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IVNA Home Health Care

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Until the organization of the Nurses' Settlement in 1900 (later chartered as the Instructive Visiting Nurse Association in 1902), Richmond and the surrounding areas had no nursing care for needy individuals other than hospital care.

Visiting nursing care in Richmond began in 1900 when several nurses from Old Dominion Hospital became concerned with the premature discharges of individuals from the hospital. As a result, eight nurses began to visit the poor community citizens of Richmond who desperately needed skilled nursing care This volunteer work was administered in their "off-hours" after a full day's work at Old Dominion Hospital.

As IVNA began to grow, the organization pioneered in inter-agency referrals and began laying the groundwork for continued cooperation with public and private agencies.

IVNA is proud of its heritage, its continued collaborative efforts with community agencies, businesses and medical facilities and its loyalty to the Richmond community for providing high-quality health care within the comfort of your home.

IVNA was the first agency in the Richmond community to see the health care needs of the community and respond accordingly:

  • 1900    IVNA (Nurses' Settlement) first organization to provide home nursing visits to Richmond community

  • 1901    Act to incorporate the Nurses' Settlement approved February 14th.

  • 1902    Instructive Visiting Nurse Association (IVNA) organized and charter granted

  • 1904    IVNA opens the first Tuberculosis Clinic in Richmond

  • 1908    First Tag Day inaugurated to raise funds

  • 1909    IVNA provides nurses to Richmond public school system

  • 1910    IVNA was the first to work with insurance company to provide nursing care to policy holders

  • 1912    IVNA assigns nurses as probation officers

  • 1913    IVNA opens Camp Harrison for underprivileged children

  • 1914    IVNA assigns the first industrial nurse to work with industry laborers

  • 1917    IVNA opens first crippled children's clinic

  • 1918    IVNA and the Board of Health combine staff members to help control the influenza epidemic

  • 1920    IVNA opens child welfare and maternity clinics

  • 1924    IVNA joins the Community Chest (United Way Services)

  • 1933    IVNA begins home obstetrical services

  • 1944    University of Virginia assigns cadet nurse corps to IVNA

  • 1946    Sick Room Loan Closet established by the Council of Jewish Women and IVNA. Johns Hopkins School of Public Health completes report that recommends combined community nursing services.

  • 1947    Demonstration of combined nursing services by IVNA and Richmond City Health Department in South Richmond

  • 1948    IVNA extends services to Henrico County and northern Chesterfield County

  • 1952    IVNA assumes responsibility for Sick Room Loan Closet. Combination nursing service began city-wide operation called IVNA City Nursing Service

  • 1956    IVNA City Nursing Service established five distinct health centers

  • 1960    IVNA provides physical therapy services

  • 1966    IVNA resumes status of independent agency. Employs nurses specializing in geriatrics. Richmond Tuberculosis Association sponsors an IVNA nurse specializing in chronic respiratory diseases.

  • 1967    Virginia Commission on Aging funds home health aide training program under three-year grant. IVNA initiates study of children's health at four day care centers.

  • 1968    Richmond Area Unit of the American Cancer Society sponsors IVNA nurse specializing in oncology

  • 1969    Family and Children's Services Homemakers consolidated with IVNA Home Health Aides. IVNA contracts for speech therapy, obtains Medicare approval and is accredited by the National League for Nursing.

  • 1971    IVNA extends service to Hanover County

  • 1982    IVNA provides hospice services for Retreat Hospital Hospice program

  • 1991    IVNA opens Ashland office to better serve Hanover's community residents

  • 1992    IVNA opens flu clinics. Provides services to individuals infected or affected with HIV

  • 1995    IVNA provides nursing care and education to first-time adoptive parents and their children

  • 1997    IVNA provides intensive instruction and nursing services to adolescent mothers

  • 1998    IVNA provides home safety evaluations with safety instructions and limited interventions by therapy staff

  • 1999    IVNA provides comprehensive pediatric asthma education and management services to low-income families with preschool-aged children. IVNA provides geriatric wellness to congregate sites in rural areas within agency's service area.

  • 2000    IVNA founds the Live a Dream Foundation

  • 2001    IVNA begins comprehensive breast cancer awareness education and screening

IVNA...Opening Doors to Better Health