VERO BEACH, Fla. (May 12, 2006) – The future of the health care delivery system, service awards and the induction of new officers highlighted the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast’s annual meeting held April 27 at Quail Valley River Club.
Attending the meeting were VNA’s boards of directors who represent the agency’s service area from north St. Lucie to Brevard county. The meeting also marked the new term for board members and the election of officers for 2006-07.
Keynote speaker Lisa Remington, publisher of The Remington Report business and clinical magazine, noted that the structure of the health care delivery system is transitioning from treating illnesses to promoting wellness. She also highlighted other health care trends, including the new health provider payment model based on patient outcomes, improvements being made in health care technology, and the expanded role of disease management.
More than 100 million Americans suffer from a chronic condition – such as heart disease or diabetes – and with nearly 80 percent of all health care dollars being spent on chronic care, the challenge facing the health care industry is managing the growing number of patients needing care, she said.
“There is a new era of health care beginning as the large population of baby boomers start to enter the health care delivery system and the number of chronic care patients increases,” she said.
Remington also discussed telehealth technology – equipment that allows patients to monitor their health 24 hours a day and send information to their health care provider through a telephone line. Currently, the Visiting Nurse Association is developing a telehealth program designed to improve the quality of life and promote optimal wellness for homebound patients.
“It’s a disease management system that provides an effective way for patients to monitor their health and become more involved with their care,” Remington said.
Also at the annual meeting, Carol Kanarek, who served as the Treasure Coast Board of Directors chairman from 2002-2006, passed the gavel to new chairman Kathy Hendrix. Hal Lewis will replace Hendrix as the Hospice Board of Directors chairman, and Kanarek will join the VNA & Hospice Foundation board of directors.
In other business, Chief Quality Compliance Officer Kathy Orton received the Marion Oechsner Award for her commitment to the agency for the past 15 years; Ford Fegert received the Chairman’s Award; Michael Kmetz was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award; VNA Hospice board members Dorothy Hindert, Helen Murphy and Penny Umland received Member Emeritus Awards; and VNA Hospice House endowment campaign co-chairmen Jack Mitchell and John Campione were honored.
The Visiting Nurse Association is Indian River County’s first, and remains its sole, non-profit home health and hospice agency. For more information about VNA services and programs, visit www.vnatc.com or call (772) 567-5551.
