The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Philadelphia

The Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Philadelphia is basically a non-profit home health care service organization. They were established in 1886 and serve the population of Philadelphia and the surrounding counties or suburbs. VNA is considered as the largest service provider of this nature in the region. Information you will receive from them will indicate that they are Medicare Certified, licensed by the State of Pennsylvania, Accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP).

From my experience in dealing with them, they are professional. A personal relative of mine, for example, received care and assistance from the VNA that was above the norm and full of compassion. Many of their services are free. Other services are provided through the patient or person in need of care, health or life insurance policy providers in association with their personal or family physician approval.

One example of how they function can be told base on first-hand experience.

For example, my close relative who was sick with a serious heart-disease was recommended to use the services of the VNA by the hospital officials who were caring for her. At the meeting, in my presence, she was told without ambiguity, the facts about who will be responsible for the cost of assisting her with home-nursing care, for example, and how the program will operate. The relevant forms were completed and the services commenced the same day.

The VNA, on request from my relative, supplied nurses who came twice per week to check-up on my relative at home. They had a social worker who was assigned to help us and she too was prompt in her service delivery, information asked for and given, and in her advice. The VNA nurses who prepare the medications that were required (as prescribed by the official physician for my relative or from the hospital doctors assigned to her) took a personal interest in my relative welfare, mental and physical health. The VNA, as care-giver providers, accommodated us - we were able to ask and receive additional help from other agencies such as the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging (PCA) and Life Line, courtesy of the VNA strong intervention, advice and information.

Apart from the above personal experience and exampled services, the VNA official services include: Skilled Nursing, Speech-Language Therapy, Physical Therapy, Home Health Aide Services, Occupational Therapy and Medical Social Work. For more information you are invited to visit: http://vnaphilly.org/visiting-nurse-services.aspx

One of the outstanding services that they provide include a 24 hour telephone access to nurses, doctors and other essential staff for their patients. This essentially means that if the patient at home who is receiving out-patient home-care from the VNA develops any problems while at home at any hour of the day, their love ones (or themselves) can call the VNA 24 hour number and they will send a staff member over to assist with the emergency situation. This is very useful since other healthcare providers may only give information that can be accessed most of the time - but not all of the time. The only exception may be calling 911 instead.

Another essential feature, from experience in accessing their service for a family member, has to do with their In-Patient Care Unit at their main Nursing Office - Philadelphia Health Care Office: Falls Center, 3300 Henry Avenue, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19129, phone: (215) 473-7600. It is essential to point-out that that Nursing establishment is managed by certified medical doctors, and not only nurses that are there to attend to patients. This unit (In-Patient Unit) is used, for example, to assist love ones in a temporary transfer from home-care to monitored care under the constant all day supervision of nurses and doctors at the above location. When a family member of mine, for example, had problems with the home-care, she was recommended to use the In-Patient Care Service. This way, all day and night, the VNA staff watched over her to ensure that she is well cared for and to restore her to a point that a return to home-care will be acceptable. The In-Patient Unit is not really a substitute for hospital care or for emergency service provided by hospital doctors and nurses. But instead, it can be viewed as an extended or extension of the home-care service already provided by the VNA.

There are many more examples of the kind of professional care that the VNA provides. The above information and examples from personal experience with them are only a few. You are invited to visit their Web site or telephone them for confirmation, clarification and more information concerning their professional health-care services. What is essential to know is that they are professional trained and certified nurses, doctors, social workers and administrators who have a genuine concern for the health and welfare of their patients in need.

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