Douglas County Visiting Nurses has been providing medical care for patients in their homes since 1969. It all began with a dream that nurse practitioner, Lyn Rothwell, brought with her when she moved to Lawrence with her husband from the east coast. She, Dr. Ralph Reed and former Kansas Supreme Court Justice, Fred N. Six, forged a path together to incorporate a not-for-profit home health care agency which, in all its years of service, has now made over 1.6 million visits and has served over 38,000 patients.
Since its incorporation, VNA has grown in a number of ways, which has included collaboration with many other community not-for-profit partners. In 1970, seeing a need in the community, VNA helped launch another not-for-profit organization vital to the independence of seniors, Meals on Wheels. Over the course of VNA’s history, it has also partnered with community not-for-profits such as the Douglas County Health Department and Health Care Access to meet patient needs.
VNA expanded its services to include hospice care and ‘Help at Home’ private duty services as well, all in an effort to provide necessary medical, custodial and personal care to patients wherever they call home. VNA’s mission is to “…provide excellent community-based care and support services throughout the continuum of care,” but really, VNA does so much more. The caring and dedicated staff are with patients and their families in some of the most challenging and vulnerable times in their lives to make the load feel lighter. “VNA has had a huge impact on Lawrence and Douglas County,” said C.E.O. Cynthia Lewis. “What I love the most about working at VNA is the culture of providing community-based healthcare. You have an opportunity to develop relationships with people that you don’t get in an in-patient setting, and having that personal connection with the people we provide care for, it’s very special, and it’s very meaningful to me.”
VNA wishes to invite the community to celebrate this monumental event in their history with an open house scheduled for Thursday, February 21st from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at their office, located at 200 Maine Street on the 3rd Floor. Can’t attend? Help VNA celebrate with a card shower and share your thoughts and stories. For more information, please contact Lori McSorley, VNA Business Development Manager, at (785) 843-3738 or by email at lori.mcsorley@kansasvna.org.
