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'S (VNAIC) SKILLED HOME HEALTH CARE PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE DRIVEN BY THE CORE MISSION TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR THE RESIDENTS OF INDIANA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. VNAIC'S SISTER ORGANIZATION IS INDIANA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER A HOSPITAL IN INDIANA COUNTY THAT STRIVES TO PROVIDE OUTSTANDING SERVICES SUCH AS CARDIOLOGY, ORTHOPEDICS, ROBOTIC SURGERY AS WELL AS CANCER CARE. VNAIC EXTENDS THE CARE THAT PATIENTS RECEIVE AT INDIANA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HOMES. 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. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021, APPROXIMATELY 2,333 PATIENTS WERE SERVED BY VNAIC HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. THERE WERE 37,671 VISITS MADE TO PATIENTS IN OUR HOME HEALTH PROGRAM DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021. 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. THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE) POSED MANY CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE YEAR. WE SAW A SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE. THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP TO CARRY HEALTHCARE SERVICES INTO THE FUTURE. IN MARCH 2020, THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED ITS EMERGENCY DISASTER PLAN. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ACROSS THE CONTINUUM MET ROUTINELY TO CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATE THE SITUATION REGARDING THE PHE AND EVER-CHANGING STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDANCE FOR THE SAFE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED OR KNOWN COVID-19 INFECTIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP ALL STAFF SAFE AND HEALTHY. AT TIMES, STAFFING BECAME A CHALLENGE WHEN STAFF NEEDED TO QUARANTINE DUE TO EXPOSURE OR TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. A STAFFING CONTINGENCY PLAN WAS PUT INTO PLACE SO THAT THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION TO CARE FOR AS MANY PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE SAFEST OF WAYS. 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 (THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASED $37,573 OF PPE AND RELATED SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR) 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. A CORPORATE NURSING TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST WITH EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS. THE VACCINATION WAS ADMINISTERED TO FELLOW CO-WORKERS, PATIENTS, RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AT NO CHARGE. 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 SERVES RESIDENTS IN INDIANA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES. 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 $9,582 ON FLU VACCINES THAT WERE GIVEN TO PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES. 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 SIX (6) RETURNING FAMILIES AND EIGHT (8) NEW FAMILIES. THERE WERE 15 ADULTS AND 26 CHILDREN THAT WERE SUPPORTED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE PARTICIPANTS ARE PLACED INTO AGE-APPROPRIATE GROUPS (PRESCHOOL, YOUNG CHILD, MIDDLE CHILD, TEEN AND ADULT).

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 11,544 VISITS. IN ADDITION, HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 14,304 HOURS OF SERVICE TO PROGRAM RECIPIENTS. THE VNA FAMILY HOSPICE PARTNERED WITH INDIANA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER TO PROVIDE GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE OR FRIEND AT NO CHARGE. ALSO, TWELVE BEREAVEMENT MAILINGS WERE SENT OFFERING SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, COPING TECHNIQUES AND EDUCATION TO HOSPICE FAMILY MEMBERS. THE 11TH ANNUAL VNAIC BUTTERFLY RELEASE WAS HELD IN A MODIFIED DRIVE-THROUGH STYLE FORMAT ON SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2020, 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.