NO Zoster Added to Encore
    - Celebration of Life Service in Worcester 5/12
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 16)  (4/19/2016)
  • - Service Standard #4: Professional Language
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - SCORE Survey - Complete Today!
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Worcester Office
    - Hospice to be Featured on Chronicle
    - Children's Garden Child Care Openings and Special Offer for Staff
    - Encore Medispan Update for Encore/Delta Users
    - Behavioral Health Update
    - Spring Events Support Home Health and Hospice
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Job Postings
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - Email Server Maintenance - Tuesday Night 4/19
    - IT Department On-Call Staff for Week of 4/18/16
    - Accessing Worcester QI Staff During Construction
    - CMS Probe and Educate
    - Celebration of Life Service in Worcester 5/12
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 15)  (4/12/2016)
  • - Service Standard #8: Workplace Safety
    - VNA & Atrius Health Safety Culture Survey
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Tips from the Field (NEW!)
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Woburn Office
    - Quarter 2 Annual Competencies
    - April 16: National Healthcare Decisions Day
    - MassHealth Requirement for Face to Face in Plan of Care
    - Encore Code Load: Tuesday April 12
    - Encore Code Load 06.00.0300: 3 Changes to Expect
    - Telemonitoring Insurances Accepted
    - Patients and Families Honor Staff through Thanks for Caring Society
    - IT Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Home Care Value Based Purchasing
    - M1860 Ambulation - Ambulatory vs. Chairfast vs. Bedfast
    - Flu Vaccination Rates Trending UP
    - Patient Education Workbooks Are Here
    - Zika Update
    - Reminder - Coding in Encore Clinical
    - Celebration of Life: Worcester Office
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 14)  (4/5/2016)
  • - Service Standard #7: Communication Etiquette
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Weymouth Office
    - Patti Darling New Manager of SEN Team
    - 2016 Dufault Lecture
    - Encore Code Load: Tuesday April 12
    - Encore Code Load: 3 Changes to Expect
    - Reminder - Coding in Encore Clinical
    - Reminder When Drawing Blood for Lab Work
    - Wound Care Corner
    - Telemonitoring Insurances Accepted
    - April is OT Month
    - Clinical Meetings Revamped in 2016
    - Flu Reported Widespread
    - Consider Wellness Clinics When Discharging Patients
    - CE Offering: Medication Management and Parkinson's Disease
    - Focus on Fall Risk Reduction
    - Boston Globe Subscribers: Donate Ad Space
    - IT Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - High Alert Medication List Alert!
    - Hospice Memorial Service this Sunday
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 13)  (3/29/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #3: Professional Image
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Tippett Home
    - Baker Appointed to Faculty at UMass
    - Fitzpatrick Interviewed for Medication News Article
    - REMINDER: McKesson Update for VNAB Home Care and Hospice Wednesday Night March 30
    - McKesson Changes after Update for Home Care
    - Encore Users: Code Load Needed (Software Upgrade)
    - Annual Competencies Deadline: March 31
    - Additional CE Offering: Medication Management with the Patient with Parkinson's Disease
    - Medical Monofilaments on the March in April!
    - High Risk/High Alert Medication List
    - Focus on Fall Risk Reduction
    - Last Week of Mantoux Testing
    - Walk Supports Cape Ann Nonprofits
    - Hostess factory retiree saves for over two decades to make gift to hospice
    - BCBS PPO Deductible Information
    - 2015 BCBS Fitness Reimbursement
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - IT Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Q1 OASIS Education
    - Hospice Memorial Service Sunday, April 10
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 12)  (3/22/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #2: Customer Contact
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Southborough Office
    - Tiny Scanner Helpful Tips
    - McKesson Update March 30
    - Encore Patch Scheduled Tuesday 3/22
    - New High Alert Medication List Going into Effect
    - VNAB: Follow-up Regarding use of new Patient Consent and Patient Consent Addendum
    - Focus on Fall Risk Reduction
    - Mantoux Testing in March
    - New England Coffee Golf Tournament to Benefit VNA Hospice Care
    - 2015 BCBS Fitness Reimbursement
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - Password Updates
    - IT Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - M0090 Date of Assessment for Unplanned Discharges
    - Q1 OASIS Education
    - Hospice Memorial Service Sunday, April 10
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 11)  (3/15/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #1: Customer Loyalty
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Rose Monahan
    - Norovirus - What is it?
    - Encore Medispan Update Wednesday
    - Encore Patch Scheduled for next Tuesday 3/22
    - Updates for Both McKesson and Encore in March
    - What is New in Behavioral Health?
    - Referrals to VNAB Social Work and CRS
    - New VNAB Consent and Handbook
    - Focus on Fall Risk Reduction
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Mantoux Testing in March
    - New HVAC System in Worcester
    - Long Term Pharmacy Solutions Supports VNA Hospice Care
    - Boston Globe Subscribers: Donate Ad Space
    - 2015 BCBS Fitness Reimbursement
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - IT Maintenance Saturday
    - IT Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Process Measure Documentation
    - Joint Commission Due for a Visit to VNACN in 2016
    - Q1 OASIS Education
    - Hospice Memorial Service Sunday, April 10
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 10)  (3/9/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #10: Workplace Cleanliness
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Quincy Office
    - Welcome to Dr. Joel Bauman
    - Review of Droplet Precautions
    - Aligning Annual Competencies Across All Divisions
    - Clinician Help Files for VNAB/McKesson are Moving
    - How Managers Can Check Progress on Mandatory Competencies
    - Focus on Fall Risk Reduction
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Mantoux Testing in February/March
    - New HVAC System in Worcester
    - Boston Globe Subscribers: Donate Ad Space
    - Patients and Families Honor Staff through Thanks for Caring Society
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - Stability coming for McKesson users
    - IT Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - New High Alert Medication List Going into Effect
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 9)  (3/1/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #9: Workplace Cleanliness
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Needham Office
    - Denise Murphy Assumes MSW Team Manager Position
    - Girls Inc Looking for Alumni!
