Volume 31 - 2010

A Newsletter for
Employees, by
Employees
Volume 31 - 2010
Special points of interest:
Town Hall Meetings
4
President’s Circle Awards 7
Commitment to Quality
10
President of
NAHC (National
Association for
Home Care &
Hospice) Val J.
Halamandaris
was the Keynote
Speaker at our
Addus National
Agency Directors
Meeting September 2, 2009.
President’s Corner
Health care reform
is the most important
health legislation since
There are big years…and then there are
the passage of Medihistoric years.
care in 1965. While
We just completed a historic year.
some may challenge
We started the year coming to grips with the methods and tacMark Heaney
an economy in trouble...big trouble. In Janu- tics employed in draftPresident
& CEO
ary, we inaugurated a new President from a
ing this legislation,
new generation, from a part of our American few will challenge
community that had never before held the
the ultimate goal. Who does not favor
nation’s highest office. This President promised us change…big change. We then spent bringing health care services to the 40 milthe entire year immersed in a national debate lion under-covered or uninsured? Who does
not favor making sure that all Americans can
over health care, leading to the passage of
get the health care service they need, when
historic legislation promising to change the
they need it, without facing the additional
way health care is delivered in this country
fear that receiving care will financially and
for generations to come. Oh, and in the
midst of it all, your Company became a pub- emotionally ruin their family?
But, as we have all come to understand
lic Company, with all of the associated opover
the yearlong debate, it isn’t that simple.
portunities and responsibilities.
There
are questions to be answered. Big and
The most serious economic crisis in 60
complicated
questions. The biggest is how
years, historic health care legislation and two
we
are
going
to pay for this. This we know
major milestones for Addus HealthCare – our
th
–
we
cannot
pay
for an additional 40 million
30 anniversary and our public offering. I
insured
continuing
to do deliver health care
think that qualifies as a historic year.
(continued on page 2)
2009 - A Year for The Books
First Addus National Agency Directors Meeting—
September 1, 2, 3, 2009
It was a historical time for Addus HealthCare. The company
management came together to celebrate their 30th year anniversary by holding the first National Agency Directors meeting in Chicago. All Agency and Branch Directors from our 120 offices and
16 states were brought together for the first time. They had the
opportunity to interact with their peers, and participate in educational sessions.
One of the high points of the meeting was the keynote speaker
Val J. Halamandaris, President of the National Association for Home
Care & Hospice (NAHC) since 1982. Mr. Halamandaris is something
of a renaissance man. In addition to being a trade association executive, he is an attorney, author, publisher, editor, producer of
films for television, a published photographer and humanitarian.
He won nationwide recognition for his role as a congressional in-
vestigator and his efforts to expose fraud against the elderly. He is
best known for the hard-hitting congressional investigations he
directed into insurance fraud, medical quackery, real estate fraud,
nursing home abuse, and other scams victimizing the elderly. He
has produced more hearings on the subject of aging and/or health
care than any staff member before or after him. His work has been
featured on CBS's "60 Minutes" and ABC's "20/20" and in national magazines such as Time, Newsweek, and US News and
World Report.
Mr. Halamandaris’ inspirational message to our attendees was
simple. Our company is in the forefront of keeping people in their
homes where they want to be. He congratulated our employees
for working in the home care industry and for providing care to
people in need. (See more pictures on page 2 and 3.)
President’s Corner—continued
exactly as we have for the past 100 years. We have to change.
We want to be part of the new solution. Delivering health
care in the home is part of the solution to skyrocketing health
care costs. Home care costs far less than delivering similar care
in a facility and, as we all know, our consumers much prefer to
remain at home. However, as effective as home care providers
are, there is more we can do to lower costs and improve consumer outcomes, and we accept responsibility for doing so.
In its current state, health care in America is delivered through a series of separate and disconnected service providers. Doctors do what they do. Hospitals do what they do.
Rehabilitation facilities do what they do. Home health care providers do what they do. There isn’t much communication or
integration among the various providers until one is ready to
transfer a consumer to another. Until that transfer takes place,
there is little to no communication among the various providers
about this often very sick and very complex consumer. This
lack of communication, and this failure to continuously evaluate the consumer and coordinate care, is not only inefficient
and wasteful, it places the consumer at increased risk. It is a
system designed to waste and at that it is successful.
Whether healthcare reform passes this year or not, we have
to change. We serve over 50,000 at risk mostly elderly consum-
ers every year. Our 12,000 health care professionals see our
consumers almost every day. That is a powerful resource almost
entirely paid for by each of us – the taxpayers. We have a duty
to do more. Our goal is to be a comprehensive provider of
home care services where we are and to practice to the lowest
cost of care. We are going to accomplish our goal by not only
providing the health services we are expected to provide, but to
use each moment with our vulnerable consumers to monitor
for changing needs and to communicate identified needs to
other health care professionals, as appropriate, as early as possible. Identifying and reporting changing needs and worsening
conditions among our more frail consumers allows for early
intervention before conditions aggravate. Early intervention
lowers health care costs, promotes health and wellness and
improves consumer outcomes and satisfaction.
