[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5534]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         ESTABLISHING AN ANNUAL VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION WEEK

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 4, 2003

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong 
support for National Visiting Nurse Association Week. As a nurse for 
over thirty years, I am always proud to celebrate what I still consider 
the best profession in the world.
  Today we are here to commend a very special type of nurse, those that 
specialize in home health care. For more than 100 years, Visiting Nurse 
Associations (VNAs) have been providing home health care to the 
communities they serve. Beginning in the late 1800s, VNAs provided 
critical home-based care for the homebound, the impoverished, the frail 
elderly and children at-risk.
  Over a hundred years later, not-for-profit VNAs continue their 
unparalleled, selfless tradition of offering quality of life and 
independence to all Americans through comprehensive home health care. 
Today, guided by their charitable missions, VNAs care for nearly 10 
million people annually.
  VNAs provide home health care for patients of all ages--from infants 
to elderly. They are the educators of disease prevention and health 
promotion. Physicians are confident when referring to VNAs because of 
their high level of quality standards and clinical excellence. Patients 
are extremely satisfied with the care they receive from VNAs as shown 
by a 99 percent customer satisfaction rating.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to show their support for 
Visiting Nurse Associations everywhere by voting for this wonderful 
resolution.

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