posted on April 26, 2010
Home Health Agency Acquires County’s Certified and Long Term Care Operations
(Rochester, NY – April 26, 2010) HCR, an award-winning certified home health care agency, was issued formal approval last week from the New York State Department of Health to purchase Genesee County’s home care program. The acquisition transfers ownership of Genesee County’s operating certificates for its Certified Home Health Agency and Long Term Home Health Care Program to HCR. The Department of Health approval started in March 2009, when the Genesee County Legislature voted to cease county-owned home care.
By purchasing the Genesee County home care operating certificates, HCR effectively replaces the county agency in providing acute and long term nursing care, therapy, and home health aide services for patients receiving insurance coverage via Medicare or Medicaid. HCR also provides care to patients covered by a wide range of commercial insurers, as well as those who choose to pay privately for extended services.
“We are pleased to strengthen services in Genesee County and offer opportunities to health professionals and paraprofessionals who like to work closer to home,” said Mark Maxim, HCR’s President.
HCR is no stranger to Genesee County. In March 2009, the Genesee County Health Department contracted with HCR to provide home care for area residents. This provided support to the county agency while undergoing the New York State Department of Health review.
Alice Pena of HCR’s clinical management team, who supervised the home care services under the special contract, noted that many of HCR’s clinical specialty programs will be beneficial to Genesee County residents. Pena, a participant in the highly-respected Leadership Genesee Program, will continue to lead HCR’s Genesee County team.
“HCR is committed to bringing our 33 years of experience to Genesee County and making a difference to the residents.” Pena said.
All clinical staff from the Genesee County home care program have been hired by HCR and maintain their current work schedules to assure no interruption in patient care.
HCR’s commitment to providing quality care to its patients was recognized nationally in 2007 by Home Care Elite, which ranked HCR as a Top 500 home care agency nationwide – an honor repeated in both 2008 and 2009. In addition, HCR was named a Top Performing Agency in New York and IPRO’s Quality Award Winner for two consecutive years, as well as being presented with the Rochester Area Business Ethics Foundation Award in 2006.
posted on December 15, 2009
El Mensajero Catolico, by Annette Jimenez - December 15, 2009
Carlos Hernandez e Ismaray Valdes siguen viviendo el sueno americano. Los esposos, recien emigrados de Cuba, se han convertido en asistentes de cuidados de la salud en el hogar, con la meta de convertirse en enfermeros registrados. (read entire article)
posted on December 02, 2009
InsideHealthcare, by Eric Slack
Many things have changed since Louise Woerner, chairman, CEO, and founder of Home Care of Rochester (HCR), started the company in 1978. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the company’s commitment to providing the people of the region with an independent choice for home healthcare. (read entire article)
posted on October 30, 2009
HCR Named as Top 500 Home Health Care Provider of 2009 HomeCare Elite
Rochester, NY, October 21, 2009 — Home Care of Rochester (HCR) today announced that it has been named to the 2009 HomeCare Elite™, a compilation of the top performing home health agencies in the United States. This annual review identifies the Top 25 percent of agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.
“The 2009 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with the best possible care while performing at the highest level,” said Nancy Buller, senior director of marketing communications at OCS HomeCare. “We congratulate HCR on being one of the Top 500 home care agencies in the country.”
HCR CEO Louise Woerner credits the company’s culture of quality and attention to detail for its ability to rank as one of the HomeCare Elite. “This is our third consecutive year in the HomeCare Elite Top 500. As an employee-owned company, everyone understands the importance of focusing on quality patient outcomes. For us, patient care is more than just a phrase,” said Ms. Woerner.
“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 2009 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The 2009 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS, Inc., the leading provider of homecare information, and DecisionHealth, publisher of home care’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information. The entire list of the 2009 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS Web site at http://www.ocshomecare.com.
About Home Care of Rochester | HCR
Home Care of Rochester (HCR) is a certified and licensed, employee-owned home health care agency providing in-home nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; nutritional guidance; and home health aide services to help with activities for daily living for the greater Rochester community for more than 30 years. In collaboration with the medical, insurance, government, educational, and philanthropic communities, HCR strives to improve patient outcomes and lower health care costs by assisting in health care research and care delivery issues. Among its partners are the United States Public Health Service, the Center for Disease Control, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. HCR employs over 760 people in a variety of skilled and professional disciplines. In addition to its HomeCare Elite Top 500 status, HCR is a Top Performing Agency in New York, and an IPRO Quality Award Winner for the past two years.
About OCS HomeCare
OCS HomeCare empowers home health and hospice organizations with results-driven data intelligence, plus the largest and most accurate homecare database in the industry. Homecare providers, payers, associations, government agencies, vendors, and consultants all turn to OCS to elevate decision-making, raise the bar on results, and bring home positive outcomes. For more information about OCS HomeCare, please visit http://www.ocshomecare.com or call 888.325.3396.