At Addus HealthCare, we see community based home care
as the keystone in a comprehensive arch of long term care services. Our 12,000 health care professionals are on the front line
of support making it possible for tens of thousands to live at
home, where they want to be, and to do so healthfully, safely
and increasingly cost-effectively. We enthusiastically support
health care initiatives extending basic health care to all Americans, and we want to do more to lower costs and improve outcomes. We can. We will. We are.
Pictures from the First Agency Directors Meeting in Chicago
To the right is Patti
King, Regional
Director Nevada,
Ryan Jacobsen,
Regional Director
Northwest in the
background with
Val Halamandaris
Sharon Rudden, Divisional Vice President-Home
Health, presented Val Halamandaris, President
NAHC a thank you gift for addressing our attendees at the National Meeting.
Darby Anderson, Divisional Vice President
Home and Community Services, Val Halamandaris and Mark Heaney, President and CEO.
Page 2
Addus management during Mr. Halamandaris’ lecture
Additional Memories
of the National Meeting
From left to right: Alma Phillips, Regional Director
Home Health, Cindi Starek, Agency Director Home
Health Chicago, Royann Johnston, Administrative Assistant Home Health
Kelly Marang, Agency Director Coeur
d'Alene, ID and Hope Brackett, Agency
Director Lewiston, ID
Illinois Program Directors, Adult Day Services —left to right: Sharol
Carter, Mt. Vernon, Tami Foster, Springfield, Kerri Pendley, Regional Director ADS, Marna Ames, Marion, Melanie Whitfield,
South Cook.
Support Center Employees came to the meeting to
greet all Agency and Branch Directors
Northern Illinois Agency Directors Home & Community Svcs.Top row left to right: Kathy Burton, Nicole Milks, Christine
Alcorn, Barbara Needham, Dawn Stanley, Cheryl Lewis.
Sitting left to right: Susan Thompson, Kim Cox/Regional Director, Margaret Raines, Lushun James and Jason Branch.
Home & Community Services East and South, top row:
Jonathan Davis, Kinston & New Bern, NC; Mike Brown/ Regional Director; sitting left to right-Donetta Steiner, North
Carolina State Director, Donna Kennedy, Alabama State Director, Debbie Kramer, Pottsville, PA.
Page 3
OUR BELIEFS AND VALUES
We Make a Difference
During the past few months, Paul Diamond, Vice President of
Human Resources, and Darby Anderson, Divisional Vice President
of Home & Community Services, along with other members of
our senior executive team, joined the Regional and Agency Directors in conducting fun and exciting “town hall” employee
meetings highlighting the key elements of Addus’ Beliefs and
Values, as well as our Company’s mission, vision and service integration opportunities. During these meetings, we recognized
and celebrated the employees of Addus, and underscored the
importance of our collective efforts and the value we add to the
lives of the 23,000 consumers we serve.
Thus far, we have connected with over 5,500 employees from
50 branches in six states, including most of those in Illinois and
the Northwest Region, and three in California.
Mt.Vernon, IL-Front row left to right: HCA’sDonna Brassie, Elsie Palmer, Sharon Minor,
and Betty Barker, Agency Director. Back row
left to right: Greg Heck, Regional Director,
Darby Anderson, Divisional Vice President,
Jodell Schenk, Family Service Specialist.
Spokane, WA and Coeur d’Alene, ID meeting
We Support Health & Wellness
We Do Our Best
We Promote Independence
We Are Kind and Respectful
We Value Diversity & Teamwork
We Are Professional
We are Friendly and Fun
We Communicate
We Celebrate Our Everyday Heroes
We Keep Our Promises
We Care
Marion, IL meeting
Wheaton, IL meeting
“The HCA’s said this was the best in-service they ever had. Paul Diamond was very good at making us feel
appreciated...We all enjoyed the day.” Betty Barker, Agency Director, Mt.Vernon, IL.
“I could work anywhere doing what I do, but we do it better!” Sherry Parmley, Marion, IL Home Care Aide
“It felt so great to know we are appreciated. We are proud to be a part of the Mt. Carmel team. We know
we matter.” Mt. Carmel Home Care Aide.
“We heard very positive feedback from the majority of the staff...Paul Diamond and Darby Anderson did an
excellent job expressing the importance of caregivers and the role they play in our Company’s overall success.” Kelly Marang, Agency Director, Coeur d’Alene, ID
Page 4
We Promote Independence
He may not talk much, but he is a character. Mel has been a
regular visitor to the Longview WA. Addus office since respite
Caregiver Greg Churchhill began bringing him nearly two years
ago. Mel suffered a stroke at 47 years old. For the first year, he
rode around in a wheel chair. Now he takes off on foot, sometimes forgetting his quad - cane and having to turn around to get
it. His walk isn't smooth, but with his foot brace on, it gets him
where he needs to go. And when Greg is along, the two of them
go plenty of places. Pictured left is Mel with a sturgeon he caught.
Unfortunately, it was an inch or so too short to keep. But it makes
a great picture and proud story to relate and he does often. Mel's
a people person, and although he doesn't use many words, he
gets himself understood. And for those who know how to get him
talking or gesturing such as the Addus staff, he becomes quite the
conversationalist. His sense of humor has him cracking up at almost anything amusing. With a positive attitude toward life, Mel's
hopeful for even greater recovery, and a whole lot more fishing!
