Vna Today Vol 23 No 3

VNA Today

Volume 24 • No. 3 • 2009

The Newsletter of the Visiting Nurse Association of the Treasure Coast

flu and pneumonia shots

Shoo the Flu with the VNA

VNA Named One of Indian River County’s 2009 Best Places to Work

Flu Shots $ 19.00 The VNA, Indian River County’s largest seasonal flu shot provider, is in the midst of its 17th annual “Shoo the Flu” vaccination program. While the novel H1N1 flu has recently taken the media spotlight, it is important to remember that seasonal flu still presents a serious threat each year, hospitalizing more than 200,000 and killing more than 36,000 Americans. “The best line of defense for protecting yourself and loved ones from the influenza virus is to get immunized early,” said the VNA’s Allison Downing, RN. The VNA has scheduled over 230 clinics throughout Indian River and Brevard counties to make it easy and convenient for residents to get their shots. Public clinics began September 23 and will continue to run through the winter holiday season. This year, flu shots are $19 and pneumonia shots are $45. There is no out-of-pocket expense for individuals who present a Medicare or Health First Medicare HMO card. The VNA will bill Medicare on their behalf. Cash and checks are also accepted.

We are pleased to announce that the VNA of the Treasure Coast was recently selected as one of Indian River County’s 2009 Best Places to Work by Workforce Solutions. Our educational programs, benefits, and associate wellness initiatives were cited as contributing factors in our selection for this honor. If you or someone you know are interested in joining our team, please visit the “Careers” section of our website for additional information.

WHAT’S INSIDE 3

VNA Re-Accredited by The Joint Commission

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Mobile Unit Schedule

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VNA Support Group Schedules

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Profile of Giving © 2009 VNA of the Treasure Coast

www.vnatc.com • 1110 35th Lane • Vero Beach, FL 32960 • 772.567.5551 • 800.749.5760

VNA Today

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CEO’s Message

James Newbrough, President and CEO

While I am sure you have read and heard a great deal about the healthcare reform currently being discussed in Washington, have you taken the time to educate yourself about how this reform will impact you? Here at the VNA, we have been keeping a close eye on the proposed reform to determine its potential impact on our ability to provide the home health and hospice care so needed by our friends and neighbors. As of this writing, both the U.S. House and Senate are working on their own individual versions of reform legislation, which include significant cuts to Medicare reimbursement for both home health and hospice care, decreases in payment to rural hospice providers, and bundling of hospital and post-acute care payments. The end result of the proposed legislation is simple...significant reductions to Medicare reimbursement for both home health and hospice care providers during the next year, as well as continuing cuts in the future.

to home health and hospice care for the most vulnerable members of our community. Fortunately, we have a key resource to help us in our fight to protect home health and hospice care—you, our dedicated supporters! How can you help? If you, or a loved one, have ever received the benefit of home health or hospice care, please take the time to contact your representatives in Congress. Ask them to protect the Medicare home health and hospice benefits for you, your loved ones, and your friends and neighbors in the community.

The situation unfolding is especially troubling for a relatively small, notfor-profit organization like ours, which relies extensively on Medicare reimbursement to provide home health and hospice care for our community. During our 2008 fiscal year, 71% of our agency’s revenue came from Medicare home health and hospice reimbursement. What would this reform mean in terms of dollars and cents for our organization? Simply put, we would have to provide patients with our current high-quality care, while receiving far less reimbursement— approximately $850,000 less annually—for doing so. What would this mean to our patients? Unfortunately, it would limit access 2

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You can do so quickly and easily, and learn more about details of the pending reform, by visiting our website— www.vnatc.com—and clicking on the “Legislative Action Tools” button. Please join us in our effort to protect the Medicare home health and hospice benefits. Our success depends upon you!

Please Join Us in Welcoming…

Mary Jane Davis Director of compliance/ Performance Improvement Mary Jane joined the VNA in September of 2007 following relocation to the Treasure Coast. In March 2009, she accepted the position of Manager of Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement. Mary Jane brings sixteen years of home health experience to her new role, including eleven years in senior management, most recently as Director of Quality Assurance in the south Florida area. She graduated from Indiana State University with a BS in Nursing. Her new role and responsibility provides the opportunity to work in partnership with agency-wide leadership to identify and monitor key performance indicators and create an environment for needed change with the goal of assuring a consistently high level of performance across the organization.

