Press Releases
October 26, 2010
Home Health VNA Rated in the Top 25% of Home Health Agencies Nationally
Home Health VNA, widely recognized as a leader in home health care in this region, announced today that the agency has been named among the top 25% of the “Home Care Elite”, a listing of the top tier of home health care agencies in the United States.
John G. Albert, President and CEO credits Home Health VNA’s highly skilled professionals and their dedication to the high standards of quality care with the company's ability to rank as one of the HomeCare Elite., “I'm fortunate to have a team of professionals that are not only experts in their field, but also have the same devotion to excellence in the care of our clients” said Albert. “Our staff is committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients every day. Being named among the best agencies in the country recognizes that commitment.”
To score home healthcare agencies, the OSC used publicly available data from the last half of 2009 and the first half of 2010. All agencies were rated on quality of care measurements in the Home Health Compare report, and quality improvement and financial performance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Cost Reports. Each agency’s performance in these three areas was compared against the performance of other organizations in their state and in the country. The three areas were combined into one overall score, using a methodology that gives the greatest importance to quality of care. Home Health VNA had high scores across all three areas. Those representing the top 25%, were identified and recognized for their accomplishment, including Home Health VNA.
“Home Health VNA is honored to be recognized for our patient care achievements. We are unwavering in our commitment to provide superior home health care and to assure our patients and families have the best possible outcomes; our employees demonstrate skillful care and compassion every day and it is very rewarding to have their efforts recognized”, stated Gail DeLaney-Woolford, Vice President of Clinical Services.
October 26, 2010
Home Health VNA Honored as Pinnacle Award Finalist Designation
Visiting Nurse Association of New England (VNANE) recently announced that Home Health VNA has been named a Pinnacle Award finalist for superior patient satisfaction. The Pinnacle Award and finalist designations are presented annually to the members of VNANE ranking highest in patient satisfaction among agencies of comparable size. This is the 2nd honor bestowed on Home Health VNA in as many months. In October the agency was named among the top 25% of the “Home Care Elite”, a listing of the top tier of home health care agencies in the United States.
“Home Health VNA has a remarkable history of excellence in patient care outcomes and in satisfaction with care” said John G. Albert, President and CEO. “It is a privilege to care for patients and families in our communities. We honor that privilege with our commitment to patient satisfaction.”
September 1, 2010
Merrimack Valley Hospice Welcomes
Dr. JoAnne T. Nowak as Medical Director
Lawrence, Mass. – Merrimack Valley Hospice named JoAnne Nowak, MD as Medical Director for Merrimack Valley Hospice and the Merrimack Valley Hospice House. Dr. Nowak is Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care, and Internal Medicine.
Prior to joining Merrimack Valley Hospice, Dr. Nowak was Medical Director at Partners Hospice. Her extensive experience includes appointments as consulting physician at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She also has academic teaching experience at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, Dr. Nowak serves as an instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
“Dr. Nowak brings 28 years of clinical and administrative experience to our organization,” said John G. Albert, MBA, FACHE, President / CEO of Home Health Foundation, the parent organization for Merrimack Valley Hospice, Home Health VNA and HomeCare, Inc. “The combination of her medical expertise, teaching experience and her compassionate approach to quality end-of-life care will serve as a true asset to our patients and families.”
Dr. Nowak earned her medical degree from Boston University and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Boston Veterans Administration Hospital. Dr. Nowak completed a fellowship in Palliative Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Internship in Mindful-Based Stress Reduction at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
In addition, she received post doctoral training in Clinical Pastoral Education at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Nowak serves as a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care, and the Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts.
Dr. Nowak resides in Andover.
Merrimack Valley Hospice, the leader in hospice care, provides comprehensive comfort care and palliative services to patients nearing the end-of- life. Using an innovative team approach Merrimack Valley Hospice offers physical, social, spiritual and emotional care for patients and grief and bereavement support for families, wherever they call home; in their own home, an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. The Merrimack Valley Hospice House, opened in June 2009, is a unique in-patient residence for patient in need of a level of care that cannot be provided in another non-acute setting.
May 10, 2010
Home Health Foundation Announces New CEO
John G. Albert, MBA, FACHE, of Windham, New Hampshire, has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Home Health Foundation, a leading provider of home health and hospice services in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, succeeding Joan Stygles Hull RN, MBA who retired on April 30, 2010, after a distinguished 13-year career.
“The Search Committee of the Board of Trustees interviewed a number of outstanding candidates, and we are pleased to announce that John Albert was selected to serve as President and CEO. He was the unanimous choice of both the Search Committee and the full Board of Trustees” stated David Nesbitt, Chairman of the Board for Home Health Foundation.
Albert has worked in the health care industry for almost 30 years, 25 of those years in executive positions. He most recently held the position of Executive Director of the Massachusetts region hospital division for Kindred Healthcare. In that role, Albert was responsible for overall performance of all Kindred long term care acute hospitals operating in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. His responsibilities included patient safety and quality, regulatory compliance, business development and strategic planning.
Previously, Albert served as Principal and Managing Partner at Landmark Health Solutions of Haverhill, MA from 1996 to 2006 and as President of Oxford Health Systems, Inc. from 1993 to 2002. Prior to that Albert served as CEO of the Hale Hospital in Haverhill, MA, from 1986 to 1993.
Albert’s depth and breadth of experience across the health care industry includes executive positions overseeing acute care hospitals, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and most recently, long term care acute facilities. He has also shown his passion and dedication to home health care and hospice through his 22-year tenure as a trustee for Home Health Foundation.
Nesbitt stated, “John is an experienced leader who has a tremendous understanding of the issues that impact health care in the region. His experience and understanding of the Home Health Foundation will allow for a seamless transition and his vision will set the stage for a strong future."
"I am very pleased to join the Home Health Foundation family of agencies,” said Albert. “Its dedicated staff has done outstanding work creating a high quality home health and hospice organization that proudly serves over 2,700 patients on any given day. Home Health Foundation has a solid reputation and a clear vision for the future. I plan to draw upon those strengths to continue building a stellar regional organization.”
Albert served on the Board of Trustees for the Massachusetts Hospital Association, where he acted as Chair of specialty hospitals. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Extended Care Federation for almost 10 years and on the Board of Trustees for New Hampshire Catholic Charities, with roles on both their finance and health care committees.
Albert received a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Boston University, a Bachelor of Science and Art from Boston University, and a certification from the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
The Home Health Foundation Family of Agencies is comprised of Home Health VNA, Merrimack Valley Hospice and HomeCare, Inc. Together, these organizations provide a full continuum of the highest quality home health and hospice services to patients and families in 90 cities and towns throughout Northeastern Massachusetts, the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire. One of the largest employers in Lawrence, and one of the largest home health care agencies in Massachusetts, the Home Health Foundation maintains close community ties through offices in Lawrence, Newburyport, Lowell and Peabody Massachusetts. The agency also has a branch office in North Hampton, New Hampshire.