We Make a Difference
Boise, Idaho - Deb Newell, C.N.A. was recognized as caregiver
of the month and wanted to share her award for outstanding service with her client. Pete has been a paraplegic for over 50 years
and has had the full gambit of care from home health care, wound
care at the Valley’s top notch clinic, to a stay in a skilled nursing
home. Even with all this care, it took over two years for his wound
to heal, and Addus with Deb’s care made it possible. Pete is grateful to be home and happy. Deb takes good care of his skin and is
able to transfer him to his wheel chair without injury. Pete is the
kind of man that knows quality in people. He was raised during
the depression and was not shy in saying that Deb is truly a wonderful person and deserves the recognition award. They have a
special relationship. Deb has shared with Pete her dream to become a registered nurse. It’s more than a dream; Deb now works
days for A Full Life/Addus Healthcare, nights at the VA hospital
and uses her “spare time” to take on-line classes aimed at that
goal. Pictured left is Pete, Deb and her Supervisor, Jennifer.
We Do Our Best
We Support
Health & Wellness
Client Letter to Home Care Aide
Marion (Anna) Illinois
Sisters Celebrate Milestone Birthdays
in New Mexico
Four sisters who all celebrated their birthdays
together this year. Left to right, Eremita age 105,
Leonardita 100, Grabielita 96, Celina 86.
Addus Healthcare, Espanola, NM has the honor of
serving two of these special women Eremita &
Grabielita with our home care services. Ladies we
wish you many more birthdays to come!
Page 5
Addus HealthCare Celebrates Opening
of Evergreen Club Adult Day Center in Homewood, IL
by Dave Bayless
On July 27, 2009 the Homewood, Illinois Evergreen
Club Adult Day Center had it’s grand open house.
“Addus HealthCare is proud to open this new center
which, in many ways, is a living, breathing illustration of
our full commitment to delivering the best possible care to
a vital, vibrant and valued population,” said Addus HealthCare President and CEO Mark Heaney. “We want individuals to remain healthy, active and independent, and
throughout our organization, our employees deliver on
that commitment every day.”
Addus Evergreen Club outgrew its older facility, also in
Homewood, which had less than half the current facility’s
capacity and was not centrally located.
The new center at 1818 Ridge Road is ideally located near
parks, recreation facilities and downtown Homewood.
The range of services provided by the center include
nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech
therapy, medication administration and supervision, personal care assistance, regular blood pressure and weight
checks, a beauty shop, podiatry services, coordination of
medical services, individual care planning, door-to-door
transportation, meal service and therapeutic activity programming.
Activities and programming at Evergreen Club include
daily exercise programs, community outings, music ther-
apy, games, computer activities, regular religious services
and arts and crafts. Addus offers separate specialty programming for younger adults.
Adult day services have proven to be a crucial component in the rapidly growing elder care field. Studies have
proven that seniors who receive stimulation and socialization on a regular basis are more likely to stay healthier
longer and to live a longer, more rewarding life. Adult
day care centers like Addus’ Evergreen Clubs provide individuals with a place to go to socialize, remain active and
to receive basic healthcare.
“We know that even a minimal amount of activity on a
daily basis is enough to stave off illness. We strive to give
our clients much more than that in a welcoming, comforting and upbeat atmosphere,” said Kerri Pendley, Regional
Director for Addus HealthCare. “Helping our clients stay
active, healthy and independent is our overarching goal.”
The Evergreen Club in Homewood currently serves 80
regular clients daily, but this new location offers the opportunity to service up to 166 clients daily. The Club’s
service area extends east to the Illinois/Indiana border,
north to Calumet Park and as far south as Crete. Addus’
fleet of seven vehicles provide daily transportation to the
center Monday through Friday.
Pictured above is Mikka Williams, the Acitivity Director sitting at
center table with clients in the main room of the ADS center.
Below standing at right is Mark Heaney, President & CEO of
Addus HealthCare helping conduct a Bingo Game at the center.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, left to right: Richard Hoefeld, Mayor of
Homewood, Jason Branch, Agency Director South Cook Home &
Community Services, Charles Johnson, Director of IDOA, Mark
Heaney, President & CEO Addus HealthCare, Melanie Whitfield,
Program Director Evergreen Club.
Below from left to right: Nurse Kim, CNA Kristi, Nurse Sarah.
Page 6
President’s Circle Award of Excellence for 2008
Christine Alcorn
Agency Director
Joliet, IL
James Buck
Agency Director
Decatur, IL
Kathy Burton
Agency Director
Wheaton, IL
Diane Masters
Agency Director
Marion, IL
Sandi Mauricio
Agency Director
Concord, CA
Bonnie Snow
Agency Director
Chico, Red Bluff,
Redding, CA
Linda Stinson
Agency Director
Modesto, CA
Betty Barker
Agency Director
Mt. Vernon, IL
Kim Cox
Regional Director
Southern IL
Kim Evans
Agency Director
Anna, IL
Nancy Brinkman
Agency Director
Quincy, IL
Addus HealthCare announced the
2008 recipients of the President’s
Circle Award of Excellence at the
National Meeting this past
September. The award is given to
branch offices and regions for
outstanding performance. Each
winner receives a President’s Circle
Award; a glass circle plaque and a
President’s Circle glass paperweight
for their administrative staff.
