Visiting Nurse Association Of Indiana County

FAMILIES IN INDIANA COUNTY HAVE BEEN CERTAIN THAT THEY CAN DEPEND ON THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION TO ASSIST THEM AT HOME AFTER A HOSPITALIZATION OR NURSING HOME STAY, WHEN AN ILLNESS OR INJURY OCCURS, OR AS THEY FACE THE CHALLENGES AT END OF LIFE THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY HOSPICE CARE.

THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF INDIANA COUNTY DBA CONCORDIA-IRMC VNA PROVIDES COMPASSIONATE HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR PERSONS IN AND AROUND INDIANA COUNTY. THE PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF INDIANA COUNTY (VNAIC) ARE DRIVEN BY THE CORE MISSION TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR THE RESIDENTS OF INDIANA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. THE AGENCY STRIVES TO SUCCEED WITH AN AGING-IN-PLACE PHILOSOPHY BY PROVIDING A WIDE BREADTH OF SERVICES IN THE HOME, PREVENTING REHOSPITALIZATION, ENHANCING HOME SAFETY AND MONITORING CHRONIC DISEASE STATES. THE AGENCY ALSO WORKS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY CARE TO EVERYONE IN NEED, REGARDLESS OF THEIR ABILITY TO PAY. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2022, 2,515 PATIENTS WERE SERVED BY VNAIC HOME HEALTH STAFF. THERE WERE 45,132 VISITS MADE TO PATIENTS IN OUR HOME HEALTH PROGRAM DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2022. VNAIC ALSO OFFERS PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES IN THE HOME. THIS IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL CAREGIVING APPROACH AIMED AT OPTIMIZING QUALITY OF LIFE AND MITIGATING SUFFERING AMONG PEOPLE WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE THE CARE TO THE PATIENT AS WELL AS THE FAMILY AS THEY JOURNEY TOWARDS A POSSIBLE HOSPICE PLAN OF CARE. COVID-19 CONTINUED TO WEIGH ON THE OPERATIONS OF VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF INDIANA COUNTY. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PHE, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FOCUSED EDUCATION ON VARIOUS RELATED TOPICS. THESE TOPICS INCLUDED WHAT COVID-19 IS, HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD, HOW TO CARE FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, MITIGATION EFFORTS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION AND OTHER INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES. THIS EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED THROUGH VARYING PLATFORMS SUCH AS SECURE MESSAGING, AT VIRTUAL STAFF MEETINGS AND THROUGH THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, ELSEVIER. STAFF HAVE ALSO BEEN EDUCATED ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS AS A TOOL TO HELP END THE PHE. SOME EXAMPLES OF OUR NEW INITIATIVES INCLUDE TELEHEALTH/TELEMEDICINE. CVN PROVIDES TELE-HEALTH MONITORING FREE OF CHARGE TO PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASES. TELE-HEALTH MONITORING IS A NON-BILLABLE SERVICE THAT WAS FUNDED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THROUGH A GRANT WITH HIGHMARK. TELE-HEALTH HAS BEEN UTILIZED OVER THE PAST YEAR TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL MONITORING FOR COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENT VITAL SIGN TRENDING. THE PANDEMIC ALSO BROUGHT INTO EFFECT THE 1135 WAIVERS. ONE OF THE WAIVERS ALLOWED A PT OR ST TO CONDUCT THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT WHEN THERAPY WAS ORDERED RATHER THAN A SKILLED NURSE. VNAIC EMPLOYS A TRANSITIONAL NURSE LIAISON WHO SERVES THE COMMUNITY BY HELPING DISCHARGE PLANNERS TO ASSESS THE PATIENTS' NEEDS TO OBTAIN APPROPRIATE ORDERS FOR THE PLAN OF CARE. THIS POSITION ALSO ATTENDS COMMUNITY GATHERINGS TO DISCUSS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS SPONSORED BY VNAIC. THE GOAL IS TO REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND TEACH PREVENTION. FLU SHOTS WERE PROVIDED AT COMMUNITY FLU CLINICS HELD AT VARIOUS SITES. VNAIC SPENT A TOTAL OF $3,105 ON FLU VACCINES THAT WERE GIVEN TO PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES. TOTAL COST TO THE AGENCY FOR SPONSORSHIPS AND DONATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED 6/30/2022 EQUATED $1,500 FOR THE INDIANA HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING SPONSORSHIP. ADDITIONAL FUNDING VIA DISTRIBUTIONS TO 501(C)(3) MEMBER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AT A TOTAL OF $500,000 HAVE EXPANDED LIKE-MINDED MISSION WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. EMPLOYEES OF VNAIC WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE BY PARTICIPATING IN MISSION EVENTS ORGANIZED BY THE PARENT COMPANY CONCORDIA COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES. HERE ARE THE MISSION EVENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT VNAIC TOOK PART IN DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. IN MARCH 2022, THE CONCORDIA FAMILY OF PENNSYLVANIA PARTNERED WITH A COMPANY OUT OF MOON TOWNSHIP CALLED DTCARE. THIS NON-PROFIT AGENCY SHIPPED MUCH NEEDED SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE IN POLAND AS A RESULT OF THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE. EMPLOYEES PURCHASED SUPPLIES SUCH AS TOOTHBRUSHES, SOAP, DIAPERS, SOCKS AND FIRST AID SUPPLIES. CONCORDIA MEDICAL EQUIPMENT EMPLOYEES USED THEIR TRUCKS TO TRANSPORT EVERYTHING GATHERED TO MOON TOWNSHIP. THESE SPONSORSHIPS, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND MISSION EVENTS ARE SOME OF THE MANY WAYS WE SERVE GOD BY PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE.

THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF INDIANA COUNTY DBA VNA FAMILY HOSPICE'S PRIMARY FOCUS IS HELPING INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE PEACEFULLY, POSITIVELY AND AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE THROUGH CARING, NOT CURING. HOSPICE IS NOT A PLACE, BUT A CONCEPT FOR HEALTHCARE DELIVERY. IT FOCUSES ON CREATING A NATURAL AND COMFORTABLE END-OF-LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE DEALING WITH A LIFE-LIMITING ILLNESS, ALL IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOME. WHETHER THE GOAL IS RELIEF FROM PAIN, DESIRE TO EXPERIENCE A MEANINGFUL EVENT SUCH AS A WEDDING, THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, A BIRTHDAY, RESOLVING UNFINISHED BUSINESS, OR IS SIMPLY THE HOPE FOR A RESTFUL NIGHT OF SLEEP, THE TEAM AT VNA FAMILY HOSPICE CAN PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF SUPPORT SERVICES. THESE INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: NURSING AND RELATED SERVICES, PERSONAL CARE, COUNSELING, COMPANIONSHIP, SPIRITUAL SERVICES AND BEREAVEMENT CARE. HOSPICE PROGRAM PATIENTS AND BEREAVEMENT FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES AND WERE PROVIDED WITH 12,674 VISITS. IN ADDITION, HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 460 HOURS OF SERVICE TO PROGRAM RECIPIENTS INCLUDING SUPPORT TO THE FAMILY OF THE HOSPICE PATIENT. THE VNA FAMILY HOSPICE PROVIDES BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING AND GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE OR FRIEND AT NO CHARGE. ALSO, A SUMMER NEWSLETTER AND BEREAVEMENT MAILINGS WERE SENT OFFERING SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, COPING TECHNIQUES AND EDUCATION TO HOSPICE FAMILY MEMBERS. THE 12TH ANNUAL VNAIC BUTTERFLY RELEASE WAS HELD IN A MODIFIED DRIVE-THROUGH STYLE FORMAT ON SUNDAY AUGUST 8, 2021, AT MACK PARK, INDIANA, PA. THIS MEMORIAL EVENT WAS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTED TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE MEMORY OF THEIR LOVED ONES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE EVER ON SERVICE AT VNAIC. 600 BUTTERFLIES WERE SOLD FOR A DONATION TO THE HOSPICE FOR FAMILIES TO PICK UP AND RELEASE AT HOME. VNAIC OFFERS A NO COST PROGRAM TO THE COMMUNITY CALLED HOPEFUL HEARTS. THE MISSION OF HOPEFUL HEARTS IS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF GRIEVING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING SUPPORT IN A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT, WHERE ALL ARE WELCOME, AND WHERE FAMILIES CAN GROW THROUGH THE HEALING PROCESS. HOPEFUL HEARTS PROVIDES A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO COME TOGETHER AND SAFELY EXPLORE AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, FEELINGS, AND MEMORIES OF THE PERSON WHO HAS DIED. EVENING SESSIONS ARE HELD TWICE A MONTH FOR THE FAMILY OF THE GRIEVING CHILD TO MEET FOR A MEAL, FELLOWSHIP, AND SESSION LED BY TRAINED BEREAVEMENT VOLUNTEERS. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED TEN RETURNING FAMILIES AND TWO NEW FAMILIES. THERE WERE 12 ADULTS AND 24 CHILDREN THAT WERE SUPPORTED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE PLACED INTO AGE-APPROPRIATE GROUPS (PRESCHOOL, YOUNG CHILD, MIDDLE CHILD, TEEN AND ADULT). LIKE ALL BEREAVEMENT SERVICES PROVIDED BY HOSPICE, HOPEFUL HEARTS SUPPORTS THE WHOLE FAMILY ON THE GRIEF JOURNEY OVER MANY MONTHS.