Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

Jun 06 2017
Visiting Nurses Are Essential to Healthcare

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By Norene Mostkoff, President & CEO

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to appear on Atlanta’s NPR radio station WABE 90.1 program “A Closer Look” to discuss the nursing profession and the ways in which the nurses of Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta meet the needs of person-centered care.

Staying Healthy Starts at Home

I welcomed the opportunity to educate the public about the amazing work our nurses do every day, allowing our patients to age-in-place rather than moving into a nursing home. Our dedicated nurses meet the special needs of homebound patients. I was happy to spread the word on the importance of nurses visiting patients in their home because staying healthy starts at home. Visiting nurses are crucial to public health. An in-home nurse can discover that a patient who is in the emergency room every month due to a diabetic crisis doesn’t have proper refrigeration for his insulin. We can then get him a small refrigerator and reduce emergency room visits and the associated costs. The work our nurses do is truly incredible and adds particular value to person-centered care.

Georgia Nurses Association estimates a nursing shortage of about 50,000 nurses by 2030 in the state of Georgia alone. The population is aging, and baby boomers are living with chronic diseases longer, which in turn creates higher demand for skilled nurses. Currently, there are more nurses at the end of their career than at the beginning. The number of nurses under 30 years old is very small with the average age of a nurse being around 47 years old. We can expect a lot of retired nurses among us soon. How do we combat this? We are competing with all kinds of healthcare providers so we must reach out to nurses that have true passion and a calling for the unique work we do. We must be a great place to work. We must create opportunities in the way of rewarding career paths. In addition, we must transform the way people work. One of the ways we are meeting this goal is by using technology to minimize time in the car. We serve 26 counties in Georgia and our nurses are able to schedule patients in a way that reduces drive time by mapping an efficient route that works best for them.

I was recently named Chair of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America and I am excited and truly honored to be a part of an organization that represents in-home nurses and their essential contribution to the healthcare delivery system. We want to keep people healthy and out of hospitals. We want to promote a healthy lifestyle, with focus on primary care, so we can reduce illness and disease. Using this platform, I will continue to work hard to ensure in-home nurses are represented in the industry to which they are so vital.

If you or someone you know is a Registered Nurse interested in a career with Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta, please call our Human Resources department at 404-215-6095 to discuss career options, follow us on our Twitter career page or look for specific positions on vnhs.org/career.

 

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📣Open Enrollment: Navigating Medicare Choices

Visiting Nurse Health System and Hospice Atlanta want to help you stay informed and make the best choices for your healthcare coverage.

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 – December 7.
This is your opportunity to review your current coverage, compare plans, and make changes for the year ahead.
✅ Review your current Medicare coverage
✅ Compare plans, benefits, and costs
✅ Make sure your doctors, prescriptions, and services are covered

Your health and peace of mind matter to us! Take time to review your options and make informed decisions about your care.

Medicare: Annual Open Enrollment is October 15–December 7, 2026. Beneficiaries can review and change Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans.

Medicaid: There is no annual Open Enrollment period in Georgia. Eligible individuals can apply year-round, and current beneficiaries can renew or update their information as needed

Learn more at:
Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Georgia Medicaid at gateway.ga.gov or call 1-877-423-4746
For questions about eligibility, applications, renewals, or updating your information.

#MedicareOpenEnrollment #SeniorHealth #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HospiceAtlanta

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18117878362825820
📣Open Enrollment: Navigating Medicare Choices Visiting Nurse Health System and Hospice Atlanta want to help you stay informed and make the best choices for your healthcare coverage. Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 – December 7. This is your opportunity to review your current coverage, compare plans, and make changes for the year ahead. ✅ Review your current Medicare coverage ✅ Compare plans, benefits, and costs ✅ Make sure your doctors, prescriptions, and services are covered Your health and peace of mind matter to us! Take time to review your options and make informed decisions about your care. Medicare: Annual Open Enrollment is October 15–December 7, 2026. Beneficiaries can review and change Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans. Medicaid: There is no annual Open Enrollment period in Georgia. Eligible individuals can apply year-round, and current beneficiaries can renew or update their information as needed Learn more at: Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Georgia Medicaid at gateway.ga.gov or call 1-877-423-4746 For questions about eligibility, applications, renewals, or updating your information. #MedicareOpenEnrollment #SeniorHealth #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HospiceAtlanta

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⭐ Excellence in Care, Right at Home!
Visiting Nurse’s Home Health division is proud to have our patients give a 4-Star Rating! We are proud to bring quality care into our patients` home each day, and this award is a genuine reflection of our commitment to delivering exceptional care, improving outcomes, and helping patients live safely and independently at home.
Congratulations to our incredible Home Health team for making a difference in the lives of those we serve every day!
#visitingnursehealthsystem #HomeHealth #QualityCare #4StarRating