Donna Kennedy
Agency Director
Mobile, AL
Martin Kleyweg
Agency Director
Niles, IL
Tammy Loman
Branch Director
Mt. Vernon, IL
Larry Smith
D’etta Palmatier Debbie Mitchell Gretchen Perkins Margaret Raines Dotty Schwab
Agency Director Regional Director Agency Director Agency Director Agency Director Agency Director
Midwest & East
Salem, OR
Springfield, IL
Rogers, AR
Libby, MT
Chicago, IL
Lora Suter
Agency Director
Decatur, IL
Barbara Walch
Agency Director
Medford, OR
Melanie Whitfield
Program Director
South Cook, IL
Lala Williams
Regional Director
Northern IL & IN
Cheryl Wright
Agency Director
Fairview Heights, IL
Addus HealthCare’s Mission Statement
It is the primary mission of Addus HealthCare to improve the health and well-being of our consumers through
the provision of quality, cost-effective healthcare services.
We will accomplish our goals by fostering an environment in which our employees enthusiastically support and
advance our mission.
Reward for accomplishing our mission includes pride in our organization, contribution to the community and a
reasonable profit.
Page 7
National Employee of the Month Winners
May 2009
Pat Capriotti, Service Coordinator,
Kankakee, IL Home Care #3230 –
Nominated by Tiffony Banks, Integration
Coordinator and Donna McNally, Vice
President of Integrated Services. Pat is one
of those Service Coordinators who go
above and beyond her normal duties. She
is cooperative, collaborative, always has a
smile on her face. She is willing to learn
new procedures and always follows
through any tasks she has undertaken. Pat
constantly networks with doctors and the
community to obtain referrals for Addus.
She averages 10 to 20 referrals a week.
Pat has taken the time to speak at a recent
In-Service of Homecare Aides to inquire
what skilled services may be needed by
their clients. She truly cares about our
clients and wants to promote the healthiest
lifestyle possible for seniors in their own
homes.
Tara Brown, HCA , Marion, IL Private
Duty #4260 - Nominated by Jane Wil-
liams, Branch Director. On March 15th
there was a wicked windstorm that hit
Southern Illinois and the Marion area. The
news reported 106 miles per hour winds
and called it an “inland hurricane”.
Page 8
Homes, cars, and businesses were damaged. Because of Tara and her quick reflexes, two senior’s lives were spared. Tara
was at work at her client’s home when the
storm occurred. A neighbor living next
door was concerned about Tara’s client
and wanted to check on her. She struggled to get up the stairs because of the
fierce winds. Tara went to help the
neighbor to get into her client’s house
when a tree in the front yard cracked and
snapped in two right in the spot where the
neighbor was standing. If Tara did not pull
the neighbor into the house, the tree
would have fallen right on top of her. Tara
was a hero and saved her life. Thank you
Tara, for your quick thinking in a moment
of distress.
gave the patient the urgent care that was
needed. She wanted to make sure the
patient was in no pain and was properly
cared for. This is true dedication. Thank
you Sandra for all that you do.
June 2009
Bertha McKinley, Clinical Service Coordinator, Chicago South, IL Home
Health #4241 – Nominated by Kathy Lindeman, Private Duty Nurse Supervisor. Bertha deserves this award because
she routinely rises to the many daily challenges and changes in our Private Duty
Nursing department. She is organized and
can multi task. Clients, staff, referral
sources, physicians are always impressed
on her professional manner and positive
attitude. Bertha maintains that the client
comes first. They need to be reassured
that their needs are met. She personally
confirms that they are. The staff does
thank her often, but she just laughs and
says, “but that’s my job”. The entire Chicago South office says, “Thank you for all
that you do”.
Rosemary Miller, HCA , Quincy, ILHome & Community Services #3390 -
Nominated by LaShonta Woodson, Scheduling Supervisor. Rosemary is a very excellent employee who will go out of her way
Sharon Johns, HCA, Champaign, IL
for our customers in the Pittsfield
Home Care #3220– Nominated by Marie area. She is diligent in calling the office
Grider, Service Coordinator. Sharon is truly
with any schedule changes each week and
a wonderful, professional and dedicated
makes sure she reschedules service with
HCA. She is loved by her clients and cares
clients who have had to miss their normal
for each and everyone as if they were very
scheduled time. She is always pleasant,
special people. She was assigned an inpolite and has a positive smile. Rosemary
terim client that was very difficult with
works hard and deserves this recognition.
numerous extenuating circumstances.
Sharon took the assignment in stride and
Cleo Nagle, RN, Philadelphia, PAhandled the client professionally. She is a
great asset to Addus and an extraordinary Home & Community Services #2010 Nominated by Bernice Drinks, Director of
HCA.
