Concordia Community Support Services

TO PROVIDE EXECUTIVE LEVEL OVERSIGHT, MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR THE NON-PROFIT HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED ENTITIES THAT DELIVER QUALITY HOME HEALTH SERVICES, HOSPICE SERVICES, AND SUPPLY NEEDS IN GOOD FAITH, ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHO ENTRUST THEMSELVES TO OUR CARE AND TO MINISTER TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL WITH RESPECT, DIGNITY AND COMPASSION.

CONCORDIA COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES (CCSS) MANAGES THE LEADERSHIP AND OPERATIONS OF CONCORDIA VISITING NURSES; ALLIANCE VISITING NURSES, DBA, VNA ALLIANCE; GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE OF PITTSBURGH; CONCORDIA HOSPICE OF WASHINGTON, CONCORDIA PRIVATE CARE, AND CONCORDIA MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. ALL OF THESE ENTITIES ARE 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ENTITIES. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, CCSS ENTERED INTO A NEW CONSULTING AND THEN MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH VNA OF INDIANA COUNTY THAT PERFORMS HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE SERVICES. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, APPROXIMATELY 26,759 PATIENTS WERE SERVED ACROSS 15 COUNTIES IN HOME HEALTH, HOSPICE AND PRIVATE DUTY SERVICES. IN ADDITION, CONCORDIA MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SUPPORTS THE APPROXIMATELY 50,000 PATIENTS THAT CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MINISTRIES SERVES OVER 12 CAMPUSES BY PROVIDING DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES. FROM NURSING AND THERAPY SERVICES TO SPECIALIZED SERVICES SUCH AS IV THERAPY, WOUND CARE, PALLIATIVE CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, OUR VISITING NURSES' TEAMS ENSURE THAT PATIENTS ARE PROVIDED CARE IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOME WITH THE GOAL OF PREVENTING REHOSPITALIZATION AND MONITORING CHRONIC DISEASE STATES. OUR HOSPICE TEAM PROVIDES COMFORT CARE TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WHO ARE ON THEIR END-OF-LIFE JOURNEY. OUR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AGENCY IS DEDICATED TO ENHANCING HOME SAFETY BY PROVIDING A WIDE SELECTION OF DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND RELATED HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES SUCH AS HOME ACCESSIBILITY PRODUCTS, MOBILITY AIDS, AND RESPIRATORY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. FAMILIES OF OUR PATIENTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE SO WE EDUCATE AND SUPPORT THEM THROUGH SITUATIONS RELATED TO CARING FOR A LOVED ONE WHO IS AGING, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR END-OF-LIFE. BEREAVEMENT CARE IS ALSO PROVIDED TO FAMILIES OF HOSPICE PATIENTS FOR AT LEAST A YEAR BEYOND THE PATIENT'S DEATH. EMPLOYEES ARE OFFERED TRAINING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO OBTAIN NEW SKILLS SUCH AS WOUND CARE CERTIFICATION, PALLIATIVE CARE TRAINING, IV THERAPY CERTIFICATION, LYMPHEDEMA THERAPY CERTIFICATION, HOME HEALTH AND HOSPICE CODING CERTIFICATION, AND HOSPICE BOOT CAMP TRAINING. EMPLOYEES ARE OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND NURSING SCHOOL TUITION-FREE AND TWO EMPLOYEES TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OFFER DURING 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 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. OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS PARTICIPATES IN EDUCATIONAL RADIO TALK SHOWS WHICH ARE BROADCAST 1 TIME A MONTH IN BEAVER COUNTY, PA ON WBVP/WMBA AND 2 TIMES A MONTH IN BUTLER COUNTY, PA ON WISR. THE COST OF THE TIME INVESTED BY OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS IS APPROXIMATELY $5,000. THE GOAL OF THESE RADIO SHOWS IS TO EDUCATE FAMILY CAREGIVERS, WHETHER THEY ARE A SENIOR CARING FOR A SPOUSE OR ADULT CHILDREN CARING FOR AN OLDER ADULT. SHOWS OFTEN TALK ABOUT CAREGIVING TIPS AND THE LISTENER IS DIRECTED TO THE SERVICES OFFERED BY CCSS COMPANIES SO THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ON CARE. SOME OF THE TOPICS COVERED IN 2020-2021 INCLUDE: NONVERBAL SIGNS OF PAIN WITH DEMENTIA, REPETITIVE QUESTIONS WITH DEMENTIA, GOING TO THE ER, IS YOU RELATIVE AT RISK FOR A BONE FRACTURE?, HIP AND BONE FRACTURES, NATIONAL PT MONTH OUTPATIENT THERAPY, NATIONAL HOMECARE & HOSPICE MONTH 2020, SHEDDING LIGHT ON HOMECARE SERVICES, SEASONAL DEPRESSION DURING THE PANDEMIC, GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE'S NEW YOUTH BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM, RECOGNIZING, TREATING AND MANAGING A LYMPHEDEMA