Year: 2014

 ViaQuest, a leading provider of health and employment services, will provide hands-on training and related support to empower veterans and people with disabilities to secure employment in OfficeMax locations throughout the state.

DUBLIN, OHIO,  February 20, 2014 – ViaQuest, Inc. announced today that it is working with OfficeMax^® Incorporated, now part of the new company formed through the merger of equals with Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE: ODP), a leading global provider of office products, services, and solutions, to develop a work-training facility and direct employment program to prepare veterans and people with disabilities for job opportunities at Ohio-based OfficeMax locations.

The work training partnership, part of the OfficeMax Maxing out Diversity program, aims to increase employment for veterans and people with disabilities while providing OfficeMax with a model to further diversify its Ohio workforce. The program, which will launch in summer 2014, is similar to those that OfficeMax has initiated in Alabama, Illinois and Nevada.

The innovative partnership, facilitated through a two-year grant from Kessler Foundation – a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the lives of people with disabilities through rehabilitation research and funding disability employment initiatives – will use a real-world work environment and specialized curriculum to train people with disabilities for meaningful careers within OfficeMax’s distribution and retail centers.

ViaQuest also has connected with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) – the statewide agency for employment and rehabilitation services – to identify potential participants for the OfficeMax training program. OOD provides services to more than 2,500 central Ohioans with disabilities in Franklin and contiguous counties and more than 18,000 throughout Ohio to assist them in realizing their employment goals. By partnering with OOD for access to ready-to-work participants, ViaQuest believes the venture with OfficeMax will create unique employment opportunities initially in central Ohio and ultimately around the state. This goal aligns with ViaQuest’s history of success in delivering employment and health services to veterans and people with disabilities.

  “Our partnership with OfficeMax is a testament to how we’re expanding our circle of care to provide more opportunities for individuals to secure private-sector employment,” said Rich Johnson, CEO of ViaQuest. “At the same time, we’re well positioned to help companies such as OfficeMax reach their diversity and inclusion goals.”

The program will provide training on-site with specialized curriculum and will utilize a real-world work environment to give the participants the skill sets for employment in the OfficeMax distribution center or the retail store setting. The skills are transferable to assist students with successful employment at other businesses as well.

“The foundational strength of this program is twofold,” said Larry Worth, executive director of ViaQuest Employment Services. “We’re not only preparing people for work within the OfficeMax setting, but we’re also instilling skills that will empower them for success in a range of work environments. Participants will be well prepared to thrive and succeed as highly motivated, dependable and qualified employees.”

ViaQuest will launch the program in stages with the initial focus on creating a retail and distribution training facility to serve metropolitan Columbus, Ohio. The facility will feature products, shelving, inventory systems and employee training techniques that mirror those encountered in true OfficeMax facilities. ViaQuest is considering locations in the Columbus suburbs for the training facility. As the program expands, ViaQuest will develop similar training programs throughout the state to serve a broader range of OfficeMax locations in Ohio.

Ongoing OfficeMax Commitment to Diversity

OfficeMax’s partnership with ViaQuest is just the latest in OfficeMax’s ongoing commitment to working with veterans and people with disabilities. As part the company’s Maxing Out Diversity program, last year OfficeMax partnered with Aspire of Illinois to launch a work training facility in Illinois under the Kessler Foundation grant. OfficeMax also is working with the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) and local organizations to create career-training facilities in other markets including Dallas and Las Vegas. In 2013 OfficeMax was awarded the National Employment Team “Private Sector Business of the Year” by the CSAVR for its commitment to employing veterans and people with disabilities, including OfficeMax’s PowerMax distribution center in McCalla, Alabama, which has employed more than 60 people with disabilities. Additionally, OfficeMax has partnered with the Turning Pointe Autism Foundation to develop a work training facility for young adults with autism.

