Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Stars!

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Stars!

Caring

As front-line staff who have the most direct and intimate contact with patients, home health aides serve as veritable lifelines for vulnerable patients, particularly the frail-elderly, who struggle to age-in-place safely, and with dignity. Eileen Crawford, a Home Health Aide at VNS Westchester for 25 years, is truly a lifeline. While helping patients with fundamental activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing, and bathing Eileen always seems to intuit the little extra ways of supporting her patients emotional needs, such as shopping for favorite food items. More importantly, she is also often the first to spot health problems that have led to early interventions by physicians or ER doctors. On several occasions Eileen has administered CPR, stabilizing patients until EMT workers arrived on the scene. On a recent visit, while discussing the plan of care with an elderly patient in Yonkers, Eileen discerned that the patient was having a mini-stroke and she immediately called 911. She has developed a sixth sense when it comes to observing and listening to what patients say (or don t say) between the lines. By doing so, she has uncovered other issues that affect her patients health and well-being. Not only is Eileen a compassionate helper and companion, she is also an essential safety net for those who slip through the cracks or might be at risk for depression, due to loneliness. She has made a point of working on holidays so patients would not be alone. She has also cultivated an extensive community of caring neighbors, parishioners and co-workers who donate furniture, supplies, clothing and food which Eileen houses in three storage units. Twice a year, she rents a 26- foot truck and fills it with donated goods that she distributes to people in impoverished areas or places hard hit by emergencies and natural disasters. According to Eileen, It s often heart-wrenching, but I see the difference it makes in a person s life. Years ago I was in need, and I benefited from the generosity of others. Seeing patients in all kinds of conditions helped me realize that there are many less fortunate than myself. I feel it is a true calling to give back. Caring

In her roles as director of quality programming and patient services, Amy Bowerman epitomizes the patient-first mindset. This commitment has shined, especially, in her work on HCA s Quality Committee, MLTC Forum, Sepsis Workgroup, and in other venues where she brings her talents. Alarmed about the dangers of sepsis-related infections, as well as the absence of protocols for identifying this fatal condition in community settings, Amy recognized the urgent need for home care to build on the work that was already being done in hospitals to combat the crisis. Her compassion and concern for afflicted patients gave rise to the development of HCA's first-of-akind screening and intervention system for sepsis in home care. Providing generously of her time, Amy has applied her acute-care, home-care and public health skills and expertise to study, develop and train colleagues statewide about the merits and procedures of this new system. Notably, she has had to overcome the misconception that sepsis is primarily a hospitaloccurring problem even in the face of evidence that the vast majority of cases actually take place in the community. With strong data, persuasive arguments and a clear articulation of goals and imperatives, she has successfully persuaded colleagues in home care and managed care, as well as state officials, to take notice, to understand the risks and to act on behalf of patients. As a result, this new home care sepsis tool has now been launched to all HCA member providers, and next will be made available both statewide and nationwide. Amy has done all of this (and more to come) for the sole purpose of patient protection and safety, reaching the highest standard of a caring nurse, leader, and individual. Caring

Advocacy

HCA s advocacy award often recognizes an individual or group for their work in the halls of government and other institutions. But the most meaningful advocacy involves the direct patient care interaction and commitment to services, as demonstrated by the clinical staff at Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital (MHRH) Home Care during a time of difficult transition. After 30 years of serving patients, St. Francis Hospital Certified Home Health Services faced closure in 2013. The hospital gave employees notice of its filing for Chapter 9 bankruptcy and an uncertain prospect for continued employment. Knowing the doors were closing, it was a dark time for this institution, which was celebrating its 100th birthday that year, describes one 16-year employee of the institution, noting that many of the hospital s clinical employees left to take jobs elsewhere but not the nurses or therapists in home care. Despite their own hardships and uncertain employment prospects, the home care staff at St. Francis diligently continued to care for patients in Dutchess County, never letting the patient population see the fear that many of the staff had about their own futures. After negotiations, the home care division became a part of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network in 2014. Within the first week in the network, the home care division and its clinicians underwent a DOH survey, performing professionally and garnering favorable results. Since that time, the agency has continued to maintain its CHAP accreditation; and after a census drop during the bankruptcy period, MHRH has increased its census again to 300 cases, on average. When faced with situations that are out of their control, the clinicians at MHRH continue their team approach of making a daily difference in the lives of people at home. Others put in a similar situation may have left to pursue other opportunities in their profession or an easier path, but easy is not what the staff at MHRH s home care agency strive for. Advocacy

