New Jersey and Ohio Visiting Nurse Associations Announce Plans to Partner

VNAHG, headquartered in Holmdel, is New Jersey's largest nonprofit VNA and second largest VNA in the United States. VNAO, headquartered in Cleveland, offers one of Ohio's largest range of home-based hospice, mental health, and healthcare services throughout 17 counties in northern and central Ohio.

"This partnership represents an unbelievable opportunity to make a difference in my original home state," stated Steve Landers, MD, MPH, VNAHG President and Chief Executive Officer who previously served as a leader for Cleveland Clinic's home care and post-acute programs. Dr. Landers, born in Cleveland and raised in Ohio's University Heights and Shaker Heights neighborhoods, has led VNA Health Group since 2012. "With an aging population and significant healthcare challenges facing communities, there has never been more need and relevance for the visiting nurses and home-based care."

James Schaum, VNAO Interim Chief Executive Officer, echoes the sentiments of Dr. Landers. "Through this partnership, we stand united in our shared mission to provide high quality, comprehensive, and compassionate home healthcare to some of our states' most vulnerable individuals," said Mr. Schaum, who has served as the Chair of VNA's Mid-Ohio Advisory Board. "We share many attributes—depth of quality health services, and skilled and dedicated caregivers," continued Mr. Schaum.  "I'd especially like to thank our Board for their dedication and support throughout this process. By joining together, we have strengthened both organizations' ability to continue to meet the home healthcare needs of our communities and expand the services we offer."

Both organizations share a long history of caring for their communities. VNAHG began with a meeting of volunteers in 1912 set out to improve prison conditions and achieve a more humane approach to public assistance. VNAO was formed in 1902 by 13 pioneering women who aspired to meet the healthcare needs of the community by creating the Visiting Nurse Association of Cleveland. Since then, the organizations have grown to serve thousands of patients across New Jersey and Ohio and to become highly respected and valued healthcare providers.

Leadership of both organizations realizes the incredible need for home care and community health services as the healthcare system faces an aging population with high levels of chronic disease and mental illness. VNAHG Board Chairman Brian Griffin, EVP and President, Commercial and Specialty Division at Anthem, Inc., stated that the combination will expand VNAHG's effective post-acute care business model and commitment to best practices to a VNA outside of New Jersey, while integrating VNAO's respected home-based mental health model into VNAHG's breadth of services.

"Whether in their homes or through community programs, VNAs bridge gaps to secure the healthcare people need most," Mr. Griffin remarked. "Our home and hospice care services reach people who need them most, and this partnership will help to ensure that we can continue to promote health and independence for those living in the communities we serve, and reduce, and ultimately eliminate, fragmentation in the delivery of healthcare. Our unique joint partnership model with health systems leverages clinical and technical resources to better serve the needs of patients and help them achieve their highest level of health and well-being."

VNAO Board Chair Elizabeth Madigan, Ph.D., RN, Case Western Reserve University Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, concurs, noting that, combined; the VNAs can accomplish even more for the communities they serve.

"Staff of both organizations are committed to helping patients in the comfort and privacy of their homes, surrounded by the people and things they love," Dr. Madigan said. "Whether recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or in need of assistance with activities of daily living, our visiting nurse associations offer compassionate, high-quality care tailored to meet the needs of every patient and family, and together, we are better able to improve the health and quality of life for thousands of our neighbors in New Jersey and Ohio."

Under the terms of the agreement, once the merger is completed, Dr. Landers will spearhead the combined organizations as president and CEO.

About VNAHG
Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group is New Jersey's largest not-for-profit visiting nurse association and visiting physician service that helps individuals and families achieve their best level of health and well-being by providing home health, hospice, palliative and community-based care, and operating private-pay personal care services. A full range of primary care services is available through VNACJ Community Health Centers. Our unique joint partnership model with health systems leverages clinical and technical resources to operate Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, VNA Health Group of New Jersey (Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, VNA of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice) and Visiting Physician Services. Currently, we employ more than 2,000 and each year, care for more than 120,000 people. VNA Health Group is accredited by Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). VNA Health Group was founded in 1912 and has continued to serve vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, and those with disabling and chronic illness or facing the end of life. For more information about VNA Health Group please visit www.vnahg.org.

About VNAO
VNA of Ohio (also known as Visiting Nurse Association Healthcare Partners of Ohio, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and is designated as a community agency by United Way. VNA of Ohio is accredited and certified by The Joint Commission, the State of Ohio, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Ohio Department of Mental Health. With close to 500 healthcare and administrative professionals, VNA of Ohio serves thousands of individuals throughout Northeast, Northwest, Central, and Mid-Ohio. VNA of Ohio offers the largest range of home-based health services in the state, focusing on home healthcare and personal care private-duty services. Home healthcare services extend to include medical/surgical nursing care, mental health services, TeleHealth chronic disease management, and rehabilitation therapy services. For more information about VNA of Ohio please visit www.vnaohio.org.

SOURCE Visiting Nurse Association

Related Links

http://www.vnahg.org