VNA Re-Accredited by The Joint Commission

Shawn Swanson Director of Education and Professional Development One of the newest additions to our Senior Leadership team, Shawn joined the VNA in March 2009. She is a Registered Nurse, Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care, and is also certified as a Legal Nurse Consultant. Shawn has worked in Hospice and Palliative care for nine years, having spent the last three in Clinical Management. Prior to working in the hospice industry, Shawn spent several years working in public health for St. Lucie County. Her focus at the VNA is to broaden our associates’ knowledge base and increase their skill levels through agency-wide strategic assessments, planning, and educational interventions. She will also be working to develop a clinical preceptor program that will facilitate professional development and growth within the organization.

The VNA of the Treasure Coast is pleased to announce that it was recently re-accredited by The Joint Commission, and has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than 16,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. For more information, please click on The Joint Commission Gold Seal on our website… www.vnatc.com. © The Joint Commission, 2009. Reprinted with permission.

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Congratulations To: Milly Gowen, RN and Karen LampertRiley, RN, CHCSP, who recently completed the Oncology Nursing Society’s “Chemotherapy and Biotherapy” course. The knowledge they gained through the process not only gives Milly Gowen, RN and Karen Lampert-Riley, RN, CHCSP them a foundation for administering these therapies in the home, but it also allows them to act as an informational resource for other VNA associates who may be working with patients undergoing chemotherapy or biotherapy. “Having an in-depth knowledge of chemotherapy and biotherapy is a definite benefit to our patients,” explained Gowen, “because we can better anticipate what they might experience while undergoing treatment. For example, the side effects of chemotherapy can sometimes cause symptoms that will lead patients to stop their chemotherapy. If we can anticipate these side effects and help the patient manage their symptoms, they’re much more likely to stay on track with their therapy and receive the maximum benefit from it.” Susan Marshall, RN, CHPN and Laurie Patterson, RN, CHPN of the VNA Hospice House who were both recently recertified as Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurses (CHPNs) by the National Board Susan Marshall, RN, CHPN and for Certification of Laurie Patterson, RN, CHPN Hospice and Palliative Nurses. The VNA Hospice House now has seven CHPNs on staff. “While CHPN certification is not a requirement for hospice nurses,” explains VNA Hospice Director Karen Bolle, “seeking certification demonstrates the professionalism of our associates. Becoming a CHPN validates the expertise of each clinician and demonstrates mastery of the body of knowledge specific to the care of those facing the end of life. I am very proud of Susan and Laurie for their commitment to their profession and for being part of the 16,000 nationally recognized CHPNs.”

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Mobile Unit Schedule The VNA Mobile Unit provides basic healthcare services free of charge for Indian River County residents who are without health insurance. Our Mobile Unit’s nurse practitioners can examine patients, diagnose their illnesses, and prescribe medications. Sunday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fellsmere Community Center 32 North Broadway Street, Fellsmere Monday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza 2950 9th St. S.W., Vero Beach *

Tuesday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Riverview Park U.S. Highway 1 and Harrison St., Sebastian *

Wednesday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. VNA Parking Lot 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach *

Thursday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Gifford Youth Activity Center 4875 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach *

Friday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. VNA Parking Lot 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach *

Saturday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. CVS Pharmacy 8495 U.S. Highway 1, Wabasso * Closed for lunch from noon – 1 p.m.

Answer Nurse Shoo the Flu with the VNA Carrie Pascoe is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner with the Visiting Nurse Association and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Family Practice. carrie pascoe, ARNP

Q—I am 65 years old. Should I get a seasonal flu shot each year? A—Yes. Flu viruses change from year to year, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a flu shot for anyone 50 years or older, especially those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes or those who live in or care for someone in a long-term care facility. In an average year, the flu causes approximately 36,000 deaths (mostly among those aged 65 years or older) and more than 200,000 hospitalizations in the United States. The “flu season” in the United States is usually from November through April each year. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population. A seasonal flu vaccination is the best way to reduce the chance that you will get the flu. Q—Are seasonal flu and “novel H1N1 flu” (formerly referred to as “swine flu”) the same thing? A—No, they are two different viruses. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal flu outbreaks nearly every year. Novel H1N1 flu is a new virus strain. You will need a separate vaccination in addition to your seasonal flu shot to be protected from novel H1N1 flu. Q—Are there any risks to getting a flu shot? A—The viruses in the seasonal flu vaccine have been inactivated, so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. The risk of a flu shot causing

serious harm, or death, is extremely small. However, a vaccine, like any medication, may rarely cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. Almost all people who get the seasonal influenza vaccine have no serious problems from it. Possible side effects include:

