Concordia Visiting Nurses

HEALTH CARE DELIVERY AND MANAGEMENT: PROVIDE COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FACILITIES TO SENIORS AND DISABLED AND ILL PERSONS IN THEIR HOMES. INCLUDES NURSING, THERAPY, HOME HEALTH AIDE, MEDICAL SOCIAL WORK, AND RELATED SERVICES.

CONCORDIA VISITING NURSES (CVN) PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE DRIVEN BY THE CORE MISSION TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT IN-HOME HEALTH SERVICES TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM, IN A FAITHFUL ENVIRONMENT. CVN IS PART OF A LARGE CONTINUUM OF CARE STRIVING 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 18,400 PATIENTS WERE SERVED ACROSS THIRTEEN COUNTIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, INCLUDING ALLEGHENY, ARMSTRONG, BEAVER, BUTLER, GREENE, LAWRENCE, WESTMORELAND, WASHINGTON AND PARTS OF CLARION, FAYETTE, INDIANA, MERCER AND VENANGO, WITH AN AVERAGE DAILY CENSUS OF 2,736. CVN PROVIDES QUALIFIED SPIRITUAL COUNSELORS WHO RESPOND TO NEEDS THROUGH PRAYER, CONSULTATION AND COUNSELING TO ALL RELIGIONS AND DENOMINATIONS AND WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL CLERGY AS REQUESTED. A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY 337,776 VISITS (INCLUDING 3,517 NON-BILLABLE VISITS ASSOCIATED WITH SPIRITUAL CARE, NUTRITION, ETC.) WERE COMPLETED BY VARIOUS DISCIPLINES. THE NON-REIMBURSED COST OF THE NON-BILLABLE SPIRITUAL CARE VISITS WAS $89,143.00 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. 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 $172,087 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 AND THE HOSPITAL AT HOME MODEL. CVN WAS ABLE TO ASSIST PHYSICIANS WITH VISITS BY PROVIDING A NURSE FOR A VIDEO VISIT WITH THE PHYSICIAN TO ALLOW FOR THE FACE-TO-FACE REQUIREMENT TO BE FULFILLED. CVN PROVIDES TELE-HEALTH MONITORING FREE OF CHARGE TO PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASES. TELE-HEALTH MONITORING IS A NON-BILLABLE SERVICE THAT COSTS THE AGENCY $388,245.00 ANNUALLY. 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. CONCORDIA VISITING NURSES ACHIEVED DEEMED STATUS WITH ACCREDITATION COMMISSION FOR HEALTH CARE (ACHC). CVN IS ALSO PART OF CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MINISTRIES AGING SERVICES NETWORK, UNDER CARF-CCAC ACCREDITATION. CVN STARTED PREPARATION FOR THEIR JOURNEY TO RECEIVE ACCREDITATION IN 2019 THROUGH THE ACCREDITATION COMMISSION OF HEALTH CARE (ACHC). ON JULY 28, 2020, CVN RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT WE ACHIEVED DEEMED STATUS AND ACCREDITATION FOR HOME HEALTH THROUGH ACHC FROM JULY 16, 2020, TO JULY 16, 2023. CVN ALSO APPLIED FOR ACCREDITATION FOR HOME INFUSION THERAPY SERVICES IN DECEMBER. WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION ON DECEMBER 22, 2020 THAT CVN WAS AWARDED ACHC. THIS IS THE FIRST ACCREDITATION THAT THE ACCREDITING BODY HAS GIVEN TO US. AN ORGANIZATION RECEIVING A THREE-YEAR ACCREDITATION HAS PUT ITSELF THROUGH A RIGOROUS PEER REVIEW PROCESS. IT HAS DEMONSTRATED TO A TEAM OF SURVEYORS DURING AN ON-SITE VISIT ITS COMMITMENT TO OFFERING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT ARE MEASURABLE, ACCOUNTABLE, AND OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. ACHC IS AN INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT ACCREDITING BODY WHOSE MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE QUALITY, VALUE, AND OPTIMAL OUTCOMES OF SERVICES THROUGH A CONSULTATIVE ACCREDITATION PROCESS AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT SERVICES THAT CENTER ON ENHANCING THE LIVES OF PERSONS SERVED. HOME INFUSION THERAPY ACCREDITATION EFFECTIVE AS OF DEC 17, 2020 TO JULY 16, 2023. THE PA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH) ARRIVED ONSITE FOR THEIR ANTICIPATED RECERTIFICATION SURVEY ON JULY 27, 2020. ON AUGUST 3, 2020, THE AGENCY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT CVN HAD A DEFICIENCY-FREE STATE SURVEY AND SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED RECERTIFICATION. EACH MONTH OUR TRANSITIONAL NURSE LIAISONS TEAM UP WITH CVN NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKERS TO SCHEDULE AND ATTEND