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 17925547398441183
⭐ Excellence in Care, Right at Home! Visiting Nurse’s Home Health division is proud to have our patients give a 4-Star Rating! We are proud to bring quality care into our patients' home each day, and this award is a genuine reflection of our commitment to delivering exceptional care, improving outcomes, and helping patients live safely and independently at home. Congratulations to our incredible Home Health team for making a difference in the lives of those we serve every day! #visitingnursehealthsystem #HomeHealth #QualityCare #4StarRating

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As we close October, National Physical Therapy Month, we’ve had a great time celebrating our Physical Therapists (PT) and Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA). The great work they do each day lives on year long, helping patients stay strong, mobile, and independent at home. Thank you PTs! #PTMonth #gratitude

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18101575895384051
As we close October, National Physical Therapy Month, we’ve had a great time celebrating our Physical Therapists (PT) and Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA). The great work they do each day lives on year long, helping patients stay strong, mobile, and independent at home. Thank you PTs! #PTMonth #gratitude

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🎃 No tricks, just treats, and a whole lot of TRUE care! 🧡

Our Visiting Nurse Health System / Hospice Atlanta team is out and about this Halloween, bringing comfort, compassion, and a little extra care to patients right where they call home. Because the sweetest treat is knowing you`re cared for! 👻🩺

#VisitingNurse #TRUECare #Halloween #CareAtHome

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18024444626926217
🎃 No tricks, just treats, and a whole lot of TRUE care! 🧡 Our Visiting Nurse Health System / Hospice Atlanta team is out and about this Halloween, bringing comfort, compassion, and a little extra care to patients right where they call home. Because the sweetest treat is knowing you're cared for! 👻🩺 #VisitingNurse #TRUECare #Halloween #CareAtHome

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Celebrating our employee of the month! Congratulations!

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18413129020090320
Celebrating our employee of the month! Congratulations!

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Visiting Nurse celebrated our Home Health Physical Therapists this week in recognition of PT Appreciation Month!
For more than 78 years, we’ve served Atlanta, helping patients regain strength, improve mobility and maintain independence at home. We are grateful to our PTs for the skill, compassion and dedication they bring to our patients every day.
To all of our PTs/PTAs, thank you for the work you do, the lives you touch and the difference you make for Visiting Nurse and the families we serve!
#ptappreciationmonth#homehealthcare#physicaltherapy#visitingnursehealthsystem #agingathome

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18120700570746698
Visiting Nurse celebrated our Home Health Physical Therapists this week in recognition of PT Appreciation Month! For more than 78 years, we’ve served Atlanta, helping patients regain strength, improve mobility and maintain independence at home. We are grateful to our PTs for the skill, compassion and dedication they bring to our patients every day. To all of our PTs/PTAs, thank you for the work you do, the lives you touch and the difference you make for Visiting Nurse and the families we serve! #ptappreciationmonth#homehealthcare#physicaltherapy#visitingnursehealthsystem #agingathome

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The hidden caregiving crisis is a workforce issue, and a critical part of the ongoing conversation about the future of aging at home.
We’d like to thank everyone who joined us today for the Visiting Nurse Healthcare Champions Event: Leadership Conversations That Drive Change, hosted by Genuine Parts Company.
A special thank-you to Genuine Parts Company’s Renay Blumenthal, Sr. Director, Corporate Giving & Community Relations, for leading the day’s event with a warm welcome, and kicking off the day’s amazing line up of speakers.
Honored to have this event moderated by Crystal Edmonson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle, we are very grateful for our panelists for sharing their leadership expertise and perspectives on the growing demands facing working family caregivers and how employers can help support them:
• Rachel Cannady, Senior Associate Director, Caregiving, The Carter Center
• Keisha Olinger, Region Leader, Marsh People and Investments, Mid-South
• Eric Barker, Analyst, Senior Health & Welfare, Southern Company
Thank you to our own President and CEO, Dorothy Davis, for speaking today, and continuing to bring community leaders together to keep this important conversation going, critical to addressing the future of healthcare in our communities. At Visiting Nurse, we see firsthand how family caregivers help older adults remain safe, comfortable and independent at home. Yet balancing caregiving responsibilities with work and family life can create significant challenges for our own employees, employers and families.
Supporting caregivers is essential to helping seniors age with dignity in the place they call home. By bringing business and community leaders together, we can raise awareness, explore meaningful workplace solutions and strengthen the support systems families need. Because caring for those who care for others matters, too.
Thank you to Genuine Parts Company for hosting this important conversation and Huntington Bank for sponsoring our Healthcare Champions series. Together, we can help build healthier workplaces, stronger families and more supportive communities for Georgia’s aging population.