Home & Community Services. Cleo is the
RN Field Supervisor for Philadelphia, ChesSandra Robbins, RN, Little Rock, AR ,
ter and Montgomery Counties. She has
Care Network #4700 – Nominated by
been an Addus employee since 1995. She
Melinda Black, Agency Director. Sandra
is a very caring person and is always lookwas assigned to a patient who had cancer
ing out for the welfare of her clients. The
and required a special sterile catheter and
Philadelphia Corporation for Aging has
drainage kit. This kit was to be delivered
reported how very pleased they are with
while Sandra was visiting the client. She
the services that Cleo provides her clipatiently waited nearly three hours and
ents. Thank you Cleo for all your good
never complained about the lost time. She
work.
called the supplier and was told that it
would be delivered the next day. Sandra
Vera “Kay” Stillwell, Caregiver, Repubtold the family that if anything changed
they could reach her on her cell phone and lic, WA- Home & Community Services
#6103- Nominated by Wendy Taylor, Asshe would return to take care of the patient. At 8 p.m. she received a call that the sistant Agency Director. Vera is a wondersupplies were delivered that evening. Due ful example of what we want in an Addus
to the urgency of administering the proce- employee. She has been taking care of a
very difficult client for over two years withdure to the patient, Sandra drove back to
out a complaint and always trying to imtheir home which was an hour away and
prove on her clients care. Everyday she
National Employee of the Month Winners
stays the course with a smile. We thank her
for her professionalism and continued diligence in a tough working environment.
July 2009
Adriane Jackson, Service Coordinator,
Chicago, IL Home Care & Community
Services #3240 – Nominated by Francine
Winters, Financial Reporting ManagerSupport Center. The Chicago office is a very
busy office with over 1400 employees, serving approximately 4,000 clients in a single
month. The office is a constant stream of
people, with non-stop phones ringing. Adriane has many responsibilities, one of which
is to provide relief for phone coverage. Even
in this hustle and bustle atmosphere, he
always manages a smile and is friendly and
courteous when answering the phones. He
never forgets to identify the branch and
himself to all callers. Many times when I call
the office and the individual I am seeking is
away from their desk, instead of placing me
in voice mail, Adriane routinely finds the
person I need. Addus is fortunate to have
an employee like Adriane who is a pleasure
to work with.
Kerri Bridges, Program Assistant, Mt.
Vernon, IL- Adult Day Center #3830 -
and is sought after by many of our clients to
have him as their Home Care Aide. He will
call in and volunteer to be a fill-in whenever
he is free and will travel anywhere he is assigned. Don is a shining example of a great
Home Care Aide and is deserving of the
honor of National Employee of the Month.
Daniela Mejia, CNA, San Diego, CA –
Private Duty #7460 - Nominated by
Mariannah Kalanzi, Staff Manager. Daniela
is a dedicated, compassionate, reliable and
dependable worker. She has been with
Addus for five years and is well liked by
staff, clients, case workers and coworkers.
Daniela goes out of her way to meet the
needs of our clients and will rearrange her
schedule to assist any clients in need. Her
hard work and kindness to others is praised
by all. Thank you Daniela for you passion
and devotion to your job.
August 2009
- Nominated by Candie Hoven, Agency Director. June is one of our Occupational
Therapist and has been with Addus/A Full
Life since March 2007. She is a dedicated,
reliable and flexible and will cover any other
OT if they are on vacation. She will travel
over 100 miles each way to provide treatment to our clients. We thank you June for
a job well done and being a part of the Addus family.
Terri Smith, HCA, Quincy, IL- Home &
Community Services #3390 - Nominated
by Nancy Brinkman, Agency Director. Terri
was a new employee who was assigned a
very challenging client. The client was bedridden, and whose life circumstances
changed over the past few years from being
very affluent financially to now finding it
necessary to rely on public assistance programs. Terri provides services to this client 5
times a week, twice a day. She has helped
to improve the client’s quality of life by helping the client live on a budget and within
her means, keeping her home clean and
helping her client cope with life’s changing
situations. Terri is a valued employee to the
Quincy office, as well as to her clients.
Kimberly Wanland, HCA, Wheaton, ILHome & Community Services #3290-
Nominated by Gina Hernandez, Intake Specialist. A letter received from a client sums
up why Kim should be the “Employee of the
Month”. Quote – “I would like to take this
opportunity to let you know how very
pleased I am to have Kim as my caregiver.
She is one of the best workers that I have
had and I wanted to assure that she received
the recognition that she deserves. She is not
Monica Klimek, Receptionist, Niles, IL
only caring and understanding of my situaHome & Community Services #3320 –
tion, but has provided the efficient and
Nominated by Martin Kleyweg, Agency Director. I feel compelled to nominate Monica wonderful care and cleanliness of my apartKlimek as “Employee of the Month”. She is ment. She sees what needs to be done and
the epitome of the proverbial “Girl Friday”. does it without hesitation. I have had previShe takes on responsibilities from all depart- ous caregivers that don’t come anywhere
near the quality and expertise of Kim. I
ments of our busy office. As receptionist
would appreciate it very much if Kim could
she is the first one to come in contact with
all who call or come into our office. As she receive recognition for her dedication and
hard work. Thanks for all your help.” Sinreceives calls, she identifies the client’s
needs and will try to address the issues and cerely, John P.M. – Unquote.
try to handle and resolve them rather than
Don DeJarnett, HCA, Fairview Heights, pass them on. Monica has made it her busiVolume 31
Newsletter Staff
IL- Home & Community Services #3260 ness to learn many different aspects of what
Editor: Becky Diacou
- Nominated by Sheila Tiemann, Service
it takes to make our office run smoothly.