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Soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site Low grade fever Body aches

Q—I received a pneumonia shot several years ago, and I am 70 years old now. Do I need another pneumonia shot? A—According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for those who received their first pneumonia immunization after the age of 65, only one shot is necessary. However, if you received an initial immunization before the age of 65, a booster shot is needed after you turn 65. Get the booster as your doctor recommends; however you must wait five years between the initial shot and the booster. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov. Q—Where can I get my flu shot this year? A—The VNA will be providing seasonal flu and pneumonia vaccinations throughout Brevard and Indian River Counties through its “Shoo the Flu” program. Immunization clinics will be offered from late September through January 2010. For more information please call 772.978.5567 or visit www.vnatc.com and click on “Shoo the Flu” at the right side of your screen. The VNA Answer Nurse welcomes your questions. Please write or call: The VNA Answer Nurse, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960, 772.978.5636, or [email protected]. This material is for general information. To diagnose a specific illness or disorder, consult your doctor.

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A Most Meaningful Graduation

Left: Carlene Wallace Willis, Blanche Wallace Evans, Joella Wallace McDowell, and Alice Wallace

At ninety-five years old, Carlene Wallace-Willis never imagined she would “graduate” from the most important program in her life…VNA Hospice care. Unable to get out of bed and diagnosed with debility in May 2008, Carlene was admitted to care with VNA Hospice of Indian River County. Due to the exceptional care of the hospice team and the love, care, and support of her three younger sisters, Carlene graduated from hospice care and was discharged in June 2009. “Carlene is vibrant, mobile, and doing remarkably well, and we are so proud of her,” says VNA Hospice Nurse Tammy Toureau. Carlene and her three sisters, Joella, Alice, and Blanche, moved to Vero Beach in 2002, and all of them live at Indian River Estates. Carlene is thankful to have her three younger sisters living within walking distance, and they talk on the phone every day. Joella, ninety-three, one of Carlene’s sisters, is currently receiving hospice care, having been diagnosed with congestive heart failure in March 2009. “I am hoping to graduate from hospice too. If Carlene can do it, so can I,” she said. 6

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Carlene’s two younger sisters, Alice, ninetyone, and Blanche, eighty-five, are healthy and active and know first hand the type of care their older sisters received. They are comfortable and confident they will receive the same type of care. “I never thought I would say this, but I miss the hospice staff,” said Carlene, “yet I am very grateful they still come and visit me.” To keep her mind and body sharp and active, Carlene counts the roses on the wallpaper border in her room and walks the hallways daily. “I’m not ready to graduate from this life yet, but when I do, I want the four of us all to go together, suitcases packed. We plan on entering heaven holding hands,” The VNA holds Ceremonies of Carlene Remembrance each spring and said. fall. Please join us at our next Ceremony to be held in March, 2010.

Next VNA Ceremony of Remembrance

Have You Attended a VNA Ceremony of Remembrance?

Let Us Help You Through Trying Times The VNA’s “COPES” program offers practical training and support to those caring for a sick loved one. The program is free of charge, and all are welcome to attend.

COPES Caregiver Support Group Third Thursday of every month 10:00 – 11:00 a.m First Presbyterian Church 1405 Louisiana Avenue, Sebastian

VNA bereavement counselors offer guidance and support to individuals and families who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Services are available free of charge to all Indian River County residents. All are welcome to attend.

Bereavement Support Group Readings, songs, tributes, and a parade of butterflies highlighted VNA Hospice’s biannual Ceremony of Remembrance, which was held March 26, 2009, to celebrate and memorialize loved ones who have passed away.

