The following article was compiled from a press release.
“The Boards of Directors of Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County (VNHFC) and Waveny LifeCare Network (WLCN) have announced the completion of the first phase of their planned integration. Effective Jan. 1, 2021, VNHFC has officially become a member of the Waveny LifeCare Network, thereby expanding the Network’s comprehensive home health care offerings with the addition of a well-recognized and well-established home health and hospice care provider. This combination of the two highly regarded organizations now provides a fully integrated network of comprehensive health care services to better serve residents and families of Fairfield County and beyond.
“VNHFC also expands WLCN’s continuum of services with the addition of dedicated community-based services of school nursing programs, public health nursing and New Canaan’s Locust Avenue Thrift Shop.
“The strategic alliance, introduced in October 2020, was formed with the shared mission of compassion and service for the needs of the community being top of mind. The initial phase established VNHFC as a wholly-owned subsidiary of WLCN. Now that this phase has been completed, both organizations will undertake a plan to explore the opportunity of formally merging VNHFC’s home care and hospice services with Waveny’s Home Healthcare division, at a later date. The sole member transaction has been approved by several governmental agencies, including Connecticut’s Department of Public Health.
“‘True collaboration with a shared commitment to provide compassionate, clinical excellence of the highest quality to residents of Fairfield County has characterized this partnership from its very inception,’ said Kathleen A. Corbet, Chairman of Waveny LifeCare Network. ‘We look forward to managing this transition together to implement our vision and strategy for growth.’
“‘The complexity and rapidly changing healthcare industry has only intensified during the Coronavirus pandemic,’ Russell R. Barksdale, Jr., MPA/MHA, FACHE, President and CEO of WLCN, said. ‘As two non-profit organizations operating in a highly competitive environment, we must continually look for ways to evolve to meet the increasing needs of our community. Our alliance could not be more timely.’
“The Waveny LifeCare Network’s Board, comprised of representatives from both agencies and led by Corbet as Chairman, now governs all members of WLCN, including VNHFC. Barksdale will continue to serve as President and CEO of Waveny LifeCare Network, the parent company, and all of its divisions and subsidiaries including VNHFC. The past President and CEO of Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, Sharon Bradley, RN, MSN, DNP, is now employed by Waveny LifeCare Network as an Executive in Residence.
“Waveny LifeCare Network is a non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive continuum of healthcare to serve the changing needs of older adults from all areas. Waveny offers independent living at The Inn, memory/dementia assisted living and respite care at The Village, and skilled nursing, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services at Waveny Care Center. It also includes the Brown Geriatric Evaluation Clinic, and an array of community-based services through Waveny Home Healthcare. In October 2020, Waveny LifeCare Network was nationally recognized as one of the Best Nursing Homes for 2020-21 by U.S. News & World Report and continually scored as a 5-Star facility by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), provider of health coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.
“Based in Wilton, Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County was founded over 100 years ago and has grown to become one of the most enduring home and hospice care organizations in the state. VNHFC is a non-profit, fully accredited agency that provides professional nursing and support services, care management, physical rehabilitation, health education, community wellness programs and compassionate hospice care for adults and children throughout Fairfield County.”