Coordinator. Don has been an employee for She has learned to compile information from Co-Editor: Laura Ness
Content: Dave Bayless, Paul Diamond, Wanda
one year. He was looking for employment
different sources to complete surveys and
Kullas, Marly Auerbach, Tess Cannon, Melanie
where he could be of moral support and
reports. Monica is proactive, professional
Whitfield
assist seniors in activities of daily life. Don
and always has a smile on her face.
We would like to hear news from our offices. If
has had a lot of experience working with
you have submissions for upcoming newsletters,
people and has an understanding of the
June Fogerty, Occupational Therapists, please send to:
issues that face seniors every day. He is a
Coeur d’Alene, ID- Home Health #7320 bdiacou@addus.com
very dependable employee, always on time,
Nominated by Sharol Carter, Program Director-ADC. Kerri has been a Program Assistant at the Mt. Vernon Adult Day Center
since April 2009. She has been an enthusiastic addition to our team and the clients
enjoy seeing her every day. Recently she
took a few days off due to her husband’s
return to the states from Iraq. The clients
missed her and several of them asked every
day when would Kerri be returning. At the
center Kerri is involved in the activity programs and she assists the clients with whatever their needs are. She and a Nurse Assistant have been instrumental in starting a
dance team at the center with a group of
our young adults. Their goal is to perform in
the community in the near future. Addus
and our clients are please to nominate her
for Employee of the Month.
Page 9
Commitment to Quality
By Marly Auerbach, Director of Clinical Quality Management
Home Health
Care News
FEDERAL efforts to improve
health care in the
United States
and reduce
waste include
having an informed public. One of the important ways
for the public to compare competing home
health agencies, nursing homes and hospitals
on their quality of care rankings is to have
access to information about their quality of
patient care. The Centers for Medicare (CMS)
thinks that knowledge about a hospital, nursing or home health agency’s quality measures will influence the public to make choices
about which one to select for themselves or
their family member. CMS wants health care
providers to work toward making the care
they give to their patients better and more
cost effective. Consumer choice would be an
additional stimulus to agencies to accomplish
this goal.
Quality Measures
Addus Health Care agencies, along with
all other certified home health agencies in
the United States, are evaluated on their
patient care with the use of a uniform patient assessment. The uniform patient care
assessment is called the OASIS Assessment
(Outcome Assessment and Information Set).
Assessment information is gathered at the
start of care and at different intervals during
the course of patient care. At the end of
patient care a discharge OASIS is performed.
Statisticians compare the patient information
from admission to discharge to determine if
the patients who should have made an improvement actually did achieve that gain.
The statistical information is added and
then tested for accuracy. CMS uses various
statistical risk adjustment methods to determine that the results are accurate across
agencies and across different regions of the
country. A portion of the results are published on the Medicare internet site and
made available for public comparison. Other
information is collected and can be used by
licensure surveyors but it is not made available to the public.
What is Measured
Home health quality outcome measures
relate to improvement in getting around,
meeting the patient’s activities of daily living,
measuring how home health care ends and
measures related to patient medical emergencies.
Page 10
How to See the Quality Measures
The way you get this important information is to go to www.medicare.gov. On that
page you will see banner listings for comparing prescription plans, medigap policies, hospitals, dialysis centers, nursing home and home health agencies. Click on any one of these
and follow the prompts to learn more about providers that you are interested in. The banner Home Health Compare is halfway down the main page.
Comparing Providers
You can select information for more than one provider. At the bottom of the list of
providers is a box that says “compare”. If you select that box, a graph will display the
achievement results of different providers for different outcome measures.
You will see information below prepared by Medicare explaining to consumers how to
use the results of the quality measures.
There are differences in how home health agencies operate and one may meet your
needs better than another. For example, if you had hip surgery and needed rehabilitation
you would want to know how the agencies compare in:
♦ Percentage of patients who get better at walking or moving around
♦ Percentage of patients who get better at getting in and out of bed
♦ Percentage of patients who have less pain when moving around.
Sample Home
Health Agencies
Percentage of patients Percentage of patients
Percentage of patients
who get better at
who get better at
who have less pain
walking or moving
getting in and out of
when moving around
around
bed
National Average
37%
51%
60%
State Average
35%
49%
73%
Agency A
33%
50%
60%
Agency B
45%
52%
74%
Agency C
40%
47%
65%
Higher percentages are better for this measure. Compare Agency A, Agency B, and
Agency C. Look at how each agency scored on the same measure. You can call the agency
to ask for more information about their quality measures.
1. Does each agency at least meet the state or national average?
2. Does one agency have a better average than the state and national average?
3. How do the agencies compare to each other for each measure that is of interest to you?
Agency B has higher scores than Agency A and Agency C and this may be one of the
reasons you want to choose Agency B.
What Are We Doing At Addus?
