[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 113 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10262-S10263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO PAT THOMAS

 Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
outstanding Vermonter, Patricia Thomas, formerly the President and 
Chief Executive Officer of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of 
Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties. Pat's commitment to improving the 
health status of Vermonters serves as a model to us all. She is, and 
will remain, a stunning example of how one person can positively affect 
so many.
  Pat has served Vermont in a variety of capacities. As a teacher and 
college administrator, as a government official and director of 
Vermont's largest United Way, and on various boards and commissions, 
Pat always strived to improve the quality of life here in Vermont. Most 
recently, she served the people of Vermont at the helm of our State's 
largest VNA. It is this role that I wish to elaborate upon today before 
the U.S. Senate.
  Throughout Pat's 7-year tenure at the VNA, her leadership was 
instrumental in sustaining Vermont's unique, nonprofit home health care 
system, while maintaining its high-quality, cost-effective service. 
Ironically, when this nationally renowned system was severely 
challenged by an unintended consequence of the Balanced Budget Act of 
1997, Pat's advocacy easily convinced me and other lawmakers that 
corrective action was essential. With such an impressive track record 
and with so many Vermonters relying on her agency's care, it was an 
easy argument to both make and adopt. Certainly, being a key member of 
my Health Care Advisory Board, there have been numerous occasions when 
I have relied on Pat's wise counsel, but none was more critical than 
during the last year's debate. Vermonters were fortunate to have such 
an advocate and leader in Pat Thomas.
  In addition to being an effective advocate on the Federal level, Pat 
led her VNA through a dynamic and critical

[[Page S10263]]

time in its history. During Pat's tenure, her agency more than doubled 
in size, successfully completed a massive capital campaign, purchased 
and renovated its current headquarters, and significantly diversified 
its services. Vermont Respite House, home psychiatric care, specialized 
home therapies, home infusion, palliative care and wellness programs 
were all added to the plethora of VNA services on Pat's watch. Other 
major services include their Adult Day and Hospice Programs and 
Maternal Child Health Services. Pat knew that these changes were 
necessary if her agency was to adequately reflect and meet the evolving 
needs of Vermonters. Her vision and leadership helped her agency do 
exactly that, with resounding success.
  Vermont has much to be grateful for when it comes to Pat's steadfast 
commitment to improving the quality of life in our small state. 
Although her tenure at the VNA has ended, we will forever remain the 
beneficiaries of her expertise, vision and leadership on those issues 
she has been so ably, and passionately committed to. In her own words, 
``our house is in order and the agency is incredibly sound, despite an 
ever changing and challenging health care environment''. Vermont has 
Pat Thomas to thank for this. We wish her well.

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