Concordia Visiting Nurses

Concordia Visiting Nurses (CVN) program service accomplishments are driven by the core mission to provide excellent in-home health services to those who need them, in a faithful environment. CVN is part of a large continuum of care striving to succeed with an aging-in-place philosophy by providing a wide breadth of services in the home, preventing rehospitalization, enhancing home safety and monitoring chronic disease states. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, approximately 19,785 patients were served across thirteen counties in Western Pennsylvania, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, Westmoreland, Washington and parts of Clarion, Fayette, Indiana, Mercer and Venango, with an average daily census of 3,048. CVN provides qualified Spiritual Counselors who respond to needs through prayer, consultation and counseling to all religions and denominations and work in conjunction with local clergy as requested. A total of approximately 362,297 visits (including 1,967) non-billable visits associated with spiritual care, nutrition, etc.) were completed by various disciplines. The non-reimbursed cost of the non-billable visits was $ 59,732.98 for the fiscal year. The non-reimbursed cost of the non-billable spiritual care visits was $108,769 for the fiscal year. The federal government ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023. With the expiration of the public health emergency, COVID-19 (i.e., SARS-CoV-2 infection) is no longer a mandated reportable condition in Pennsylvania. We continue to see fluctuations of positivity over the geographical area that we service at CVN. We still have the ability to test both patients and staff utilizing Antigen testing. This allows us to direct admit patients back to facilities and prevent unnecessary re-hospitalizations. Concordia continues to provide re-education to staff on various topics. These topics included what COVID-19 is, how to prevent the spread, how to care for patients that are positive for COVID-19, mitigation efforts, Personal Protective Equipment utilization and other infection control practices. This education was provided through varying platforms such as secure messaging, at staff meetings and through the Learning Management Software, Elsevier. Staff have also been educated on COVID-19 vaccinations and the importance of vaccinations as a tool to help manage this illness. CVN believes in utilizing clinicians and having them practice at their highest potential within their scope of practice. With the 1135 waivers dissipating with the end of the Public Health Emergency, Concordia had to assess practices utilized. We had begun training Occupational Therapists to be able to complete Start of Care visits for therapy-only referrals. After seeking advisement from Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA), we will be allowed to continue with Occupational Therapists completing start of cares for therapy cases. These practices allow for continued growth and services for futures to come. Some examples of our new initiatives include telehealth/telemedicine. CVN was able to assist physicians with visits by providing a nurse for a video visit with the physician to allow for the Face-to-Face requirement to be fulfilled. CVN provides Tele-Health monitoring free of charge to patients with chronic diseases. One payer has begun reimbursing home health virtual visits, but the remainder continue to be non-billable. Tele-Health monitoring is a non-billable service that costs the agency $396,917 annually. We have expanded services to include Nursing, Lymphedema, Mental Health Nursing, Certified Diabetic Educator, Speech Therapy and Physical Therapy. Concordia Visiting Nurses continues to have deemed status with Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). CVN is also accredited for Home Infusion Therapy services through ACHC. ACHC is an organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. It has demonstrated to a team of surveyors during an on-site visit its commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality. ACHC is an independent, nonprofit accrediting body whose mission is to promote the quality, value, and optimal outcomes of services through a consultative accreditation process and continuous improvement services that center on enhancing the lives of persons served. CVN completed the renewal survey through ACHC. The survey occurred June 20th to 23rd. July 28th Concordia received notice of accreditation. CVN is also part of Concordia Lutheran Ministries Aging Services Network, under CARF-CCAC accreditation. The PA Dept of Health was onsite September 11th to the 13th for its re-licensure survey and received deemed status. Each month our Transitional Nurse Liaisons team up with CVN nurses and social workers to schedule and attend several community gatherings to discuss our "Concordia Visiting Nurses Healthy Topic" of the month at health fairs, community speaker programs and events to promote wellness in the community. CVN spent a total of $18,346 on flu shots that were given to the community and patients during flu clinics and to employees during the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Total donations and sponsorships made during fiscal year ended 6/30/23, equated $90,766. Additional funding via distributions to 501(c)(3) member hospital systems at a total of $12,000,000 have expanded like-minded mission within the geographical communities we serve. Employees of CVN were given the opportunity to serve by participating in mission events organized by the parent company Concordia Community Support Services. Here are the donation, sponsorship and mission event opportunities that CVN took part in during the fiscal year. A total of $15,229 was donated through the fiscal year. This includes: $180 donated to 5 local charities as a part of our Employee Benefit Fund program: donations are given to a charity of employee's choice when a qualifying event occurs, such as a death in the family. Other donations include these organizations: Armstrong School District PTA Basket Raffle Fundraiser, Center for Hope, City Mission-Washington, Community Health Clinic, Faith Restorations, GSH Youth Bereavement Care, Grapevine Center, Inter Church Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Our Daily Bread Ministries, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, St Luke Lutheran Church Cabot, PA, And a scholarship to the child of an employee through a Student Scholarship Program. Total of $75,537 was spent on sponsorships to support events in our local area. Our largest sponsorship of the year was to Knoch Knights Legacies Foundation for a new ad on the marquee when the name of the local school district changed, Other large sponsorships include ACMH Foundation Golf Outing, The Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation Charitable Fund Golf Outing and Youth Bereavement Care Power of the Purse Fundraiser. These local orgs were also supported: A-K Pulsar Inc: Annual Golf Outing, Alle-Kiski Strong Chamber of Commerce, Armstrong County Community Foundation, Butler County Chamber of Commerce, Butler Health System Foundation, Freeport Area School District Foundation Golf Outing, Heritage Valley Health System, Knoch Soccer, North Catholic High School. Promise of Life Network: Annual Banquet, Redeemer Lutheran School Musical, Saxonburg Winterfest, Sprankle Event LLC: Octoberfest Sponsorship, St Francis Of Assisi Church: Fall Festival. St Margaret's Foundation: 2023 Brian Demchak Hope Challenge, St. Clair Health Foundation, two events The Lighthouse Foundation Soaring for Hope Gala & Golf Outing, Veteran's Meals at Concordia Havens, and Washington Health System Foundation: Charity Ball & Clay Shoot. Mission Events: In August and September 2022, employees across all Concordia locations in Pennsylvania including CVN, participated in a donation-based mission to support Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV, a program that services 27 school districts and 3 vo-techs in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties. Employees purchased a total of 274 backpacks with essential school supplies including notebooks, pencils, erasers, markers, & folders. CVN also donated backpacks and school supplies worth $607. In September 2022, employees of CVN supported a house-build hosted by St. Luke Lutheran Church in Cabot, PA; approx 80 employee volunteer hours. In April 2023, CVN employees donated 58 volunteer hours to assist with The Lighthouse Foundation's food pantry; also held a can opener collection drive. In April 2023, CVN helped to support the needs of Victims Outreach Intervention Center in Butler, PA through a bedding collection drive. On June 23, 2023, employees of Concordia Visiting Nurses donated 21 volunteer hours to support Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank's summer distribution event at Knoch Middle School.These donations, sponsorships and mission events are some of the many ways we serve God by providing for the needs of His people.