    - New VNAB Consent and Handbook
    - Focus on Fall Risk Reduction
    - Tips for Viewing Video Modules on the Education Portal
    - Pets and Patient Visits
    - Documentation of Herpes Zoster in Encore
    - Micro-Kill Disinfection Wipes Now Available
    - Behavioral Health Quick Tips
    - HHA Corner
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Mantoux Testing Throughout March
    - Transferring Calls to and from Avaya and ShoreTel Lines
    - Recycling Cartridges
    - New HVAC System in Worcester
    - Tickets on Sale Now for Fourth Annual North Shore Spring Fling
    - EAP Employee Newsletter
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - Phishing Warning
    - IT Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Update: CMS Regulation with HgA1C for Patients with DM Diagnosis
    - Documenting an HgA1C in Encore
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 8)  (2/23/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #8: Workplace Safety
    - Spotlight on Service Excellence
    - Scenes from the Street
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Leominster Office
    - FDA Looks to Recall Grape Flavor
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Mantoux Testing in February/March
    - New HVAC System in Worcester
    - Rockland Trust Donates $5,000 to Tippett Home
    - Employee Referral Bonus Program
    - Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
    - Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Pain Assessment
    - Case Conferencing
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 7)  (2/16/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #7: Communication Etiquette
    - Making a Difference with Customers on the Phone
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - de Rham Hospice Home
    - Medispan Update for Encore/Delta Users
    - Long Term HHA Services and Behavioral Health
    - Formulary Item Change
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Mantoux Testing in February/March
    - New HVAC System in Worcester
    - Patients and Families Honor Staff through Thanks for Caring Society
    - Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Rehab Staff Entering into SERS
    - Zika Update
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 6)  (2/9/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #6: Employee Empowerment
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Gloucester Office
    - New CMS Reports Puts us at the Top!
    - Clinician Help Files for McKesson Moving
    - Behavioral Health Update
    - Preventing Re-hospitalization
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Mantoux Testing in February/March
    - New HVAC System in Worcester
    - Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Performing a Complete Skin Assessment
    - Encore Documentation Reduction Committee
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 5)  (2/2/2016)
  • In This Issue:
    - Service Standard #5: Service Recovery
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Danvers Office
    - Continuing Education Offerings
    - National Wear Red Day
    - Old OASIS with ICD-9 Forms will be retired in McKesson
    - Update to McKesson Support Line
    - In-service: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Infusion Update
    - Mantoux Testing in February/March
    - Zika Virus
    - New HVAC System in Worcester
    - 22nd annual Dine-Around and Casino Night
    - EAP Employee Newsletter
    - Weekly On-Call Schedule
    - Contact Precaution vs Standard Precautions
    - Value Based Purchasing - Advance Care Planning
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 4)  (1/26/2016)
  • In this Issue:
    - Service Standard #4: Professional Language
    - 'Mr.' And 'Ms.': A Courtesy To Be Respected
    - Making Referrals Easier!
    - VNA Web Portal Available in Epic!
    - Length of Service Award Recipients - Charlestown
    - Attention Encore Users: Patch 06.00.0220
    - Behavioral Health Update
    - Telemonitoring Update for Nursing and Rehab
    - What Does 'Homebound' Really Mean?
    - Mantoux Testing in February/March
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Mutual of America Rep On-site in Charlestown
    - Weekly IT On-Call Schedule
    - Value Based Purchasing - Keys to success
    - OASIS M1030 - Clarification and Update
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 3)  (1/19/2016)
  • In this Issue:
    - Service Standard #2: Customer Contact
    - Inservice: Safety Issues For Home Health Care Providers
    - Value Based Purchasing - Part 3 of 4: New Measures
    - Q1 OASIS Education
    - Wellness Guide for Cancer Survivors
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 2)  (1/12/2016)
  • In this Issue:
    - Service Standard #3: Professional Image
    - Observations on Service Excellence at Town Meetings
    - Encore Medispan Update
    - New Patient Education Workbook Rollout in January
    - Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine Documentation
    - Hand Hygiene Audit Tool
    - Value Based Purchasing - Part 2 of 4
    - Q1 OASIS Education
  • The Connecter (Volume 5, Issue 1)  (1/4/2016)
  • In this Issue:
    - VNA Service Standards
    - Customer Loyalty with Patients and Facilities Alike
    - Congratulations to Katie Traylor!
    - Palliative Care Accepted Insurances
    - Continuing Education Offerings for 2016
    - EAP Employee Newsletter
    - Value Based Purchasing - Coming January 1, 2016
    - Unplanned (Unexpected) Discharge