212-971-5475 Promoting independent living 520 8th Avenue through a wide range of communitybased services to seniors and other 5th Floor New York, NY 10018 vulnerable New Yorkers.

Russ Lusak has made a positive mark on the home care industry in countless ways, but his true calling-card is in the area of health information technology (HIT). In his role as HCA s appointment to the State Health Information Technology Infrastructure Committee, Russ has worked relentlessly to ensure home care s consideration in all facets of the needs-assessment, deliberations, and planning of New York s HIT infrastructure. When it comes to HIT, home care has had to penetrate a thick wall of institutionally dominated thinking, planning and financing. Before Russ's inclusion on the state HIT Committee, there was no home care consideration whatsoever either in representation or as a clear part of the charge. The current movement toward home care recognition has been clearly influenced by Russ's credible, persuasive and timely work. Russ has wisely pursued efforts to integrate data and electronic health information exchange between entities involved in servicing Social Determinants of Health and home care. He has advanced this cause as HCA's representative on the state's Value Based Payment subcommittee on social determinants of health, and has stressed it in virtually every policy venue. Most recently, Russ has succeeded in garnering a series of grants from the State Dormitory Authority and entities concerned with social determinants of health to integrate with home care. Russ has used this opportunity to reach out on behalf of the entire home care sector to extend the opportunities beyond his own agency. Russ has been a vocal planner and advocate in HCA's legislative, budget and policy advocacy for the home care sector's technology needs and support. He is helping immeasurably to build the foundation for a major swing in state support for home care aimed at enhancing the system s efficiency and effectiveness statewide. Advocacy

Highest Award Ruth F. Wilson Ruth F. Wilson HCA s highest honor, the Ruth F. Wilson Award, is presented to an individual whose work has had a dramatic effect on home care, reaching beyond a single agency. The recipient will have strengthened the practice of our profession, raised the standards of quality and care for patients, or advanced the level of understanding and mutual cooperation among the home care community, legislators, federal and state agencies, health care providers and the public.

Sara Butterfield s leadership in quality care, excellence, education, technical assistance, and advocacy has contributed profoundly to home care. For years, Sara has been a torch bearer for the advancement of home care quality. Her work has promoted home care's statewide efforts and standing in principal state and federal home care quality benchmarks, patient satisfaction, alignment with managed care quality measures, and other areas. She has constantly, throughout many years, served to provide and promote leadership roles and opportunities in home care quality and innovation, including areas like cardiovascular health, palliative care, care transitions, avoidance of rehospitalitizations, telehealth, and others. Sara contributes fervently to HCA's member and statewide work, including on HCA's Quality Committee, Hospice and Palliative Care Forum, Quality Symposia, Sepsis Workgroup, and other venues, including our national/federal efforts. She has been instrumental in the design and creation of key home care initiatives, including the HCA Quality Risk and Measurement Tool (HQMT) and the HCA Home Care Sepsis Screen. She brokered CMS s agreement to include HCA's Sepsis Tool in CMS-sponsored/IPRO-implemented sepsis projects in New York, where over 9,000 nurses have been trained. She has worked to promote, assist and include New York's home health agencies within the national home care cardiovascular health improvement project, which also directly helps position home care in priority areas. Sara constantly looks to include and partner HCA into all major and relevant state health projects spearheaded by IPRO or where IPRO is positioned to recommend home care s involvement. Sara's longstanding and continuing contributions to home care performance, quality, innovation and constant advancement stand among this industry's and this association's best and finest. Wilson