The first thing we must do is embrace the challenge. Complacency is our enemy. There
is no reason why Addus HealthCare, Inc. cannot be one of the leaders in patient care quality throughout all of our offices if we work together as a team to make that happen. We
will work to be sure that our OASIS information is as accurate as possible so that the data
we are judged on is as accurate as possible. We will incorporate proven interventions,
known as “Evidence Based Practices,” into the care that we provide to our patients.
“Evidence based Practices” are closely associate with high quality home health agencies.
We will assess the success of these efforts and continue to refine them and improve them.
Quality improvement has been defined as a journey, you never arrive as you always keep
striving for. Together we will take the journey to assuring that our patients receive the best
from us that we can give them.
“We Heard it through the Grapevine…”
Meet Melanie Whitfield’s, Program Director South
The ribbon cutting for the new Addus HealthCare office in WashCook ADS, and her new friends. They competed in the
ington, NC. Donetta Steiner, State Director cutting the ribbon with Senior Olympics swim event held September 19, 2009
her staff.
in Springfield, IL. Seniors ranging in age from 50 years
What Sharol Carter, Program Director Mt.
Vernon Adult Day Services did to raise
attendance at the center. OMG! She
shaved her head! AND IT WORKED!!! See
before and after below. Attendance
greatly improved at the center. At-a Girl!
Cade is the grandson of Debra
Gaunt, Administrative Assistant South Cook ADS who has
been diagnosed with Autism.
She was named an “Autism
Angel” by the Autism Society
of Southern Illinois for her
work and staunch support of
the organization. Her goal is to
educate the public and spread
knowledge about Autism.
Mary Lou Manola, Supervisor Accounts Payable
at the Support Center is pictured with her son
Ross on left and friend Chad. Both are traveling
and working for WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). They are volunteering on organic farms in Ireland, Spain, Italy, and
Thailand. Working their way around the world!
Spreading Halloween cheer at a local
independent living facility—from left is
Care Network Fort Smith’s Agency Director Karen Joiner (tin man), HCL Tiffany
Gattis (Dorothy), PCA Michelle Lenard,
and Home & Community Supervisor
Tonja Pejic (scarecrow). The "ghoul" in
the wheelchair is one of our clients that
Michelle helped dress up for a costume
contest.
Page 11
Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Congratulations to our employees celebrating milestone anniversaries with Addus!
May 2009
5 years
Filomeno, Rosita
Williams, Barbara S
Burnett, Marsha
Emery, Jackie D
Niehaus, Michelle
Evans, Stacey M
Brown, Tiffany
Agres, Arkadiy
Altynbayev, Ruslan
Altynbayeva,
Nadezhda
Jarmon Jr, Randolph
Looney, Bridgette
Mc Clain, Nicole C
Olive, Glenda F
Varshavsky, Len
Lenkov, Valentina
Boucicaut, Gislaine
Gomon, Maya
Magana, Bertha L
Zamostin, Lyubov
Ford, Mona L
Kayyal, Ghidda O
Reed, Sarah J
Rednour, Mavalene
Burkley, Diane
Kanterowitsch, Laura
Musta, Barbara L
Ramirez, Pamela M
Lopez, Sanjuana
Roones, Carol R
Cobb, Cathleen S
Dutra, April D
Ivy, Katie R
Espinoza, Marcella
Ceballos, Margarita
Flores, Rosalina
Shore Mc Kinsey,
Wendy
Hardy, Myra L
Sparks, Deborah K
Rossberg, Gina
Helppie, Amanda C
Glenn, Chawana
Dodd, Peggy L
Mick, Melisa D
Collins, Beverly A
Rhyner, Tara L
Fountain, Regina
Snyder, Debra F
10 years
Slifko, Patricia
Mclendon, Dianna
Gibson, Michelle
Irons, Earllene
Jackson, Ola
Jones, Clara
Soto, Maria
Crockett, Jodie
Angulo, Raquel
15 years
Brown, Nancy
Moore, Sally Ann
Livitz, Arkady
Schumaker, Lena L
Gonzales, Sara
Perez, Esther
25 years
Thornton, Marilyn
June 2009
5 years
Maberry, Joyce
Ritchie, Teresa M
Banks, Vaughn
Brown, Irma
Danilova, Svetlana
Diaconu, Natalia
Didenko, Tetyana
Dizik, Yelena
