Concordia-IRMC VNA

The Visiting Nurse Association of Indiana County dba Concordia-IRMC VNA provides compassionate home health, hospice and palliative care as an integral part of the continuum of care for persons in and around Indiana County. The program service accomplishments of Concordia-IRMC are driven by the core mission to provide a comprehensive program for the residents of Indiana, Armstrong, Jefferson, Westmoreland, and Cambria counties. The agency strives 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. The agency also works to provide the highest quality care to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 a total of 2,110 unduplicated patients were served by Concordia-IRMC home health staff. There were 39,628 visits made to the patients in our home health program during fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. Concordia-IRMC also offers palliative care services in the home. We utilize an interdisciplinary medical caregiving approach aimed at optimizing quality of life and mitigating suffering among people with serious illness. The goal is to provide the care to the patient as well as the family as they journey towards a possible hospice plan of care. Examples of our initiatives include telehealth/telemedicine. Concordia-IRMC provides tele-health monitoring free of charge to patients with chronic diseases. Tele-Health monitoring is a non-billable service. Tele-Health has been utilized over the past year to provide addition monitoring for COVID-19 positive patient vital sign trending in addition to monitoring and tracking other patients with comorbidities. Concordia-IRMC employs a Transitional Nurse Liaison who serves the community by assisting discharge planners assess the patients' needs to obtain appropriate orders for the plan of care. This position also attends community gatherings to discuss programs and events sponsored by Concordia-IRMC. The goal is to reach as many people as possible in the community to promote wellness and teach prevention. Flu Shots were provided at the community Flu Clinics held at various sites. Concordia-IRMC VNA spent a total of $7,000 on flu vaccines that were given to patients and families. Total cost to the agency for sponsorships and donations for fiscal year ended June 30, 2023 equated to $3,275. This includes $3,000 for the Indiana Healthcare Foundation Golf Outing sponsorship and $250 for the Good Samaritan Hospice Youth Bereavement Care Power of the Purse event. The Maheffey Fire Department was also supported with a donation of $25 as 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. Additional funding via distributions to 501(c)(3) member hospital systems at a total of $500,000 have expanded like-minded mission within the geographical communities we serve. Employees of Concordia-IRMC VNA were give the opportunity to serve by participating in mission events organized by the parent company Concordia Care Network dba Concordia Community Support Services. Here are the mission event opportunities that Concordia-IRMC VNA took part in during the fiscal year. In August and September 2022, employees across all Concordia locations in Pennsylvania, including Concordia-IRMC VNA, 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. Concordia employees purchased a total of 274 backpacks with essential school supplies including notebooks, pencils, erasers, markers, glue sticks, binders and folders. In February and March 2023, employees at Concordia-IRMC VNA held a collection drive to stock Family Promise of Indiana County's Beyond Shelter Store for unhoused families. A trunk full of paper and hygiene products were donated by employees. These donations, sponsorships and mission events are some of the ways we serve God by providing for the needs of His people.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Indiana County dba VNA Family Hospice's primary focus is helping individuals to live peacefully, positively, and as fully as possible through caring, not curing. Hospice is not a place, but a concept for healthcare delivery. It focuses on creating a natural and comfortable end-of-life experience for those dealing with a life-limiting illness, all in the comfort of their own home. Whether the goal is relief from pain, desire to experience a meaningful event such as a wedding, the birth of a child, a birthday, resolving unfinished business, or is simply the hope for a restful night sleep, the team at VNA Family Hospice can provide an array of supportive services. These include, but are not limited to: nursing and related services, personal care counseling, companionship, spiritual services and bereavement care. Hospice program patients and bereavement families received services and were provided with 9,417 visits. In addition, hospice volunteers provided 405 direct hours of service to program recipients including support to the family of the hospice patient. The VNA Family Hospice provides bereavement counseling and grief support groups to members of the community grieving the loss of a loved one or friend at no charge. Also, a summer newsletter and bereavement mailings were sent offering spiritual support, coping techniques and education to hospice family members. The 13th annual Concordia-IRMC Butterfly Release was held in in person and as well as a modified drive through style format on August 7th, 2022 at Mack Park, Indiana, PA. This memorial event was open to anyone who wanted to honor and celebrate the memory of their loved ones, whether or not they were on services with VNA Family Hospice or Concordia-IRMC VNA Home Health. 600 butterflies were sold for a donation to the Hospice for families to pick up and release at home or participate in a group release at Mack Park following a short dedication and memorial service. Concordia-IRMC and VNA Family Hospice also continue to offer community grief support to children in need through the Hopeful Hearts program. The mission is to raise awareness of the needs of grieving children and provide programs to address those individuals in need. This was accomplished through a variety of in person group sessions as well as newly initiated school-based programs and collaboration. During fiscal year July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, Hopeful Hearts served a collective of 10 families encompassing 19 children and 10 adults in need. The program is funded through support from Concordia-IRMC VNA and VNA Family Hospice as well as through grants and donations received.