Visiting Nurse / Hospice Atlanta Blogs

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There’s no place like home, especially when you’re sick or recovering from surgery. Who doesn’t prefer to rest in the comfort of home, in familiar surroundings with family, friends and beloved pets? While hospitals are an important community resource for emergency and critical care, home is often where the journey leads us.

By Gina Epifano, PT, Director of Rehabilitation, Visiting Nurse Chronic pain and the use of opioids for chronic pain management have been making headlines in recent months. Statistics show that opioid prescriptions have quadrupled since 1999, with 259 million opioid prescriptions written in 2012. That’s enough for every adult in the United States to have a bottle of pills! Overuse of opioids can lead to overdose, addiction, depression and withdrawal symptoms.

By Sarah Matthews, Director of Individual Giving Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? How many have you broken already? I decided a few years ago that I was better off not making resolutions per se, but to set forth goals for myself over the next 12 months. I keep them to a maximum of three, and I make them very specific. This year, one of them is to learn to speak Spanish. I am traveling to Spain later this year, and I want to be able to get around easily, so I have taken steps to learn the language.

Uncertainty and opportunity. No one has a crystal ball on what changes will come to health care in 2017. (If someone does have a crystal ball, please send me the winning lottery ticket numbers for next Saturday. I prefer the Powerball.) If you have been on planet Earth for the past few months, you know that beginning January 21, 2017 we will have a new President with a new agenda. In addition to having a Republican in the White House, both houses of Congress have a Republican majority. We do not need a crystal ball to know that there will be changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) often referred to as ObamaCare. We can assume that some changes will be good and some will be not-so-good. That is how policy works.

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Grateful for strong community partnerships that help build strong nonprofit leadership.
For the past five years, OnBoard has been an important pipeline for recruiting talented, committed leaders to the Visiting Nurse Health System | Hospice Atlanta Board of Directors. Their work has helped us connect with individuals who bring fresh perspectives, valuable expertise, and a genuine commitment to our mission.
We’ve seen that impact firsthand. Mel Coker, now in her first term as Board Chair, came to our board through OnBoard and stepped into the chair role following Nicole Hart’s successful completion of her term. And now, we are excited to welcome Amy Katnik as the newest leader joining our board through the OnBoard pipeline.
Strong organizations need strong governance, and strong governance starts with finding the right people who are willing to serve.
Thank you, OnBoard, for five years of partnership and for helping Visiting Nurse Health System continue to strengthen the leadership around our board table. We are grateful for the partnership and excited about the leaders still to come.

#OnBoard #BoardLeadership #NonprofitLeadership #Governance #CommunityLeadership #VisitingNurseHealthSystem #HospiceAtlanta

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Today, we celebrate the people who came before us. ❤️
The ones who raised families.
Built communities.
Worked hard.
Loved deeply.
Weathered challenges.
And left a little wisdom behind for the generations that followed.
On Senior Citizens Day, we honor the older adults who have shaped our families and our communities, and remind ourselves that growing older should always come with dignity, respect, connection and care.
Here’s to the stories, memories, lessons and legacies that make every generation matter.

Happy Senior Citizens Day! 

#SeniorCitizensDay #CelebrateSeniors #LegacyOfCare #AgingWithDignity #EveryGeneration

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As we close out the month, we'd like to acknowledge each and every day, the dedicated team members of Visiting Nurse Health System and Hospice Atlanta make a difference in the lives of patients and families across our community. From nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, social workers, chaplains, aides, therapists, administrative staff, care coordinators to our incredible volunteers, each person plays an important role in delivering compassionate, patient-centered care.

Thank you for your expertise, dedication, and commitment to those we serve. We are grateful for all that you do.

#HealthcareHeroes #HospiceCare #HomeHealth #CommunityCare #Teamwork #VisitingNurse #HospiceAtlanta

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Stories like these remind us why we do what we do. Every day, Visiting Nurse Home Visiting Nurse Health System / Hospice Atlanta is honored to help patients regain strength, independence, and honor life's journey with peace, confidence and dignity, at every stage of life, in the comfort of home.
#HomeHealth #hospiceatlanta #PatientExperience #visitingnursehealthsystem #CareAtHome #HealthcareHeroes

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Connecting with our community is at the heart of what we do. From senior citizen fairs, Veteran Patient Pinning ceremonies, medical doctors offices and hospital education days, to community education events, the Visiting Nurse teams are out across Georgia, every day, building relationships, sharing resources, and helping connect patients to the care they need.

We're proud to partner with healthcare professionals, community organizations, and families to increase awareness of home health, hospice and community-based services, ensuring more individuals can access quality care where they are most comfortable, at home.

#VisitingNurseHealthSystem #Veterans #HomeHealth #CommunityOutreach #HealthcareEducation #AtlantaHealthcare #CareAtHome

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Each day our Community Care program case managers and nurses partner with care providers across Georgia to help nursing home-eligible seniors and vulnerable adults remain safe, independent, and supported at home.
Through our Community Care Programs, CCSP, SOURCE, and HCBS, our clients and members receive the essential services and care coordination that improve their quality of life and support aging in place. 
Thank you to our state-wide network provider partners, community supporters, and our dedicated care teams who make this important work possible every day.
#VisitingNurse #CommunityCare #CCSP #SOURCE #HCBP #CaseManagement #AgingInPlace #GeorgiaSeniors

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This month, the Hospice Atlanta team was proud to sponsor the ASCNN monthly gathering of senior care professionals. Events like these provide valuable opportunities to network, collaborate, and share resources that help us better serve seniors and their families throughout Georgia.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for a well-attended morning of connection, education, and partnership. Together, we can make an even greater impact in the communities we serve.
#HospiceAtlanta #CommunityPartnerships #SeniorCare #HealthcareNetworking #GeorgiaSeniors

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Advocacy for quality hospice care extends beyond the bedside. Behind the scenes, here at Visiting Nurse Health System / Hospice Atlanta we strive to protect patients, uphold ethical standards, and ensure access to compassionate end-of-life care for those who need it most.
We're proud to see Visiting Nurse Health System / Hospice Atlanta Palliative Care and Hospice Atlanta Executive Director Natasha Fowlks featured in this article discussing CMS' efforts to combat fraud and strengthen hospice oversight in Georgia and Ohio.
#advocacy #ElderCare #SeniorLiving #hospice #quality

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