The Visiting Nurse Association of Central New York, also known as the VNA, is a not-for-profit home health agency, which has served Onondaga County, New York since its inception in 1890. This Certified Home Health Agency (CHHA) is certified by both Medicare and Medicaid.

The organization provides a variety of home health care services that include nursing, personal care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutritional guidance, pediatric care, case management and medical social work services.

History

Visiting Nurse Association of Central New York was founded in 1890 by Dr. Juliet Hanchett, M.D., Laura Mills Marlow, R.N. (the first graduated nurse in the city of Syracuse), and Aria Huntington. ^[1] These visionaries were part of a group of women originally known as the "In-as-much-Circle” of the Kings Daughters, which was concerned about the care of the poor and sick in their community. The group regularly visited the sick themselves and brought in trained nurses for the more serious cases.

In 1895, VNA's growing staff treated 119 patients. By 1912, the agency was serving 1,416 new patients. In the early 1900s, VNA also established many community health programs and clinics. These groundbreaking efforts were eventually assumed by the City of Syracuse and subsequently the Onondaga County Onondaga County Health Department.

In 1931, VNA began a continuing relationship with area nursing schools and Syracuse University to provide practical experience in community health nursing. In 1951, the Veteran's Administration contracted with VNA to provide home care services to its patients.

In 1966, VNA became certified as a home health agency by the Social Security Administration and licensed by the New York State Department of Health. About a decade later, VNA was the first agency statewide certified to provide services to qualified county patients under the Long Term Home Health Care Program ("Nursing Home Without Walls").

VNA pioneered the now obvious relationship between the general medical profession and public health nursing. Our founders also developed the philosophy of family payment for service based upon ability to pay, and led the way in encouraging additional financial support of the service through community contributions.

Programs and Services

• Cardiac Care Program
• Case Management
• Diabetes Education and Counseling
• HIV/AIDS Care
• Home Health Aides
• Home Infusion Therapy
• Long Term Home Health Care Program
• Maternal-Child Care
• Medical Social Work
• Nutrition Counseling
• Occupational Therapy
• PRI (Patient Review Instrument) Assessments
• Pediatrics
• Personal Care Program
• Physical Therapy
• Psychiatric Nursing
• Short Stay Program
• Skilled Nursing
• Speech Language Pathology
• Telehome Care Monitoring
• Wound Care

References