About DecisionHealth®
For more than 30 years, DecisionHealth has served as the industry’s leading source for news, analysis and instructional guidance with cutting edge information sources such as Part B News, Home Health Line, Medicare Compliance Alert, Inside the Joint Commission and Specialty Coders Pink Sheets. Our unique blend of award-winning on-staff journalists and unmatched access to health care executives, providers, healthcare organization managers and their revenue-cycle staffs enables us to provide solutions, tools and guidance that’s relied on by nearly 100,000 home health care and specialty physician practice professionals. For more information, please visit http://www.DecisionHealth.com or call 877.602.3835.
posted on October 15, 2009
Educational event with Nazareth College raises over $6,400 for local chapter of Arthritis Foundation
ROCHESTER, NY—On Saturday, October 17, 2009, Home Care of Rochester | HCR and Nazareth College Department of Physical Therapy will provide area physical and occupational therapists with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in the topic of arthritis management and post-surgical rehabilitation. All registration proceeds from the event—anticipated to be over $6,400—will go to the Upstate New York Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, in honor of National Physical Therapy Month.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, arthritis affects 12.4 million individuals 65 years and older and costs the United States $127.8 billion annually in medical care expenditures and lost earnings. “Clinicians routinely face many challenges on how to best restore function and quality of life,” Chris Chimenti, director of therapeutic services for Home Care of Rochester, said. “Each session will include evidence-based instruction to enhance clinicians’ practice in any care setting, as well as immediate techniques to incorporate into practice the next day.”
Speakers include respected orthopedic surgeons, such as Dr. Stephanie Siegrist, president of the Monroe County Medical Society, who will examine diagnosis and treatment information, including joint replacement surgical techniques. Experienced physical therapists will provide intervention and handling strategies through a lab-style instructional model. Over 92 registrants will attend the workshop at the Nazareth College Golisano Academic Center.
“HCR’s commitment to providing professional development opportunities to the health care community and its support of community agencies that educate and advocate on behalf of consumers, such as the Arthritis Foundation, helps to improve the overall quality of care available in the Rochester area,” Chimenti added.
Joanne Insull, program director of the Arthritis Foundation Upstate New York Chapter, will be present on Saturday to receive a donation check from Chimenti at 1:00 PM.
posted on September 27, 2009
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, by Chris Swingle - September 27, 2009
A new weekly café for people with Parkinson’s disease starting Oct. 7 will include coffee, mingling, speakers, exercise, tips, sing-alongs, stretching, outings to museums and talks on topics such as online social networking…
People who can move around independently may attend alone; those needing assistance must be accompanied by a caregiver or aide. Caregivers are always welcome. The plan:
Second Thursdays at Home Care of Rochester, 85 Metro Park, will include social workers leading “bright spots,” bring-your-own lunch, a physical therapy stretch, an occupational therapy tip and an afternoon speaker. Nazareth College music, dance and art therapy students are collaborating.
Register one week before each event by e-mailing café@psguny.org or calling (585) 249-9842.
Original Article
posted on September 25, 2009
Minority Reporter - September 25, 2009
The National Council on Aging has declared Tuesday, September 22, 2009 National Falls Awareness Prevention Day. Locally Home Care of Rochester (HCR), a certified home health agency, is quickly making Rochester a Center of Excellence in Falls Prevention through patient risk assessment, education and outreach.
According to Judy Daniel, program manager of therapeutic services at HCR, falling is not a normal part of aging, nor is pain normal. “A fall is just the tip of the iceberg, an indication that something else is going on,” she said, adding that HCR conducts Falls Prevention Assessments on its patients. As a result, HCR’ percentage of patients who sustain injuries that require emergent care is lower than the national benchmark…
Original Article
posted on March 03, 2009
In the midst of our country’s recession, job openings can be few and far between.
But one Rochester company has the help wanted sign out. Home Care of Rochester is calling all who want work in the nursing field to apply.
“I do it for the patient care. I love the whole being around the whole patient and accompanying them,” Community Health Nurse Yvette Conyers said.
Conyers moved from a hospital and doctor’s office setting to in-home care.
“It depends on what you’re looking for. I was looking for a Monday through Friday and someone who was going to support me education-wise,” Conyers said.
Home Care of Rochester gave Conyers the opportunity to care for patients in their own homes.
The company is looking for more employees like her.
“We’re in a rapid growing mode,” HCR CEO Louise Woerner said.
The Rochester-based company provides home health care for patients who choose in-home treatment.
It prides itself on growth during this recessionary period.
“We’ve been a very innovative company so we have a lot of new areas that are growing. So we’re looking for staff to fill some of those important niches,” Woerner said.
A Spanish-speaking staff is one of those niches.
In an HCR training class, half of its potential employees work outside of the nursing industry.
“We try to do our own training and orientation because even folks who have a high degree of education need to know what our philosophy is and our approach to care,” Woerner said.
HCR wants to fill at least 120 positions in the next year.
Original Article
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