The Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) has received top honors from Info World for its new consumer- and professional-based Web site (http://www.vnaa.org). Info World honors the top 100 companies and organizations that have made the best use of technology to enhance their businesses. Given the fast-paced flow of information now available through the Internet, VNAA's redesigned Web site gives patients, caregivers, and the local Visiting Nurse Associations (VNAs) that serve them, the tools to better meet their home care needs.
For more than a century, VNAs have delivered quality care throughout the United States, setting a standard of excellence. They are the cornerstone of home care practice, and are not only providers and deliverers of care in the community but also are designers and innovators of care. This level of trust and respect will aid consumers to rely on VNAA's Web site as a source of information and education related to home care.
Finding a VNA Is Just a Click Away!
Patients and caregivers can find a VNA in their local area or across the country by simply entering a zip code, city, or state. VNAA will provide contact and service information and a link to VNAs that have services appropriate to the caller's need. This access provides a comfort level to patients and their families who are seeking needed, and sometimes urgent, referral sources and information to sufficiently handle home care demands. VNAA's site is clean and coherent, and is easy to use by elderly and disabled consumers, families, and caregivers, as well as healthcare professionals.
General consumer information on home care (e.g., What is a VNA? How is care accessed? How is home care funded?) as well as disease-specific home care guidelines for patients and their caregivers will enable patients to recover in the comfort of their homes. Through carefully chosen partners, VNAA will be expanding its site to include education modules that will provide information about disease pathology, care, and caregiver tips.
Supporting Excellent Home Care Via the Internet!
The provider side of the Web site offers VNAA member agencies the resources, tools, and education needed to continue to provide services to as many people in their communities as possible (e.g., health promotion, disease prevention information, immunization education) and links to content regarding the most frequent diagnoses treated in the home care setting. Future education initiatives are targeted toward the development of additional training, improved job skills, and opportunities for career advancement aimed at improving the recruitment and retention of home health aides and nurses.
One Size Fits All!
Through VNAA's Web site, both professionals and consumers (patients and caregivers) will have access to the healthcare information (i.e., education, patient training, and related materials) and community-based healthcare resources in an easy-to-use environment.
For more information on the association, publications, meetings, and any other questions, contact:
VNAA
99 Summer Street, Suite 1700
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 737-3200 voice
(617) 737-1144 fax
http://www.vnaa.org