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18026032811872091
The hidden caregiving crisis is a workforce issue, and a critical part of the ongoing conversation about the future of aging at home. We’d like to thank everyone who joined us today for the Visiting Nurse Healthcare Champions Event: Leadership Conversations That Drive Change, hosted by Genuine Parts Company. A special thank-you to Genuine Parts Company’s Renay Blumenthal, Sr. Director, Corporate Giving & Community Relations, for leading the day’s event with a warm welcome, and kicking off the day’s amazing line up of speakers. Honored to have this event moderated by Crystal Edmonson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle, we are very grateful for our panelists for sharing their leadership expertise and perspectives on the growing demands facing working family caregivers and how employers can help support them: • Rachel Cannady, Senior Associate Director, Caregiving, The Carter Center • Keisha Olinger, Region Leader, Marsh People and Investments, Mid-South • Eric Barker, Analyst, Senior Health & Welfare, Southern Company Thank you to our own President and CEO, Dorothy Davis, for speaking today, and continuing to bring community leaders together to keep this important conversation going, critical to addressing the future of healthcare in our communities. At Visiting Nurse, we see firsthand how family caregivers help older adults remain safe, comfortable and independent at home. Yet balancing caregiving responsibilities with work and family life can create significant challenges for our own employees, employers and families. Supporting caregivers is essential to helping seniors age with dignity in the place they call home. By bringing business and community leaders together, we can raise awareness, explore meaningful workplace solutions and strengthen the support systems families need. Because caring for those who care for others matters, too. Thank you to Genuine Parts Company for hosting this important conversation and Huntington Bank for sponsoring our Healthcare Champions series. Together, we can help build healthier workplaces, stronger families and more supportive communities for Georgia’s aging population.

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The future of aging at home starts with all of us!
Grateful our Healthcare Champions, with the generous support of event sponsor Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, brought together key community leaders, partners and distinguished guests for an important conversation about the future of healthcare and aging in Georgia.

Lead by nationally-recognized healthcare attorney Bill A. Dombi, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG), and Visiting Nurse President and CEO Dorothy Davis, this important conversation investigated how healthcare, business, philanthropy and public policy can work together to strengthen the infrastructure, innovation and partnerships that help Georgians age safely, independently and with dignity at home. Including Georgia`s healthcare community leaders, changemakers and valued community partners in attendance, the room was filled with people committed to shaping what comes next.

Thank you to all of our guests who joined the conversation, with a very special thank you to Bill Dombi for leading the day`s event. Thank you to our host Arnall Golden Gregory LLP for sponsoring this important event.

#VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthcareChampions #AgingAtHome #HealthcareLeadership #GeorgiaHealthcare #HospiceCare

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18107576138344233
The future of aging at home starts with all of us! Grateful our Healthcare Champions, with the generous support of event sponsor Arnall Golden Gregory LLP, brought together key community leaders, partners and distinguished guests for an important conversation about the future of healthcare and aging in Georgia. Lead by nationally-recognized healthcare attorney Bill A. Dombi, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG), and Visiting Nurse President and CEO Dorothy Davis, this important conversation investigated how healthcare, business, philanthropy and public policy can work together to strengthen the infrastructure, innovation and partnerships that help Georgians age safely, independently and with dignity at home. Including Georgia's healthcare community leaders, changemakers and valued community partners in attendance, the room was filled with people committed to shaping what comes next. Thank you to all of our guests who joined the conversation, with a very special thank you to Bill Dombi for leading the day's event. Thank you to our host Arnall Golden Gregory LLP for sponsoring this important event. #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HealthcareChampions #AgingAtHome #HealthcareLeadership #GeorgiaHealthcare #HospiceCare

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Happy National Case Management Week!
And a little appreciation goes a long way, as Phillip Walters, of Hospice Atlanta, made life a little sweeter joining Northside Hospital’s Case Management Vendor Event! Sharing important resources and information on critical care, a great time was had celebrating these dedicated case managers who make a difference for patients and families every day.

Thank you for all you do, and a shout out to our local Scrumpt bakery for helping make their special week even sweeter! #NationalCaseManagementWeek #HospiceAtlanta

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Open post by visitingnursehealthsystem with ID 18216162760358699
Happy National Case Management Week! And a little appreciation goes a long way, as Phillip Walters, of Hospice Atlanta, made life a little sweeter joining Northside Hospital’s Case Management Vendor Event! Sharing important resources and information on critical care, a great time was had celebrating these dedicated case managers who make a difference for patients and families every day. Thank you for all you do, and a shout out to our local Scrumpt bakery for helping make their special week even sweeter! #NationalCaseManagementWeek #HospiceAtlanta

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