DIAGNOSIS, CONCORDIA VISITING NURSES SPIRITUAL CARE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO RADIO SHOWS, OUR EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES ARE HELPFUL TO VISITORS WHO ARE IN NEED OF FAMILY CAREGIVING TIPS INCLUDING A WIDE RANGE OF NEEDS FROM ALZHEIMER'S AND MEMORY IMPAIRMENT TO COMMON DISEASES LIKE CHF, COPD AND DIABETES. THE PALLIATIVE CARE WEBSITE ASSISTS PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE WITH A SERIOUS ILLNESS BUT ARE STILL SEEKING CURATIVE CARE. THERE ARE TWO HOSPICE WEBSITES, ONE FOR THE PITTSBURGH MARKET AND ONE FOR THE WASHINGTON, PA MARKET. A MISSION COMMITTEE WAS FORMED BY CCSS IN 2018 TO ORGANIZE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYEES TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY. THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF EMPLOYEES OF CCSS AND THE SIX AGENCIES THAT WE MANAGE AND THE APPROXIMATE COST OF THE TIME INVESTED IN THE MEETINGS TO ORGANIZE THE EVENTS IS $5,400. DESPITE PAUSING ALL IN-PERSON MISSIONS DURING 2020, THE COMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO FOCUS ITS EFFORTS ON MAKING CHRISTMAS 2020 SPECIAL FOR LOCAL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. THE COMMITTEE SUPPORTED VARIETY PITTSBURGH'S MY BIKE PROGRAM OVER THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST BY FOCUSING ON THEIR MOBILITY, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIALIZATION. OUR EMPLOYEES GENEROUSLY PROVIDED MONETARY DONATIONS, THAT WERE MATCHED BY CONCORDIA, TO THIS SPECIAL ORGANIZATION. $500 WAS DONATED TO VARIETY-THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY AND THE MONEY RAISED WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE CHILDREN IN NEED WITH CUSTOMIZED ADAPTIVE BIKES THAT THEIR FAMILIES WOULD OTHERWISE BE UNABLE TO AFFORD. A FOOD DRIVE WAS ORGANIZED IN OCT 2020 FOR EMPLOYEES TO COLLECT NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS FOR THE ST LUKE LUTHERAN FOOD BANK IN RESPONSE TO INCREASE NEED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES DURING THE PANDEMIC. FOR THE FEBRUARY 2021 MISSION EVENT, EMPLOYEES MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE A MEAL DELIVERED ON EACH SATURDAY OF THE MONTH TO THE FAMILIES OF THE PATIENTS OF EACH OF THE FOUR HOSPICE IN-PATIENT UNITS, ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE A MEAL TOGETHER AT A DIFFICULT TIME. IN MAY 2021 SEVERAL EMPLOYEES GATHERED AT CABOT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TO HELP OUT WITH THE CABOT FOOD BANK DRIVE-THROUGH DISTRIBUTION. A SEVEN-WEEK LONG MISSION EVENT WAS HELD IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2021 CALLED MONDAY BLUE JEANS DAYS. EMPLOYEES WERE PERMITTED TO WEAR BLUE JEANS FOR A $5 DONATION AND THE DONATIONS WERE MATCHED BY CCSS AND THEN USED TO SUPPORT A LOCAL CHARITY. A NEW CHARITY WAS CHOSEN EACH WEEK AND THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS WERE SUPPORTED DURING THAT TIME: BUTLER COUNTY YMCA, CITY MISSION, GOOD SAMARITAN ENDOWMENT FUND, KIDS KLOSET AT TRINITY CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, PA, PRINCE OF PEACE CENTER, ST LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH FOOD BANK, AND THE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION. A TOTAL OF $730 WAS GIVEN TO THE CHARITIES; THAT AMOUNT WAS OFFSET BY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS OF $402 FOR AN EXPENSE TO CCSS OF $328. THE FOLLOWING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RECEIVED DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM CONCORDIA COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGH SPONSORSHIPS OF EVENTS: BC3 EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC.: GOLF OUTING, BUTLER HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION HANDBAGS FOR HOPE VIRTUAL RAFFLE, CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH-PITTSBURGH GOLF OUTING, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER: JEAN B PURVIS AWARD DINNER, CROSSFIT RECREATE, SAXONBURG AREA BASEBALL ASSOCIATION TEAM SPONSORSHIPS AND SAXONBURG MINGLE ON MAIN. TOTAL COST TO THE AGENCY FOR SPONSORSHIPS FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED 6/30/2021 EQUATED $1,377. CCSS MADE CASH DONATIONS TO VARIOUS OTHER 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING: A HOME FOR A CAUSE: $1,000, PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK: $1,000, CONCORDIA HOSPICE OF WASHINGTON CARDINAL PROJECT $500. GOOD SAMARITAN ENDOWMENT FUND WAS SUPPORTED WITH A TOTAL OF $500,110, CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MINISTRIES PARENT WAS SUPPORTED WITH A TOTAL OF $4,500,000 AND CONCORDIA TELE-CAREGIVERS WAS SUPPORTED WITH A TOTAL OF $4,800.