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Richmond, VA, 02/23/09 — Instructive Visiting Nurse Association or IVNA today announced that it has been named to the 2008 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the most successful Medicare-certified home health care providers in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.

The 2008 HomeCare Elite also indicates those providers who are included in the Top 100 and Top 500 of providers nationwide. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information.

"The 2008 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with optimum care while performing at the highest level," said Nancy Buller, Senior Director of Marketing Communications at OCS, Inc. "We congratulate IVNA on being one of the Top home care agencies in the country."

IVNA President James Beckner, credits the agency's commitment to quality and its wonderful direct care staff with the company's ability to rank as one of the HomeCare Elite. Beckner said, "IVNA has a 108 year proud tradition of providing home care. Whether it's a patient with full insurance or a patient with no financial resources, IVNA nurses provide the same level of high quality care. IVNA is proud to serve our community and truly humbled by this wonderful recognition."

"DecisionHealth would like to congratulate the top HomeCare Elite agencies that achieved excellent clinical and financial outcomes by providing quality care to their patients," adds Marci Heydt, Executive Editor of DecisionHealth's Home Health Line. The 2008 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The 2008 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS, Inc., the leading provider of healthcare informatics, and DecisionHealth, publisher of home care's most respected independent newsletter …home health line. The entire list of the 2008 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS web site at www.ocsys.com/HCE.

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IVNA Stories/Testimonials

For Linda, a single mother with a toddler and newborn infant, “My two children were born sick. The toddler has a feeding tube and the newborn sickle cell. The weekly visit from our IVNA nurse provides care to my children that I can‘t give or afford. Because of IVNA, we do not have to go to the emergency room to get care. They are our guardian angels.”


Mr. T, age 71 and a veteran, was referred to IVNA in December 2007 from Hunter McGuire Veterans Hospital. He is a retired postal worker, who had just had surgery to remove part of his stomach which was decaying. According to the OASIS, which was completed upon his admission into IVNA for post-surgery care, Medicare approved $4249.86 worth of services based on his diagnosis. Yet once our nurse came to know Mr. T., she realized that he was suffering from severe arthritis and was in need of occupational and physical therapy. He was also very depressed so our medical social worker visited him twice. Also, more skilled nursing visits were needed as the healing of his abdominal wound took longer than anticipated due to Mr. T's. over-all poor health. IVNA provided over $8,408.34 worth of services and yet was only reimbursed $4,279 by Medicare leaving a deficit of $4,124.34. Again, Medicare's reimbursement rates are based upon a predetermined “episode” or set number of visits using a case-mix methodology, regardless of the actual number, cost or type of visits needed. But because of Mr. T's extensive health issues, he required additional skilled nursing visits, occupational and physical therapy visits and visits from our medical social worker in order to return him to an optimal level of health.

For Mary, a widow, “IVNA helped me get some of my medications when I could not afford them. They also gave me a button (Health Watch) that I can push if I need help. This helps as I am weaker now after the chemotherapy and radiation.”


Mrs. M, age 67, is a diabetic and a breast cancer survivor. Due to her diabetes, she is confined to a wheelchair and blind. She is able to move about her apartment and provide for herself but is challenged with keeping all of her medications straight, especially since many of the pills feel the same. An IVNA nurse comes by every two weeks to take her vital signs and refill her med boxes, a service which is not paid for under her Medicare plan and thus not billable by IVNA. Due to the care provided by IVNA, Mrs. M is able to remain in familiar surroundings, maintain a sense of independence and avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency room. Mrs. M has stated many times, that “IVNA is a godsend, without them I don’t know where I would be. I am so grateful.”

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More Fond Memories of IVNA

Mrs. Mildred Lucille Smith, Richmond resident and youngest of nine children, recalls how IVNA also made a difference in her life many years ago. Following are excerpts from her story:

I was going through a hard time in January 1942 when IVNA came into my life. My mother had just died, and my husband and I moved in with my father. I was only 17 years old.

I was expecting my first child, a daughter, Mildred May. I was so young, and didn't know anything about taking care of a baby.

Someone recommended I contact IVNA, and said they would come and help me with the baby once she was born.

A darling girl from IVNA came to help me. She had such a caring touch. She would come every morning in her dark blue and white dress, carrying her bag.

She helped bathe the baby, and me, too. She looked after both of us.

We didn't have many baby clothes and diapers, so she taught me how to make do. She showed me you could take old newspapers and pieces of sheets to make pads.

She helped me out for just over 2 weeks after I had Mildred May. She made sure I knew how to feed Mildred May, and take care of her. And she made sure we were both out of any kind of danger, and were both healthy.

I hate to think how we would have fared without help from IVNA. It would have been a total disaster; I wouldn't have known who to ask for help.

I believe God plans our lives, the good and the bad, and an angel came to me from IVNA.

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