[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       A TRIBUTE TO THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF HOLYOKE, MA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. OLVER

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 25, 2005

  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the 
Visiting Nurse Association, Inc for 100 years of service and care to 
the community of Holyoke, MA. Officially organized on November 28, 1905 
at the Second Baptist Church of Holyoke, the District Nurse 
Association, as it was then known, began raising money to bring nursing 
to residents who were unable to access healthcare because of their 
humble origins.
  In 1918, the association became incorporated and eventually, under 
the first supervisor, Emma Schenker, changed the name and became the 
Holyoke Visiting Nurse Association, Inc.
  In the early years this community-based nursing service evolved under 
the guidance of the National League for Nursing as a charter member. It 
established scholarships to promote the availability of nurses and 
found funding to continue the level of care needed for the city of 
Holyoke's blue collar workers and their families.
  By 1956, 51 percent of the Holyoke Visiting Nurses funding came from 
the United Way, then known as the Holyoke Community Chest. In 1965 the 
agency became certified by Medicare and Medicaid and later purchased 
property for a permanent residence, both of which further stabilized 
their presence in the community of Holyoke.
  The Holyoke Visiting Nurse Association went on to receive 
accreditation from the National League of Nursing in 1979. In 1984 they 
diversified into three affiliated subsidiaries so as to better serve 
their clients, and in 1990 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts licensed 
and certified Hospice Life Care specializing in caring for a patient's 
final stages of life.
  During the early 1990's the VNA, with growth of 20 percent, was given 
official accreditation by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of 
Health Care Organizations. Later in the same decade, because of service 
expansion to other geographic areas in the region, the VNA experienced 
unprecedented growth for a total of 211,334 visits and the serving of 
2,912 patients by 400 employees in 1 year.
  With the beginning of the new millennium, budget cuts from Medicaid 
and Medicare caused the VNA to reorganize, reduce workforce and office 
space, and to freeze wages in order to survive. Then in October of 2000 
the Medicare Prospective Payment System changed the reimbursement 
environment and relieved the financial constraints on the agency.
  Presently with advances in technology and the ability to monitor 
patients 7 days a week, the VNA is able to benchmark against State and 
national norms for quality of care and patient/customer satisfaction. 
In 2004 the agency received the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce 
Pacesetter Award for Non-Profit Operational Excellence.
  In conclusion, the VNA for the past 100 years has maintained the 
primary theme of affordable patient care by making 2 million visits to 
over 30,000 patients. I am proud to recognize the Holyoke Visiting 
Nurse Association for their dedication and commitment to the care of 
the residents of this region.

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