1st and 4th Tuesday 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Crossroads Christian Fellowship Hall

Local residents, VNA associates, and volunteers attended the Thursday afternoon ceremony to honor more than 450 VNA Hospice patients who died between July and December 2008. Family and friends also participated in the program by sharing personal stories, poems, and memories about their loved ones.

Wednesdays 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. Our Savior Lutheran Church Classroom #4

VNA Hospice Chaplain Kenneth Jones recited an inspirational reading, and VNA Hospice volunteer Dorothy Hindert read the poem “Gone From My Sight” by Henry Van Dyke. Tania Ortega-Cowan, accompanied by pianist Jean Rasp, sang “Amazing Grace” and “That’s What Friends Are For.” The non-denominational ceremony was held at Community Baptist Church in Sebastian. The Ceremony of Remembrance was followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.

10205 US Highway 1, Sebastian This is a general bereavement group

1850 6th Avenue, Vero Beach This group is for individuals who are newly bereaved

Thursdays 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Sebastian River Medical Center Conference Room 13695 US Highway 1, Sebastian This is a general bereavement group

Thursdays 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Community Church Library 1901 23rd Street, Vero Beach This group is for parents who are coping with the loss of a child.

VNA Today

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Volunteer at VNA Hidden Treasures!

Camp Chrysalis Helps Transform Grief for Local Youth Painting, ceramics and outside activities were just a few of the fun activities children enjoyed while attending VNA Hospice’s Camp Chrysalis on April 18, 2009. Camp Chrysalis, held twice each year, is a day-long bereavement retreat for area children ages 7 – 12 who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Participation is open to all Indian River County youth, and is not limited to those who have been served by VNA Hospice.

If you have a few free hours each week and are looking for a way to utilize your time and talent to support your community and VNA Hospice, then the VNA Hidden Treasures resale boutique needs you! Hidden Treasures is seeking volunteers to assist with the day-to-day operations of the store, including running the cash register, arranging merchandise on the sales floor, and assisting with donation check-ins. Hidden Treasures offers a variety of volunteer opportunities and shifts to fit nearly any schedule. VNA Hospice operates the Hidden Treasures resale boutique located at 656 21st Street in the Vero Beach Miracle Mile Plaza. Proceeds from the store help VNA Hospice provide care for Indian River County patients with life-limiting illnesses and also support the day-to-day operating expenses of the VNA Hospice House. The store is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and on Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Donations are accepted during normal business hours.

VNA Hospice is the only provider of hospice care in Indian River County. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Tracey Soethe at 772.978.5553. 8

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VNA bereavement counselors, volunteers, and activity leaders who are trained in bereavement support staffed the camp. Camp activities were designed to help children work through their grief and understand that their emotions are a normal part of the grieving process. Campers had the opportunity to interact with peers who had experienced a similar loss and discover they are not alone. This event was made possible by generous support from the Clint S. Malone Memorial Fund through the Indian River Community Foundation.

Wishlist Thank you for helping us achieve a higher standard of care. Please call Beverly Smith at 772.978.5573 if you are interested in supporting us by purchasing any items from our wish list. Scales for Patients Weight management is important in the treatment of many chronic illnesses. Education and proper tools for reaching an established weight goal decrease the risk of exacerbation of a patient’s illness and rehospitalization. These scales will be given to patients who cannot afford to purchase their own. Cost: $600 (100 scales at $6.00 each) PT/INR Machines These devices are used to monitor the effectiveness of blood thinning drugs such as Warfarin (coumadin). Patients taking these drugs must be carefully monitored to prevent clots or excessive bleeding. Home health nurses are able to draw blood samples and obtain test results right in the patient’s home. The patient’s physician can be immediately contacted for medication changes, thereby increasing efficiency in care. Cost: $1,500 each (2 needed) Fingertip Pulse Oximeters Our hospice nurses use these devices to assess oxygen saturation levels in patients with pulmonary disease. Cost: $1,850 (10 at $185 each) Bladder Scanner This machine will allow our clinical staff to assess bladder volume without using other invasive methods that may cause infection. Cost: $11,840

Join Us at the VNA Hospice Tree of Remembrance November 27 - December 23

Take a moment this holiday season to reflect on special memories of loved ones and honor them by hanging an “Angel Card” on the 19th annual VNA Hospice Tree of Remembrance at the Indian River Mall. Beautiful, handcrafted porcelain ornaments—including doves, angels, butterflies, and hearts—are also available for a $15 contribution to VNA Hospice. The Tree of Remembrance program helps raise funds to provide hospice care for patients in Indian River County who face life-limiting illnesses. For more information, to volunteer your time, or to make a contribution, please call Tracey Soethe at 772.978.5553.

