Business Briefs: Merger Suspended, HomeCare Connect’s CFO

VNA of Hanover Suspends Merger with SpiriTrust Lutheran

Adams County, Pennsylvania-based Visiting Nurse Association of Hanover & Spring Grove Inc. has suspended its previously announced merger with Chambersburg, Pennsylvania-based SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice.

The VNA voted to suspend discussions about a merger, which have been taking place since 2014, according to a news release.

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The decision is based on changing circumstances lessening the urgency of the proposed relationship, according to the release.

“The VNA Board of Directors and management team no longer feels a sense of urgency to pursue a merger at this time,” said Bryan S. Warner, the VNA’s interim president and CEO. “With constant changes taking place in the health care landscape, the VNA would like to strengthen its current position and re-evaluate the situation as new developments occur.”

The VNA of Hanover & Spring Grove provides home health care, palliative care, hospice and in-home support services in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and southwestern York County, Pennsylvania.

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SpiriTrust Lutheran Home Care & Hospice provides skilled home health services, in-home care, hospice care and grief counseling to individuals and families in 17 Pennsylvania counties including Dauphin, Cumberland and York, as well as three Northern Maryland counties.

The two organizations were considering a merger because of their similar missions and a common goal to strengthen their respective organizations, according to original reports about the deal.

HomeCare Connect Welcomes CFO

Maitland, Florida-based HomeCare Connect hired Gail Kasmir as its new chief financial officer.

“We have grown to the point that we need a full-time CFO and the timing was right for Gail,” said HomeCare Connect’s Chief Marketing Officer and Partner Vonesa Wenzel.

Kasmir has worked with HomeCare Connect on an outsourced CFO basis for the last four years. Most recently, she managed and owned Forensic, Litigation, and Accounting Consultants, PLLC in Orlando, Florida.

Specializing in catastrophic cases, HomeCare Connect concentrates exclusively on managing the cost and quality of home health, durable medical equipment and supplies for workers’ compensation payers. With over 17,000 contracted network providers, its services include nursing, respiratory therapy, home infusion, speech and occupational therapy, along with the coordination of durable medical equipment and supplies.

Coastal Home Care Expands to Open New Location in Georgetown, Delaware

Coastal Home Care opened a new location in Georgetown, Delaware, in an attempt to expand its reach and offer quality in-home care services to the entire Sussex County and Delaware Cape Region.

Coastal Home Care is also looking to hire an additional 30 caregivers, and become one of the largest employers in the area.

Coastal Home Care has been in the private duty home care industry since 2010. Founded and managed by a registered nurse, Coastal Home Care offers eldercare, dementia care, Alzheimer’s care and hospice support services, as well as offers a free nurse consultation in order to evaluate client needs.

“As a Lewes resident, I have recognized the need for more personalized and attentive home care for our area’s seniors,” said Susan Rodgers, president of Coastal Home Care. “The demand for home care services is constantly growing, and we are ready to meet this demand and bring on the exceptional staff to do so. Opening the Coastal Home Care in Georgetown will provide a local in-home care presence that will serve as a full service training and operational location.”

Elsevier and The Corridor Group Work Together to Ensure That Home and Hospice Healthcare Providers Stay Current in Their Education Needs

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of technical, scientific and medical information services and products, has signed an agreement with The Corridor Group, provider of industry expertise and solutions for non-acute healthcare providers, to add its CHEX eLearning courses to Elsevier’s home healthcare portfolio.

The CHEX eLearning products include essential information for hospice and home healthcare personnel, including skilled clinicians (nurses and therapists), administrators,  social workers, and home healthcare and hospice aides.

“It is essential that home health care providers stay educated and compliant as they grow in this ever-changing environment,” said Des Varady, Corridor’s CEO. “As a leader in education for home healthcare and hospice, Corridor is thrilled to be partnering with Elsevier to jointly offer a compelling spectrum of eLearning resources to the healthcare industry.”

“With the addition of the CHEX products to the Elsevier home healthcare product portfolio, including Mosby’s Orientation to Home Health Care eLearning course and Elsevier Home Health Care clinical resource, we now offer a comprehensive solution to meet these needs as well as to help agencies keep their nurses, therapists and other personnel current with regulations, standards, and coding requirements for home health care and hospice,” said Cindy Tryniszewski, executive director, Clinical eLearning, Elsevier Clinical Solutions.

Written by Mary Kate Nelson

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