The Farmington Valley VNA is With You Every Step of the Way

We understand that COVID-19 and the need to stay home when exposed or having symptoms is unsettling for all of us, especially when you need health care assistance. The Farmington Valley VNA is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the patients and families we serve. Since 1908, our mission is to help our communities; we are very prepared to do that now during this pandemic.

Our services are ready to respond quickly to changes in your needs and prevent having to leave your home, decreasing the risk to community exposure. We reduce the time it takes to assess your situation, and have direct conversations with your physician regarding your status. Reduced exposure from potentially avoiding an emergency room, urgent care, or physician office is an essential benefit of homecare. A recent study has shown that patients who receive home health care are 28% less likely to be hospitalized than those who do not.* We want to help keep you in your home; your physician is relying on us to do just that, safely and competently.

Preventing the spread of infection has always been a priority of the VNA. Many of the guidelines and practices for infection/disease prevention that have recently been released by the CDC in response to Coronavirus COVID-19 are guidelines and measures practiced by our clinicians every day. Our staff has been directed on how not to spread the disease and will not visit you if they are sick or have been exposed to the virus. Properly sanitized equipment is brought in and out of a client's home per CDC and public health protocols to ensure the prevention of infection or the spread of disease. Our staff has the proper protective equipment per the CDC guidelines and thorough training in its use.

The FVVNA is working with local and state public health departments to stay updated on region-specific directives. The Executive Director and Clinical Department Managers have made Coronavirus COVID-19 their top priority, and we have the resources, tools, and knowledgeable staff to provide care in a home setting. Additional mandatory virus training and meetings have been conducted with staff and will continue until this situation resolves. The VNA and the Connecticut Association for Healthcare at Home are proactive in developing plans to meet any situation that may arise in the community during this pandemic.

We are your trusted Visiting Nurse Association and will work with you and are on call 24/7 to provide care and make the best healthcare decisions for everyone.

Stay home when showing symptoms. Stay Safe. We are with you every step of the way.

• • We follow strict adherence wearing full protective gear following policy and procedure with each patient and between patients
• • Hand washing, masks, and social distancing when not in direct care
• • Utilizing telemedicine whenever possible
• • If COVID diagnosis, increased full suit personal protective gear with complete changes between patients

*The American Journal of Accountable Care > March 2019 – Published on March 04, 2019, Improved Cost and Utilization Among Medicare Beneficiaries Dispositioned from the ED to Receive Home Health Care Compared with Inpatient Hospitalization.