All Care Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is pleased to announce that the Department of Public Health (DPH) has informed All Care that it has successfully passed its recent triennial DPH survey. The DPH surveyed All Care over a five-day period in January and because of the compassionate efforts of its dedicated staff, the agency passed without any deficiencies. All Care was also awarded high accolades, and was noted as being in full compliance, as it has been for many prior DPH surveys.
Pictured in photo (from left to right): Maria Agramonte, Nicole Branzell, Ashley Donovan, Jessica Loria and Mary Ellen Dawley. Missing from photo are: Patricia Feyler and Ellen Hickey.
All Care VNA has long prided itself on providing the highest-quality care and services to its patients for over 100 years. Each staff member works toward this goal every single day, according to Director of Quality Improvement, Mary Ellen Dawley, RN, BSN, COS-C. “Our home health aides, nurses, OTs, COTAs, PTs, PTAs, speech therapists and social workers work with our patients and their families to provide an individualized and specific plan of care. They also work in collaboration with the patient to assist them in working toward their goals. We work together at achieving those goals with a team approach, but the patient is always leading the charge,” says Dawley.
The Department of Public Health conducts these surveys every three years with all certified home care organizations to ensure full compliance with the conditions of participation and guidance from the Center of Medicare and Medicaid services. DPH surveyors scrutinized All Care’s care plans, standards of care, policies and procedures, communication between patient care teams, infection control, and much more. This included an examination of a myriad of records as well as intensive meetings with care providers and joint visits with patients chosen by the surveyors. More important, Dawley points out, the staff at All Care approaches this process with competence and confidence, noting “this is the type of care we give every day. The key component of our mission at All Care is to provide patients with the assistance and education needed for them to remain in the comfort of their homes, safely.”
“One thing that stands out in my mind, said Dawley, is that the surveyors stated it was evident that the relationship between clinician and patient was one of trust and respect, which is the basis of giving great service. They also mentioned that the dedication and longevity of our staff adds to the outstanding care we provide to every patient, every day. This is so rewarding for us as an organization because that’s exactly what quality and compassionate home care should be all about.”
The All Care clinicians who accompanied the DPH Surveyors on the joint visits were: Nicole Branzell, Patricia Feyler, Ashley Donovan, Maria Agramonte, Ellen Hickey and Jessica Loria.
For over 100 years, All Care has been delivering the highest quality, cost-effective home health care to our patients in the 50 communities we serve throughout Greater Boston, the North Shore, and the Merrimack Valley. From VNA, Hospice, Private Care Services, Adult Day Health, and Adult Foster Care, All Care is prepared to meet all your needs at every level of care. For more information on the All Care Hospice program or to learn more about alternative home healthcare options and accessibility, please visit www.allcare.org or call 800-287-2454.