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Community Corner

Visiting Nurse Association of South Central CT Approves Naugatuck VNA Transition & Services Agreement

New Haven (June 27, 2014) – The Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut Inc. (VNA South Central) on June 23, 2014 approved a transition and services agreement with the Borough of Naugatuck. The agreement, which was approved by the Borough on June 17, 2014 is a result of the decision to close the municipally run Naugatuck Visiting Nurse Association effective September 30, 2014.

The Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut had been recommended to the Borough in the June 2013 Strategic Plan Study conducted by Blum Shapiro. VNA South Central agreed to discuss with the Borough a plan of action that would ensure that Naugatuck residents had a viable option to receive Visiting Nurse services from a similar mission driven VNA like the VNA South Central. The Borough’s mayor and other officials met with representatives of multiple home health agencies in a very deliberative manner as part of a due diligence process. Both parties to the agreement concur that a very clear transition process is important to assure continuity of care for all existing and future patients of the Naugatuck VNA and that VNA South Central will meet the community needs.

Robert Motley, Chair of VNA South Central, expressed “on behalf of the Board, we fully support this agreement that makes the VNA South Central the “home care agency of choice” for the Residents of the Borough of Naugatuck.”

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The VNA South Central will have a presence at the existing Naugatuck VNA offices on 600 Rubber Ave. and will transition patients to their home health clinical team in a gradual process over the summer pending the choice of each patient. Letters are going out to patients explaining the simple process of transitioning their care to VNA South Central without interruption of care. Local physicians will also receive similar correspondence.

John R. Quinn, President and CEO of VNA South Central, stated “As we celebrate our 110th year Anniversary-which has included serving Naugatuck and the Valley-we are excited to expand our services within Naugatuck. We share the same commitment and mission that the Naugatuck VNA has provided the community and residents can rest assured they will continue to have the quality and caring services that they have been accustomed to expect from a VNA.”

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Effective immediately, hospitals, doctors and patients may refer Naugatuck residents to the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut by calling the Direct Referral number-203-859-6070. Home visits are made per patient needs on weekdays, evenings, weekends and holidays.

In order to provide some continuity, it is expected that a few members of the existing Naugatuck VNA clinical team will accept employment with VNA South Central. In addition, all clinicians under VNA South Central will be connected by laptops and iPhones to effectively record the health status of each patient while in their home and to easily communicate to the patient’s doctor if necessary.

VNA South Central offers a myriad of traditional home care services which include: skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapies, Home Health Aides, Medical Social Workers and Behavioral Health. Its specialty services include: Cardiac Recovery, Home Infusion Therapy, Joint Replacement Therapy, Living with Cancer, Chemotherapy, Advanced Illness Management, Wound Care, High Risk Maternal & Newborn Care, Lactation Specialist, Pediatrics and Transition Management.

Matt Fortney, a Naugatuck resident and member of the Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut’s Board of Directors concluded, “I am pleased that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses has negotiated this agreement with the VNA South Central to continue the long tradition of having a VNA presence that provides exceptional home health care to our Naugatuck residents. This was not an easy decision for the Borough, but the options were diligently pursued, and the VNA South Central is the right choice at the right time.”

For more information on VNA South Central please go to www.vnascc.org.

About Visiting Nurse Association of South Central Connecticut Inc.

Founded in 1904, the VNA South Central, which is the original VNA of New Haven, Milford, East Haven, and the Valley, is a state licensed, non-profit, community-based home health care agency. The VNA South Central staff consists of highly skilled nurses, therapists, medical social workers and home health aides. A vital resource to the communities it serves, the VNA South Central provides a wide range of specialized clinical services, community programs, the Nurturing Families Network and subsidized care, (through the Valley United Way and First Niagara Foundation) to those who are in need. The agency employs over 150 staff members, has an average daily census of over 855 patients and makes over 132,000 home visits per year. The agency is the founder of the Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing. The VNA South Central is supported in part by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Valley United Way, United Way of Milford, First Niagara, and corporate sponsors and individual donors. To learn more about the VNA South Central visit www.vnascc.org.

CareSource, a private pay affiliate of VNA South Central, strives to maximize the quality of life for its clients and their caregivers in the home and health care settings. Their services include homemakers, companions and live-in aides. To learn more about CareSource visit www.caresourceinc.org.

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