Why Population Health Holds the ‘Magic Formula’ to VNSNY’s Future

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) filled an important leadership position at the beginning of October. That’s when the large nonprofit provider named former NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital exec Andria Castellanos its new executive vice president and chief of provider services. Castellanos is replacing Marki Flannery, who stepped into the VNSNY CEO and president roles […]

Nurses’ Attitudes Can Determine Infection Control Compliance

Infection is a leading cause of hospitalization among home health care patients, yet relatively little is known about nurses’ compliance with infection control practices. That’s beginning to change, and early findings suggest attitude toward infection control compliance has an enormous impact. Researchers at The University of Manchester, Columbia University and Appalachian State University teamed up […]

VNSNY, Vitas Want to Fix the Racial Disparity in Hospice Care

Hospice has been a popular target on the mergers-and-acquisitions front, but the industry faces a demographic challenge when it comes to minority patients. The sector is plagued by very low utilization rates for minority patients, and the numbers appear only to be getting worse. About 87% of hospice patients are white, according to the most recent […]

CMS Launches Rural Health Strategy with Telehealth Aims

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a new rural health strategy, targeting Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries located in rural America. One of the strategy’s aims is to boost telehealth and telemedicine, a growing area of in-home based care. “For the first time, CMS is organizing and focusing our efforts to apply […]

Readmissions, ER Trips Higher Among Minority Groups in Home Health

Home health may improve patient outcomes and lower overall care costs, but it might be working better for white patients compared to minority groups, a recent study has found. About 12 million people in the United States rely on home health care, often to help manage conditions including diabetes, heart failure, osteoarthritis and hypertension, according […]

Largest Home Health Nonprofit Pilots Avatar Tech for Rehab

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) isn’t yet using robots to administer care, but the New York-based home health care agency is about to start offering some of its patients an innovative rehabilitation program. The tech utilizes avatars, which are cartoon-like personas, that will guide patients through on-demand physical therapy at home and offer […]

Bomb Cyclone Hits Home Care Providers in Northeast

A major winter storm, dubbed a “bomb cyclone” for its rapid intensity, pummeled the Northeast region of the United States on Thursday, forcing in-home care providers to switch into overdrive to keep clients, patients and caregivers safe. Temperatures plunged across the East Coast as blizzard conditions and hurricane force winds hit the region from the Carolinas […]