About ViaQuest

ViaQuest is a healthcare company that believes strongly in choice for its employees and the people it serves. Its areas of expertise include home health and hospice, mental and behavioral health, and developmental disabilities. ViaQuest offers quality, highly personalized, specialized and cost-effective care, empowering individuals to function independently and live their best possible lives. Through a wide range of innovative services referred to as ViaQuest’s Circle of Care, a skilled, dedicated staff ensures that the people served are active participants in their own care. The company is based in Dublin, Ohio. For more information, call ViaQuest at 800-645-3267 or visit www.ViaQuestInc.com.

About ViaQuest Employment Services

ViaQuest Employment Services is an exclusive employment and staffing agency for veterans and people with disabilities. ViaQuest Employment Services works with local, statewide (Ohio) and national businesses to develop and promote diversity and inclusion programs.

ViaQuest was recently honored by the State of Ohio Senate for the Hire Power Award.

“On behalf of the members of the Senate of the 130th General Assembly of Ohio, we are pleased to pay tribute to ViaQuest, Inc., on receiving the Hire Power Award from Inc. magazine.

This special honor offers all those associated with ViaQuest the unique opportunity to reflect on the success of the past and to look with optimism to the future.  Offering various programs and service for individuals with developmental disabilities, aging adults, and adults with mental health issues, the company created 334 jobs from January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013, making it the third largest job creator in the healthcare industry in the country and the fourth highest job creator overall in Ohio during that period.  Through the hard work, dedication, and dependability of each employee, as well as through the business acumen and leadership ability of its founder, chief executive officer, and president, Rich Johnson, ViaQuest has achieved a noteworthy record of service, as evidenced by its many loyal and satisfied clients.

Over the years, ViaQuest has established a solid foundation of superior services upon which it can continue to grow and prosper.  This fine enterprise has set a shining example of responsible business practices, and it is truly deserving of high praise for its contributions to the economic well-being of our state.

Thus, it is with great pride that we congratulate ViaQuest, Inc., on its recent accolade and offer best wishes for the years to come.”

Thank you to Senator Keith Faber and Senator Jim Hughes for the kind words!

ViaQuest, Inc was honored to have our very own Art Miller, Director of Program and Development say a few words yesterday at the 2014 Columbus Chamber Annual Meeting. The brief presentation highlighted the partnerships formed with Charles and Karen Morrison, President and Vice President of MCR Medical Supply as well as Caroline Worley, Owner of Worley Law LLC. We look forward to building more relationships with the help of Christy Bertolo, Member Resource Specialist with the Columbus Chamber in 2014.

ViaQuest Day Services was established to address the day programming and vocational needs of adults with developmental disabilities who enjoy community integration, have retired or would prefer a combination of vocational and adult day services based on team assessment and choice of the individual served.

The G.E.A.R.S. program is a new program for ViaQuest Day Services. It is a partnership between two ViaQuest Companies- ViaQuest Day Services and ViaQuest Employment Services. The G.E.A.R.S. program is for any individual with a Level One or Individual Options Waiver. This program provides the opportunity to work with professional job coaches to further each participant’s personal progress toward gainful employment, while continuing to actively engage in meaningful adult social and recreational activities.

Participants within the G.E.A.R.S. program will benefit from…

• One hour of individualized employment training, per week, with a ViaQuest Employment Services Job Coach focusing on job readiness, career exploration, job development and interviewing.

 

• Participating in monthly group sessions that focus on real world employment scenarios including guest speakers from local ViaQuest Employment Partners and touring ViaQuest Employment Partners business operations.

 

• Participating in potential training and internship opportunities within the ViaQuest Employment Services Partner Network.

 

• Continuation of the participant’s daily adult education and recreation through ViaQuest Day Services.

 

• Regular reports and assessment to ensure each person is making progress toward their employment goals.

 

The expected outcome for each participant within the G.E.A.R.S. program is to secure gainful employment as a result of the services provided within the program. Each participant’s obtainment of that outcome is determined upon their level of commitment to attending each individual and group session, as well as their participation in the social and recreational activities.

To learn more about the G.E.A.R.S. program and other ViaQuest Day programs visit ViaQuestDayServices.com.

