2 0 1 3 A N N U A L R E P O R T

looking back, moving forward

C O N T E N T S

Mission, Values and Vision .......................................................................................................................3Message from the CEO ............................................................................................................................4Message from the Board President..........................................................................................................5Home Health Lawrence ...........................................................................................................................6 Home Health Topeka ...............................................................................................................................7Hospice .....................................................................................................................................................8Private Duty Plus ......................................................................................................................................9Quality Initiatives ....................................................................................................................................10Marceil Lauppe Employee of the Year ..................................................................................................11Gifts Received/Donations and Fundraising Initiatives ..........................................................................12Board of Directors .................................................................................................................................13Note from the Finance Committee Chair ............................................................................................14Financial Report ......................................................................................................................................15

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O U R M I S S I O N

The Mission of the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association, Inc. is to provide excellent community-based health care and support services

throughout the continuum of care.

O U R V A L U E S

To affirm the dignity, worth and quality of human life in all of its phases

To promote creativity and lifelong learning in an atmosphere of cooperation, teamwork and fairness

To be honest and maintain confidentiality in all of our interactions

To be a financially viable, cost-effective not-for-profit organization that meets the needs of clients and staff

To maintain excellence as evidenced by positive, measurable outcomes

O U R V I S I O N

To be the home health and hospice provider of choice to our community through continued excellence in health care services and business practices

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January 2013 marked the official beginning of my tenure as Visiting Nurses’ ninth executive leader. The rapidly changing landscape of healthcare presents constant challenges to leaders at every level in the industry. Having the opportunity to lead an organization with Visiting Nurses’ positive reputation is a rewarding challenge!

The agency celebrated its 44th anniversary in February with our staff and Board of Directors.

It’s exciting to see what’s grown from those seeds planted in 1969. As part of that growth and change, we had some new (and new again) faces join us in 2013. Rhonda Leuenberger became the RN coordinator for our Topeka branch. Debbie Ahlert-Caffey, a Visiting Nurses employee for more than 20 years, returned to us full-time as our hospice manager. Susan Albright became our quality/compliance manager in October. Staff at the patient care level continues to be added to support our growth in both Lawrence and Topeka.

Our annual signature fundraiser, 3.d, was held in April at Abe and Jake’s in Lawrence. More than 200 attendees resulted in our largest crowd ever. With the generous support through donations of individuals and businesses, we raised $37,000 and more than $40,000 through in-kind donations.

One of our hospice nurses, Ginger Hayes, was selected to represent the state of Kansas as one of the top 50 home care and hospice nurses in the country. Ginger attended the national conference in the fall to celebrate this significant honor.In the fall, Visiting Nurses launched a community newsletter. This publication provides opportunities to share information about issues affecting home care and highlight staff making important contributions to the lives of our patients. Through all of our endeavors, the focus of Visiting Nurses is consistent: to provide excellent community-based healthcare without regard for ability to pay. We take great pride in continuing to provide “all your home care needs under one roof!”

Cynthia LewisChief Executive Officer

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Cynthia Lewis

Message from the CEO

Serving as Board President has provided me a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the inner workings of a great organization. The dedication and commitment of the Visiting Nurses staff, management, volunteers and Board are truly impressive. What has impressed me most are the personal stories related by community members praising the high-quality services provided by Visiting Nurses to their loved ones during times of need. This is clear evidence that Visiting Nurses is fulfilling its mission.

Steve Tesdahl President, Board of Directors

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Message from the Board President

Steve Tesdahl

Hospice Quality of Service The staff of the Douglas County Hospice is totally dedicated to the comfort of Dorene in these final days of her life.

They work diligently to supply her with all the supplies, equipment, and medicine which is necessary for her care. The degree of personal care that they furnish was not available with other services which were employed previously.

They not only care for Dorene, they watch closely the support that she has from her husband who must be able to physically care for Dorene when Hospice personnel are not present. They furnish volunteers to care for Dorene when he has a doctor’s appointment or other reasons to leave the home.

William C. Carter

Bahmen Pakravan is always excited when his physical therapist, Bethany from Visiting Nurses, comes to visit. For three weeks she worked with him, two times per week, to regain his strength and muscle tone and repair broken nerve endings. Bahmen developed a spinal hematoma due to a surgical complication, causing a spinal cord injury. Bahmen, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, is currently relearning how to walk with Bethany’s guidance. Each step creates excitement and smiles for Bahmen. “Bethany does a good quality job and tells me what I am supposed to do to get better. I try to work twice as hard as I possibly can to achieve our goals,” says Bahmen. “She rewards me by being so nice and complimentary. Bethany treats me like a king.”

