[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HONORING THE VNA

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 13, 2010

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, today I am extremely proud to rise to 
honor the Visiting Nursing Association (VNA) of Western New York and 
recognize their 125 years of exemplary health care delivery in our 
community.
  The VNA was one of the very first visiting nurse charities here in 
the United States. Over the years it has grown to be one of the largest 
home health care agencies in the nation, providing a range of services 
for all ages.
  In 1885 Elizabeth Coe Marshall, a Buffalo teacher, founded what 
became the VNA when she recognized the need and collected donations to 
support a traveling nurse to serve the ill and indigent. Today the VNA 
of WNY is 900 nurses strong and provides a broad array of services that 
range from counseling new nursing mothers to providing health care that 
allows seniors to remain in the comfort of their own home. This devoted 
group serves 6,500 patients each and every day and makes more than one-
half million home visits each year.
  Over the decades the VNA of WNY has continued to adapt to meet the 
latest needs and incorporate today's technology. This has included 
rising to the demand to deliver H1N1 vaccines and integrating 
telemedicine into home care delivery.
  Madam Speaker, it is with most sincere gratitude that I pay tribute 
to the Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York for their 
leadership in health care and 125 years of service and dedication to 
this great community.

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