Do you know someone that needs end of life care, and wants the comfort of being at home- or perhaps someone who is in need of skilled care following a hospitalization or change in condition?  ViaQuest is a Medicare/Medicaid Certified Agency that is able to provide Hospice services as well as Home Health Services.  In addition, we are pleased to offer a bridge program between home health and hospice for individuals with developmental disabilities who are declining but do not meet eligibility requirements or for individuals who are not yet ready to choose hospice.

ViaQuest Hospice Services consists of Physicians, Nursing, Therapy, Social Work, Spiritual Care, Bereavement, Aide, Dietary and Volunteer Services.  Hospice care provides medical services, emotional support and spiritual resources for people who are in the last stages of a serious illness. Hospice care also helps family members manage the practical details and emotional challenges of caring for a dying loved one.  The goal of hospice treatment is to keep you comfortable and improve your quality of life while you are dying. This philosophy is a shift from a curative approach to a palliative or comfort approach. Hospice services are not intended to speed up or prolong the dying process. They focus instead on relieving pain and other symptoms with dignity. Hospice caregivers are concerned with enhancing the quality of remaining life by keeping you as alert and comfortable as possible in a familiar environment with family and friends. Beginning March 2014, ViaQuest Hospice is proud to be introducing two additional specialty programs.  The first program is a DD Hospice Specialty Program and the second being a Personalized Medicine Program allowing our patients the pain relief they deserve.

ViaQuest Home Health services consist of Skilled Nursing, Physical Therapy, occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Medical Social Services as well as Home Health Aides. Imagine if a nurse or a therapist could bring you skilled care at home while teaching you how to live more independently so you can stay in your home. That’s what home healthcare is all about. Our home healthcare services can help patients rehabilitate from medical events like stroke, fall, injury or surgery. We can also help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, COPD or arthritis. Simply put, home healthcare helps you recover, remain at home and live life to its fullest.

ViaQuest Home Health now has an app for your iPhone, iPad or Android allowing access to make a referral, contact our clinical department and education on eligibility requirements for both Home Health and Hospice.  You can make a Referral directly to our Intake Department at intake@viaquestinc.com  via Phone at 1-855-289-1722 or via fax 1-800-503-2953.

ViaQuest Nursing Services has a professional, dedicated nursing team to assist in meeting your training needs.  We have a number of long term nurses that have dedicated their professional lives to individuals with developmental disabilities.  The wealth of knowledge the ViaQuest Nursing Services team possess is of great value in providing day to day services as well as educating staff of the various medical issues. The trainings that ViaQuest offers to the staff and other providers assists everyone in knowing how best to understand and gain knowledge in working with individuals with developmental disabilities.  We offer the listed trainings on a routine basis and will customize trainings to meet your needs:

•  DODD Certified Medication Administration 1, 2, and 3, both initial and renewal classes;

•  CPR and First Aid classes;

•  DODD RN Train the Trainer classes;

•  DODD Train the Trainer for County Boards, providers, Program Administrators, LPN’s, and other non-nurses;

•  RN Trainer Conferences; and

•  Customized training to meet your needs.

We partner with approximately 50 Providers throughout Ohio in serving individuals with developmental disabilities by providing frontline training and oversight of unlicensed personnel who are administering medications.  We provide Health Services Coordination by reviewing medical appointments, follow up physician visits, hospitalizations, lab-work and more.  We collaborate with the Provider to ensure measures are taken to provide quality services.  We provide training to the provider and will tailor training to meet the needs of the Individual and/or Provider.

We have also initiated a partnership with Heritage Pharmacy to further assist in meeting the training needs of providers/individuals with developmental disabilities.  We can provide training on a variety of commonly observed syndromes, medications and a number of topics to assist you in optimizing your learning and in turn further improve your service delivery to those you serve.   We have the ability to provide training throughout the State as we travel to all Regions of Ohio offering Train the Trainer, Medication Administration Classes and new in 2014 we will be taking our RN Trainer Conference on the road as well.

We have a dedicated team of approximately 25 nurses serving providers all throughout Ohio.  To learn more about the services offered by ViaQuest Nursing Services, please visit ViaQuestNursingServices.com.