SEVERAL COMMUNITY GATHERINGS TO DISCUSS OUR "CONCORDIA VISITING NURSES HEALTHY TOPIC" OF THE MONTH AT HEALTH FAIRS, COMMUNITY SPEAKER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS TO PROMOTE WELLNESS IN THE COMMUNITY. CVN SPENT A TOTAL OF $11,832 ON FLU SHOTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND PATIENTS DURING FLU CLINICS AND AN ADDITIONAL $5,648 ON FLU SHOTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO EMPLOYEES DURING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR. TOTAL DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS MADE DURING FISCAL YEAR ENDED 6/30/20, EQUATED $47,260. ADDITIONAL FUNDING VIA DISTRIBUTIONS TO 501(C)(3) MEMBER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AT A TOTAL OF $8,000,000 HAVE EXPANDED LIKE-MINDED MISSION WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. EMPLOYEES OF CVN WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE BY PARTICIPATING IN MISSION EVENTS ORGANIZED BY THE PARENT COMPANY CONCORDIA COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES. HERE ARE THE DONATION, SPONSORSHIP AND MISSION EVENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT CVN TOOK PART IN DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. 4 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $17,500 WERE AWARDED TO THE CHILDREN OF CVN EMPLOYEES IN THE CONCORDIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. A TOTAL OF $270 WAS DONATED THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR TO 9 LOCAL ORGS. THESE WERE PART OF OUR EMPLOYEE BENEFIT FUND PROGRAM. DONATIONS ARE GIVEN TO A CHARITY OF EMPLOYEE'S CHOICE WHEN A QUALIFYING EVENT OCCURS, SUCH AS A DEATH IN THE FAMILY. IN DECEMBER 2020, CVN BUSN DEVELOPMENT TEAM PARTNERED WITH BUTLER HEALTH SYSTEM TO LAUNCH A BOREDOM BAG PROJECT. OVER 230 BAGS WITH PUZZLES, A SOFT BLANKET AND OTHER ITEMS WERE GIVEN TO PATIENTS IN ISOLATION DUE TO A COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS AT BUTLER HEALTH SYSTEM, WASHINGTON HEALTH SYSTEM, HERITAGE VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM AND ST CLAIR HOSPITAL. THE COST TO CVN FOR THESE ITEMS WAS $3,723.76. MISSION EVENT FOR CHRISTMAS 2020: CVN MATCHED EMPLOYEE DONATIONS AND THE GIFTS WENT TO VARIETY-THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY'S MY BIKE PROGRAM IN WHICH AN ADAPTIVE BIKE WAS PURCHASED FOR A DESERVING SPECIAL-NEEDS KID. A TOTAL OF $1,492 WAS GIVEN; THAT AMOUNT WAS OFFSET BY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS OF $267 FOR AN EXPENSE TO CVN OF $1,225. EMPLOYEES WERE PERMITTED TO WEAR BLUE JEANS FOR A COMPANY-MATCHED $5 DONATION DURING A 7-WEEK LONG MISSION EVENT WAS HELD IN JAN AND FEB 2021. A DIFFERENT LOCAL ORG WAS CHOSEN EACH WEEK. A TOTAL OF $960 WAS GIVEN TO THE CHARITIES; THAT AMOUNT WAS OFFSET BY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS OF $480 FOR AN EXPENSE TO CVN OF $480. OTHER DONATIONS INCLUDE $250 TO BETHANY PRESBY CHURCH, $248.92 TO JEAN B PURVIS COMM HEALTH CENTER, $173.74 PURCHASE OF A DOOR PRIZE FOR THE BUTLER CO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOLF OUTING, $60 WAS DONATED TO THE ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION-GREATER PA CHAPTER, AND $50 WAS DONATED TO OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES. A TOTAL OF $23,278 WAS SPENT ON SPONSORSHIPS OF 15 LOCAL EVENTS DURING THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR. THE MISSION EVENTS THAT WERE HELD WITH NO EXPENSE TO CVN WERE: FOOD DRIVE: EMPLOYEES PURCHASED AND DONATED GROCERIES AND PAPER PRODUCTS TO THE ST LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH FOOD PANTRY IN OCTOBER 2020. BUY A MEAL AND MAKE THEIR DAY: EMPLOYEES BOUGHT A MEAL FOR ANY ONE OF THE 4 CONCORDIA INPATIENT HOSPICE UNITS ON SATURDAYS IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2021 FOR THE FAMILIES OF HOSPICE PATIENTS. FOOD DISTRIBUTION: EMPLOYEES HELPED OUT ON A FOOD DISTRIBUTION DAY IN MAY 2021 AT THE CABOT FOOD BANK BY PACKING BOXES AND FILLING CARS. THESE DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS AND MISSION EVENTS ARE SOME OF THE MANY WAYS WE SERVE GOD BY PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE.