So it's been a very busy and productive year. I would like to recognize all of the hard work and thank all members of the IS, Finance, and Facilities Departments for supporting our new hires as they learn who is who in our Agency and how to navigate our systems and processes.

Best wishes,

Stephanie Jackman-Havey

Chief Financial Office/Chief Operations Officer

 

As much as we don't want to think about colder weather (especially with the weather we have just had), winter IS approaching! And that can be challenging time for home care clinicians' wardrobes, trying to maintain a professional appearance while also trying to remain comfortable. Some houses are too hot, some too cold. What's a girl (or guy) to do? The obvious answer is to dress appropriately for the weather outside, maybe consider a vest in the earlier months instead of a coat, you really just need to be covered for the trek from your warm car to the warm (or cold) house. As the weather gets colder (and snowier) make sure you have a warmer coat, gloves and scarf or hat. Remember, many of our patients worry just as much about us in the colder, snowier weather as we do them. It makes them anxious to see a young person coming to visit them in the freezing cold with limbs, ears, and head exposed to the elements. Their focus then turns to making sure you are warm and dry and they often put their own needs/ concerns aside. Our elderly patients especially, WILL lecture you if they think you are not warm enough, or worry you will "catch a cold"!

 

 

November is National Home Care month and as part of our organization recognizing home care I would like to share some reflections I have from my 27 years in home care.

By Donna Peters, Director of Quality and Risk Management

 

Each year we are required to obtain education on Fraud, Waste and Abuse. This year we are fortunate to be able to have this information available to you on the Education Portal (see instructions for accessing below). This is a self learning module, that you will have access to for completion November 11, through December 8.

 

• Diabetes affects nearly 30 million children and adults in the U.S. today-nearly 10 percent of the population.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure.
• The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. is $245 billion.

The Facilities Department will begin cleaning carpets this week. This will mostly take place on weekends or after hours to minimize the inconveniences involved. The schedule for the carpet cleanings as follows:

By George Richardson, CIO

 

We have received some feedback recently, more like questions, as to why we send out system issue emails to all VNA users when for many they may not apply to them specifically. I am going to try and explain our reasoning below, but please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any suggestions or ways to improve our communications.

 

When there are system issues, notifications go out to all users. We do this for a number of reasons. We have many people in different areas of the organization that work with both of our EMRs. We understand that not everyone uses both the McKesson and Delta applications, but where they are essential to what many of us do every day, we want to make sure that everyone who does use one or both is notified timely.

 

By Kyra Mihalick, PT, DPT, COS-C, Patient Care Manager

 

This is the final Q4 OASIS Education session schedule for each office. Please see your manager to register for a meeting site and time. The QI department is excited to review with staff the agency outcome scores and discuss what it means to each of us in our daily practice.

By Mary Sheils, Director of Hospice Operations

 

Interested in taking a virtual tour of our hospice residences? They are just a click away!

 

Staff have expressed an interest in learning more about our hospice residences, and if possible, even taking a tour of the homes. This is of course possible, but to provide the experience to everyone without disrupting patient care, we thought taking a virtual tour might be of interest to some.