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Visiting Nurses Home Health program of Douglas County works with all types of patients. Bahmen is an example of how VNA touches the lives of so many. In 2013, Visiting Nurses provided 18,431 visits to 966 patients in the Douglas County and surrounding areas, helping them to regain their strength in the comfort of their own home in order to regain a normal life.

Home HealthLawrence

For Marguerite Robinson, Visiting Nurses provides more than medical care; they provide independence. Three months ago, Marguerite broke her back and was admitted to the hospital. She later moved to a rehabilitation facility to regain her strength. With her independence a top priority, Marguerite decided to transition home and utilize Visiting Nurses’ Home Health services. Now, LaShaun from Visiting Nurses visits Marguerite at home, helping her get stronger day by day. “Mom really loves LaShaun,” says Jan, Marguerite’s daughter. “When those two get to giggling, it’s nuts!” Receiving care at home has been helpful to Marguerite and to Jan. “It is very seldom that you meet somebody and in the first 15 minutes you feel like you have known them your entire life,” Jan says. “LaShaun is a blessing.”

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Home HealthTopeka

In 2013, Visiting Nurses served 223 patients in their homes through the branch office in Topeka. One by one, these 4,744 visits helped ensure that patients can stay strong and independent at home, where they want to be.

Dorene Carter has been under the care of Visiting Nurses for more than nine months. She began receiving Home Health care, and shortly after bridged over to the Hospice Care Program through the recommendations of her physicians. Juls, her hospice nurse, visits Dorene three times a week to provide care. When asked to describe the kind of service Juls and Visiting Nurses provide, Dorene’s husband, William, gives two simple words: “Totally dedicated.”

The Carters also receive daily care from a Visiting Nurses certified home health aide, and volunteer visits through the Hospice program. “A volunteer comes once a week so I can go shopping,” William says. “It’s a matter of someone being here to make sure she is safe and secure.”

William and Dorene recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, thankful that Dorene can be cared for in the comfort of their own home where they have lived and raised their children.

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Visiting Nurses Hospice staff takes pride in being able to provide comfort care to so many individuals at home. In 2013, VNA served 189 patients in the Hospice Care Program, providing 20,266 visits and assuring that patients and families like the Carters can continue to enjoy celebrating life and its milestones surrounded by those they love.

Hospice

Dorene and William Carter as newlyweds in the 1940s, and celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary with family

Kent Smalter has been using the Visiting Nurses Private Duty Plus program to help him with day-to-day activities that he has trouble doing on his own due to ALS. He receives assistance multiple times a day throughout the week. This morning, Carolyn, a certified home health and restorative aide from Visiting Nurses is seeing him. She comes daily at 7:30 a.m. to make sure Kent gets showered, has breakfast and reads the paper. “I’m super appreciative that Carolyn is available to help me,” says Kent. “She gets my day going.” Carolyn has been getting Kent’s day going since he began using Visiting Nurses services three years ago.

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Kent is one of the many patients who benefited from Private Duty Plus services in 2013. In all, more than 20,114 hours of care were provided to patients, helping them bathe, prepare meals, do laundry and much more. This care helps VNA patients like Kent remain independent in the comfort of their own home.

Private Duty Plus

The certified and skilled staff at Visiting Nurses works hard to stay at or above industry standards providing patients the best Home Health, Rehabilitation, Hospice and Private Duty care possible. This goal fits in with Visiting Nurses’ value, “To affirm the dignity, worth and quality of human life in all of its phases.”

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Quality Initiatives

0

20

40

60

80

100

0

20

40

60

80

100

“Always” gave professional care

“Always” communicated well

Patients rated9 or 10

Would recommend

Right amount of emotional support

prior to death

Right amount of emotional support

after death

Pain medications amount

“just right”

Breathing treatments “just right”

Excellentpatient care

Would recommend

Visiting Nurses Hospice National Average

Visiting Nurses Home Health National Average

The Marceil Lauppe Employee of the Year Award is presented annually to an employee who exemplifies the mission and values of Visiting Nurses. The 2013 Marceil Lauppe Employee of the Year Award recipient is Kari Koester. Kari is an Occupational Therapist who has worked at VNA for two and a half years. Kari constantly looks for ways to make life better for her patients. She is very knowledgeable about patient resources and goes above and beyond to help her patients find tools and equipment needed to keep them safe in their homes.