Visit www.vnatc.com Have you visited the VNA’s website lately?

If not, be sure to point your web browser to www.vnatc.com to learn how the VNA can help you or a loved one. From information about home healthcare and hospice care, to a complete listing of upcoming “Shoo the Flu” vaccination clinics, to schedules of upcoming blood pressure and glucose screenings, you’ll find all of this and more on our website. You can also make a secure online donation to the VNA & Hospice Foundation to help us provide charitable home health and hospice care for those in need in our community. While you’re on the website, please click on “Contact Us” to let us know what you think, to tell us about the care you or a loved one received from the VNA, or to ask us how we may be able to help you with a current need. See you online! VNA Today

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Philanthropy is Caring

Colonel John W. (Jack) Mitchell and wife Mary

Thirty-seven years ago, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel John W. (Jack) Mitchell and wife Mary found their way to Vero Beach. They immediately felt a kinship with the community, and after thirty years of travel and adventure in the military realized they were finally home. Jack worked with John’s Island development projects, which led to his becoming the active sales associate for John’s Island Real Estate Company that he is today. Mary has been a member of the John’s Island Community Service league, assisting with fundraising activities since its founding. Jack and Mary also owned the successful and wellknown “Forty-One Restaurant” on Royal Palm Pointe, a local 1980’s hotspot. Sadly, the Mitchell’s lost their son to pancreatic cancer twenty years ago. With this sadness came a passion and drive that Jack and Mary embraced with their support of research and clinical programs at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, where their son, John Jr., had received treatment. Jack has served as a valued member of the Moffitt Foundation Board for the past twenty years, and he and Mary endowed a Chair in Moffitt’s Blood and Marrow Transplant Fellowship. The Mitchell’s have helped many Indian River County community members to benefit from cancer treatment programs at Moffitt, with the result of lives being saved. “Mary’s and my philosophy for philanthropy is to take care of people and to make life a little 10

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better, if we can, for those people that have not been as fortunate as we have,” says Jack. Colonel and Mrs. Mitchell have given to a wide variety of humanitarian outreach in Indian River County, including childcare, child services and opportunities for local youth, cancer research, education, physical and mental healthcare, provisions for homeless families, abused women, and hurricane relief. The VNA was fortunate to begin a long-term relationship with Jack and Mary in 1990. “We knew that the VNA’s mission fit our philosophy,” the Mitchells agreed. Jack has been a member of the VNA & Hospice Foundation Board since 1994, he sat on the Hospice House Capital Campaign Cabinet in 1997, and in 1999 he co-chaired the Hospice House Endowment Campaign committee. The Mitchells both sat on the advisory committee for the Hospice House Endowment Campaign, and Jack was featured in a video appeal for endowment funds to sustain the Hospice House well into the future. Jack explains that he believes “the bones of philanthropy are to be able to give, to want to give, finding a place to give, and to care about the results.” In addition to the Mitchell’s enthusiastic volunteer efforts, their generous gifts have allowed the VNA to be recognized as a leader in home health and hospice care in Indian River County.

Planned Giving Website Gets a New Look Visit www.vnatc.com and click on “Foundation” then “Planned Giving for Advisors” or “Planned Giving for Donors” for new helpful planned giving information. Some of the new features include:

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Charitable Giving Tax Service Gift Calculator Gift Planning Tips Personal Planning Ideas Gift Planning FAQ’s And Much More!

Please feel free to contact Richard Johnson with the VNA & Hospice Foundation at 772.978.5574 or [email protected] if you have any questions.

Support the VNA’s Annual Appeal!

Our website makes giving easy.