Doroshenko, Oksana
Foster, Measha G
Mc Cain, Dorothy J
Pastukh, Olha
Reznik, Anatoliy
Shperun, Liliya
Winston, Samma
Cano, Lonnie
Hankerson, Louise
Menifield, Katherine
Ortiz, Carmen
Blom, Valerie A
Kosterina, Yevgeniya
Bowen, Violetta
Jackson, Vicki
Peoples, Darrell
Toliver, Martha A
White, Sylvia
Parbs, Wanda
Wright, Kevin
Jackson, Annie
Pearson, Aishia
Wilson, Casandra
Kelsey, Johnnie
Nall, Johnna M
Angelini, Denise L
Lafond, Lillian G
Koshik, Lesya T
Faily, Firouzeh
Holm, Karen
Artechi, Laura
Gutierrez, Diana
Tapia, Sylvia
Weaver, Phyllis E
Peters, Thoma C
Kitchell, Robert S
Girardi, Linda
Houdek Hayward,
Eileen
Reid, Keila
Hyde, Lisa M
10 years
Hoskins, Nancy
Cornell, Shirley
Dantzler, Johnny
Swarn, Mae
Dekhtyar, Tatyana
Hoskins, Nancy
El Khaldy, Rasha
Santana, Tomasa
Castro, Esperanza
Ruiz, Naomi
Kramer, Debbie
Roach, Julie J
15 years
Massey, Linda
Kemmerling, Sandra
Osuna, Engracia
20 years
Blevins, Clara S
Wilson, Minnie
25 years
Bass, Joyce
Pillow, Katherine
July 2009
5 years
Davis, Ethel
Hammond, Elizabeth
Jones, Carolyn D
Mills, Margaret R
Brock, Annette
Woods, Georgia
Canaday, Eudorah
Green, Nicole A
Harris, Latoya
Canaday, Eudorah
Green, Nicole A
Harris, Latoya
Jordan, Mildred J
Napaul, Etienne
Norris, Sherry M
Paev, Dmitriy
Spencer, Marlene D
Stewart, Catherine
Voskolovych, Julia
Buchanan, Barbara J
Mouser, Susan V
Martsenyuk, Yekatrina
Baranchuk, Svetlana
Rostovsky, Milla
Royf, Galina
Torres, Rosario
Zelichenko, Veronika
Baker, Latrice J
Washburn, Sheryl
Penn, Lillie
Smith, Cheryl
Colvin, Dana M
Griffin, Leroy
Skornyakov,Svetlana
Vosahlo, V Sharlene
Heritage, Barbara J
Mann, Dara P
Johnson, Kay
Johnson, Myrl D
Smith, Susan J
Avery, Deandra
Barker, Kim
Jones, Holley
Sellers, Sonja M
Looker, Joyce M
Ramirez, Lucia D
Navas, Janet
Schultz, John
Segura, David
Vigil, Amalia M
Yorke, Carol
De La Riva
Espino,Amalia
Rivera, Marcela
Guiducci,Leport
Hahn, Carol
Lacrosse, Jo A
Rafati, Shireen
Ball, Tawana R
Petty, Cynthia
Masters, Diane
Durrenberger, Susan
Navarra, Marie A
Page, Bill
Abrego Hankton,
Miriam
Batey, Nida
Ingram, Gloria
Fishbaugh, Robert
Meshell, Laura J
Spesert Bergson,Elizabeth
10 years
Poiroux, Sandra
Hudson, Lisa
Jones, Muriel P
Robinson, Pamela
Spencer, Carolyn
Williams, Angela
Wilson, Natalie
Duckwitz, Betty
Harper, Linda
Crump, Christine
Enciso, Maricela R
Rabago, Maria T
Wilkinson, Yvonne T
Poiroux, Sandra
15 years
Gardner, Bula
Woodbury, Anna
Healy, Rose M
20 years
Martin, Leonia
Gluzman, Alina
Bramhall, Carol
Nelson, Deborah
Allen, Dierdra
25 years
Enyart, Marietta F
August 2009
5 years
Evans, Latonya T
Locke, Terry
Conner, Deloise
Doychinova, Rayna
Jones, Lena
Linder, Emiliya
Melnikov, Inna
Oliynyk, Orysya
Reznik, Leonid
Walker, Marlene
Williams, Natasha
Castronova, Susanne
Oliyarnyk, Oksana
Rogoj, Sabina
Sayles, Doris
Vanhorn, Kimberley
Zubi, Mona
Harrington,Constance
Entin, Lilia
Harris, Betty L
Ulyanov, Elena V
Stewart, Kathryn A
Ulyanov, Elena V
Stewart, Kathryn A
Cassell, Delores
Lamb, Janice M
Porter, Kimberly I
Booker, Ruby
Kalajdzic, Dragica
Neal, Shanicha R
2401 S. Plum Grove Road Phone: 847-303-5300
Palatine, IL 60067
Fax:
847-303-5376
Tinnie, Nealliccia T
Khan, Sarah L
Reinhardt Jr, Charles
Leister, Johnnie L
Shirley, Christina K
Bennett, Sheldon Bill
Piraino, Margaret M
King, Arlene E
White, Christine L
Brooks, Terry A
Hsia, Robert
Pickett, Margery M
Fishbaugh, Robert
Meshell, Laura J
Salvi, Ann
Denegal, Dolores J
Brown, Timothy
Maldonado, Alicia
Cardenas, Blanca
Gonzales, Diana R
Aleman, Rosalinda
Anderson, Sophia
Savage, Sue A
Brinkman, Nancy H
10 years
Wright, Wendy
Collins, Sonya
Gill, Jennifer
Goodloe, Stacey
Weatherspoon, Christine
Karpats, Alla
Cornelio, Santos
Davis, Katherlina
Henderson, Martha
Lukin, Nadezhda Y
Everett, Elisa L
Chandler, Cheryl
Reynolds, Karla
20 years
Ness, Roger E
Follin, Valerie
Mc Coy, Gloria
25 years
Finley, Kwang Cha
Addus HealthCare
is proud of it’s
workforce.
Thank you for your
commitment.