Once, when Kari had a patient with no furniture in his home other than a bed, she went out of her way to seek donations from staff. Kari treats the entire person, physically and emotionally. Serving as a staff representative on Visiting Nurses’ Board of Directors, Kari donates much of her time to help the agency.

The selection committee said of Kari, “Bottom line, Kari cares deeply. With her patients, she constantly strives to teach effectively and acquire needed equipment. She communicates extensively with other staff and is unfailingly upbeat and positive.”

Congratulations, Kari, for being selected as recipient of the 2013 Marceil Lauppe Employee of the Year Award. Thank you for your dedication to both your patients and our agency!

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Kari Koester

Employee of the Year

3.d Gross Total ........................................................................................ $38,357.503.d Gross In-Kind Donations .................................................................. $42,305.00Fambrough Fans Tailgate Fundraiser ............................................................ $249.00Rice Foundation Grant ............................................................................ $40,000.00United Way Grant................................................................................... $45,847.68Douglas County Grant .......................................................................... $280,000.00Annual Appeal ........................................................................................ $12,261.00Memorials ............................................................................................... $35,430.50Other Gifts: Estate Gifts ...................................................................................... $47,835.29 Topeka Office Monetary Donations ......................................................... $75.00 Other In-Kind Donations .................................................................. $4,001.90 Monetary Donations: General ..................................................................................... $17,392.61 Hospice ....................................................................................... $8,195.06 HCSS .......................................................................................... $6,000.00

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Gifts Received / Donations and Fundraising Initiatives

Visiting Nurses is fortunate to have such a large community of donors and wishes to thank them for their generosity and support. For a complete list of donors, please visit our website at www.kansasvna.org.

2013 3.d Casino Night Fundraiser

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Board of Directors

Steve Tesdahl, President

Artie Shaw, Ph.D., Vice President

Hank Booth, Vice President

Teresa Kaiser, R.N., B.S.N., C.H.P.N., Secretary

Elaine Penny, M.S.W., Secretary

Dana Hale, R.N., M.S., A.R.N.P., Treasurer

Judith Calhoun, Ph.D., A.P.R.N.

Pat Donahue, J.D. Emily Donaldson, J.D.

Matthew H. Harms, M.D., F.A.C.P

Luke Huerter, M.D Tim Keller, M.A.I. Grace Marion, Spec.Ed. Kay Metzger, M.T.B.C., Ph.D.

Scott ShmalbergTreasurer

Jeff Sigler, R.Ph., Pharm.D.

Ralph Tanner, Ph.D., L.H.D.

Carol Wheeler, R.N., B.S.N, F.A.C.H.E

Delmar White Ex Officio: Cynthia Lewis, M.H.S.A., C.P.H.Q.

2013 was a strong year financially for Visiting Nurses. Driven by an increasing demand for home health services, patient revenues were 14 percent higher than those of 2012. The Topeka Home Health branch completed its second full

year of operations in 2013 with a 58 percent increase in patient revenues over the prior year. Visiting Nurses was able to deliver services in 2013 with only a 7 percent increase in operating expenses.

The investment account, boosted by improving financial markets as well as several generous donations, increased its value by 15 percent in 2013, ending the year with assets totaling $2,806,337. The investment account is a key component of Visiting Nurses’ long-term financial viability, by reducing the potential short-term impacts of reduced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, as well as serving as a cash flow buffer during periods when the government delays payments.

I am pleased to report to you that Visiting Nurses is in a secure and stable financial position to continue its mission of delivering quality home health and hospice services.

Scott ShmalbergTreasurer, Board of Directors

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Note from the Finance Committee Chair

Scott Shmalberg

2013

SupportCounty funding ...................................... $280,000 Value of donated services in-kind ............ $504,653 Contributions ......................................... $109,451 Fundraising, net ....................................... $54,238 United Way .............................................. $45,848 Grants ...................................................... $35,336 Investment income ................................... $73,062 Gain (Loss) on investment ...................... $258,753 Total support ..................................... $1,361,341

RevenueTotal patient revenue ........................ $5,163,991

Total Support and Revenue .............. $6,525,332

Investment AccountTotal Investment Account ................ $2,806,337

ExpensesDirect expenses .................................... $3,555,163 Administrative expenses ...................... $2,327,336 Total Expenditures ............................ $5,882,499

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Financial Report

14% growth from 2012 report

14% growth from 2012 report

7% growth from 2012 report

all your home care needs under one roof

HOME HEALTH • REHABILITATION • HOSPICE • PRIVATE DUTY PLUS

200 Maine Street, Suite C Lawrence, KS 66044

785-843-3738 • www.kansasvna.org