VNA of WNY ranked among top 5 percent nationally

For the second straight year, the Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York has been ranked in the top 5 percent of home health agencies in the U.S. The VNA was named to the Top 500 of the 2013 HomeCare Elite, a recognition of the top-performing home health agencies in the U.S.

Winners are ranked by an analysis of publicly available performance measures in quality outcomes, best practices (process measure) implementation, patient experience (home health CAHPS), quality improvement and consistency, and financial performance.

"To know that the VNA is the only one from Western New York ranked in the top 5 percent in the country is humbling and very rewarding," said Judy Baumgartner, the president of the Visiting Nursing Association. "Our team consistently strives to provide the highest level of care and service for all of our patients. This recognition is a testament to the focus and emphasis placed on quality patient care at the VNA."

Nearly 10,000 home care agencies are considered nationally. The analysis is based on review of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publicly reported data. The VNA was awarded Top 500, representing Top 5 percent of agencies nationally. In addition, the VNA is one of only 116 agencies (or 29 percent) that repeated as Top 500. No one else from Western New York or the Rochester area was ranked in the Top 500.

The VNA is the largest home health agency in Western New York, serving more than 24,000 patients annually, with more than 425,000 home visits. The agency is ranked among the top home health care agencies in the nation, according to data from Press Ganey and CMS.

Founded in 1885, the VNA of Western New York was the first visiting nursing organization in America. Since then, it has become one of the oldest charities in the nation and remains the largest home health agency in the Western New York region.

Specific highlights of VNA's ranking include:

•Quality of Care - 89th percentile (top 11 percent of country)

•Patient Experience - 88th percentile

•Process Measure Implementation - 95th percentile

Now in its eighth year, the HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall.

In order to be considered, an agency must be Medicare certified and have data for at least one outcome in home health compare. Out of 9,969 agencies considered, 2,496 are elite.

The award is sponsored by OCS HomeCare by National Research Corp., the leading products for home health metrics and analytics, and DecisionHealth, publisher of the independent home health care newsletter Home Health Line.

"The 2013 HomeCare Elite winners demonstrate a commitment to providing patient-centered care and serving as leaders in the home health community. Their success is a tribute that managing health care data and utilizing it for improvement initiatives lead to high-quality care, and we recognize them for their outstanding achievements," said Mary Oakes, senior vice president of post-acute at National Research. "We congratulate the VNA of Western New York on being one of the top 500 home care agencies in the country."

Key facts and figures about the VNA of Western New York:

•More than 1,000 employees

•98 percent patient satisfaction

•Average daily census (all services) - 6,500 patients; annual home visits - 425,000

•Community immunization program providing 25,000 shots/season

•98 percent referral source satisfaction

The VNA, a Kaleida Health affiliate, currently provides services to residents in nine Western New York counties, including Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany, Wyoming and Stueben. The VNA will begin servicing Livingston County in 2014.