Cheers and thanks to our committed donors for their support over the past year. You were steadfast in your passion and drive to keep our community healthy, regardless of the state of the economy. The VNA & Hospice Foundation’s resolution for the next fiscal year is to press forward and to continue to meet the home health and hospice needs of Indian River County residents that have lost their employment, lack health insurance, and do not have the ability to pay for the home health or hospice care they need. As the number of people with these financial restraints increases in our community, the VNA is also increasing its efforts to provide for them, and we need your help. One way you can help provide charitable care to the community is through your donation to the VNA & Hospice Foundation’s Annual Appeal. This appeal runs the length of the VNA’s fiscal year, with a mailing each fall and spring to give donors flexibility and convenience to choose when they make their gifts. In the words of our Foundation Chairman, Ann Marie McCrystal, “Your partnership inspires us to continue with our commitment to deliver unmatched home health and hospice care to all, giving hope to many in these tough economic times.” We rely on you to make the difference. Please visit our website—www.vnatc.com—to make your donation securely online, or make a check payable to the VNA & Hospice Foundation and mail it to: 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Gifts are also accepted in the form of memorials for loved ones and to the VNA’s Hospice House Endowment.

Nightingale Luncheon Slated for Fall The VNA & Hospice Foundation’s annual Nightingale Society luncheon is scheduled for November 19, 2009 at the Vero Beach Hotel and Spa. This is a special time of recognition and celebration of the generous individuals who have included the VNA in their estate plans. Have you, or are you, considering including the VNA in your estate plans? If so, please let us recognize you as a Nightingale Society member. Call Richard Johnson at 772.978.5574 with any questions. The following are new members: Nightingale Society

Beacon Society

Harry L. Buck Paul F. Nezi Ethel Mae Lynch Jane Zeeler Clark and Janet Daugherty

Martha G. Anthony Kenneth H. McKnight Alexander DeMilo

Reward Yourself Through a Gift to the VNA & Hospice Foundation Age of Annuitant 60 – 69 70 – 79 80 – 89 90+

Single Life Gift Annuity Payment Rates 5.0 – 5.6% 5.7 – 6.9% 7.1 – 9.2% 9.5%

This information is provided as an educational service only. Rates are subject to change. For one-life or twolives specific rate information, contact Richard Johnson at the VNA & Hospice Foundation at 772.978.5574 or email [email protected]. For advice, contact your tax advisor. VNA Today

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NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

VERO BEACH, FL PERMIT #240

1110 35th Lane • Vero Beach, FL • 32960 www.vnatc.com

*VNA accepts payment from Medicare/ Medicaid, Private Pay, Private Insurance, Workers’ Compensation and Veterans’ Assistance.

Mailing Information If you receive multiple mailings, would like to update your address, or would like to be removed from our mailing list, please call 772.978.5546.

Golf-A-Thon Twenty Year Celebration is Coming! In 1991 four local golf professionals came together in the name of charity and participated in the VNA’s first annual golf marathon, playing 103 holes at Orchid Island. The months prior to the event saw a group of committed individuals from the golf community spreading the word about the event and collecting pledges from their friends and neighbors. This effort, the first VNA Golf-A-Thon, raised donations exceeding $20,000. Nineteen years later in 2009, golf pros and members of twelve local clubs joined together to raise funds through our most recent Golf-A-Thon, which took place at Grand Harbor on May 4, 2009. After playing for eleven hours, the golf pros had finished 135 holes and the VNA had received more than $185,000 in donations from club members and local businesses. It is our pleasure to announce that The Moorings has agreed to host the VNA Golf-A-Thon’s twentieth anniversary celebration in May 2010. We look forward to our collaboration with The Mooring’s director of golf and event participant, Tom Thornton, and the club’s staff and members as we prepare to make this the most successful Golf-A-Thon in VNA history. Proceeds from the Golf-A-Thon are used to provide charitable home health and hospice care to those residents in our community that need such care but do not have the ability to pay.

participating 2009 VNA Golf-a-thon golf pros

Donations may still be made to the 2009 Golf-A-Thon in honor of your favorite club pro: • Patrick Berry, John’s Island • Joe Kern, Indian River Club • Mark Cammarene, Pointe West • Don Meadows, Quail Valley • Matthew Challenor, Windsor • Frank Mentzer, Grand Harbor • Pat Gorman, Bent Pine • Brien Paquette, Riomar • Randy Hedgecock, Vero Beach Country Club • Tom Thornton, The Moorings • Phil Leddy, Hawk’s Nest • Rich Waage, Orchid Island