Category: Uncategorized

By VICKI ROCK | vickir@dailyamerican.com | Posted: Tuesday, June 2, 2015 10:35 pm

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It’s been years since sisters Thelma Fedorka and June Traeger have seen one another, and ViaQuest was overjoyed to make this long overdue visit a reality! The sisters were reunited with a luncheon at Siemon’s Heritage Personal Care Center in Somerset, PA on Tuesday, 6/2.

Thelma Fedorka, 96, of Mill Run, really misses her older sister, June Traeger, of White Oak, who will be 98 later this month.

Fedorka now lives at Siemon’s Heritage Personal Care Center in Somerset. She receives services from ViaQuest Hospice of Somerset.

It’s been about 2 1/2 years since they’ve seen each other.

Fedorka and Traeger talked daily until Traeger had a stroke. Fedorka then told Amy Hoffman, a social worker, that she would like to see her sister.

Hoffman first planned to set up a webcam meeting so the sisters could see each other when they talk.

Then Jessica Popp, Executive Director of ViaQuest, decided to get the two women together. That happened Tuesday morning at the Heritage. “I’m crying right now,” Traeger said. “We never had a fight.”

The sisters have no other siblings.

“This is the most wonderful thing in the world,” Fedorka said. The assisted living facility held a luncheon in their honor, complete with a birthday cake. Other family members attended.”

Somerset’s Daily American covered this heartwarming story, see the article here.

ViaQuest is proud to have cared for Alan Sanford, a great American hero and a part of the ViaQuest Hospice family. Alan was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetary on 5/20, with ViaQuest pastor, Tim Lindsay, leading the ceremony. The Wall Street Journal paid tribute to this amazing veteran, whose crew fired the first shot at Pearl Harbor. We feel blessed and honored to be able to share his story, which is available on newsstands today or by clicking here.

Check out the video of Alan’s story as well:

Are you aware that there is a national organization that supports and promotes DD Nurses?  Well there is, and it’s called DDNA!

The Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA) conducts an annual conference with many opportunities for Nursing CEU’s, but most importantly the opportunity to network with peers and learn up-to-date information from national speakers. The 2015 Conference is being held May 1^st-4^th, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. Visit DDNA.org to register for the 2015 Conference, or join DDNA.

DDNA offers membership and access to CEU’s with networking and membership to local Chapters throughout Ohio. Ohio is well represented on the DDNA Board of Directors as Deb Maloy, R.N, C.D.D.N., Executive Director of ViaQuest Nursing Services, accepted the role of President-Elect as of January 1^st. Karen Hill, R.N., C.D.D.N., also of Ohio (Portage County Board of DD), is the DDNA Treasurer on the Board of Directors as well. Both Deb and Karen are members of the Northeast Ohio DDNA Chapter.

LPN’s and RN’s can also participate in the Certification process to become a Certified DD Nurse (Certification pre-requisites and qualifications are located on the DDNA website).  Examination can occur at a local level, or at the Annual DDNA Conference.  Nurses with experience— show your knowledge by becoming a Certified DD Nurse; add it to your resume!

View the DDNA 23^rd Annual Education Conference brochure here.

Please feel free to Contact Deb at Deb.Maloy@ViaQuestInc.com

or visit DDNA.org for more information.

ViaQuest to Present Impact of Pharmacogenetics on Dementia Care at Indiana Health Care Association Regional Spring Conference

Chief Clinical Officer selected as inaugural ViaQuest speaker at the French Link, Indiana Conference

DUBLIN, Ohio (April 6, 2015) –Kathy Richard, RN, MBA and Chief Clinical Officer of ViaQuest will present at the Indiana Health Care Association (IHCA) Regional Spring Conference in French Lick, Indiana on April 22.

Richard’s session, titled ‘Pharmacogenetics: Shaping the Future of Dementia Care,’ will discuss the significant role pharmacogenetics plays in treating dementia patients. With more than 20 years of experience in the Home Health and Hospice areas, Richard will be the first speaker on behalf of ViaQuest to present at IHCA.

“ViaQuest’s unique approach with pharmacogenetics takes the guesswork out of dosages and combinations of prescriptions because we look at a patient’s genetic makeup, condition and environmental factors to create a personalized treatment plan,” said Richard.

Known in the healthcare industry as personalized medicine, pharmacogenetics is the practice of using genetic profiles, combined with data such as physical and environmental characteristics, to more accurately prescribe medication that works best for each individual.

“Kathy’s dedication and commitment to our patients has allowed ViaQuest to be at the forefront of the industry” said Rich Johnson, ViaQuest president and CEO. “We’re honored to have Kathy represent the ViaQuest team.”

IHCA is Indiana’s largest trade association and advocate representing proprietary, not-for-profit and hospital-based nursing home and assisted living communities, adult foster care and adult day services. The 2015 topic is Dementia Care and will cover a number of subjects including behavioral interventions, activities for dementia residents, ADL care for dementia residents and communication techniques among others.

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About ViaQuest ViaQuest, Inc. 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.

New name encompasses ViaQuest’s outcomes-focused approach to helping

individuals navigate  mental and behavioral issues

DUBLIN, Ohio (March 2, 2015) – ViaQuest announced today the renaming of its Clinical Services division to ViaQuest Psychiatric & Behavioral Solutions. The new name aligns the division with the specialized, outcomes-focused approach to mental and behavioral issues that ViaQuest offers.

“We changed the division’s name to ViaQuest Psychiatric & Behavioral Solutions because ‘clinical services’ did not fully encompass the full scope of our experience and offerings in the area of mental and behavioral issues,” said Rich Johnson, ViaQuest president and CEO. “We have a reputation for serving as the voice of care in these specialized areas and believe this new name better communicates that message to our partners and patients.”

ViaQuest Psychiatric & Behavioral Solutions employs a full-time psychiatrist. Additionally, its licensed and certified staff undergoes ongoing and rigorous training to ensure every patient they work with receives the best possible care.

“Those navigating challenges such as substance abuse, depression, social issues or a developmental disability require an individualized approach,” said Dr. Richard Nockowitz, director of psychiatric services for ViaQuest. “At ViaQuest, we’re focused on outcomes. It’s why our team is trained to look at the entire patient, versus solely the diagnosis, and then leverages evidence-based medicine to develop an individualized treatment plan.”

ViaQuest Psychiatric & Behavioral Solutions encompasses behavioral and mental health services and substance abuse treatment for individuals of all ages. The company also specializes in challenges specific to aging adults and those navigating difficult to treat chronic conditions. ViaQuest offers assessments, counseling, case management, care coordination, vocational services, psychiatry, outpatient treatment and enables access to care options no matter where a person resides.

About ViaQuest
ViaQuest, Inc. 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 ViaQuestInc.com.

ViaQuest Diversity & Inclusion Services is an exclusive agency for veterans and people with disabilities who partners with local, regional and national businesses to develop and promote diversity and inclusion programs.

Through the ViaQuest National Employment Network, our company partners with highly successful community based organizations, veteran services and schools across the country to develop recruiting initiatives targeting the disability and veteran communities, thus efficiently locating qualified applicants for positions across the company.

The ViaQuest Benefit

ViaQuest Diversity & Inclusion programs assist companies with developing both direct hiring pathways for people with disabilities, as well as a culture of inclusion for all staff. Specifically, ViaQuest programs provide the components for a successful workforce diversity environment through developing:

• Disability and veteran recruiting programs
• 503 Regulation compliance
• Incentive planning (creating ROI in hiring veterans and people with disabilities)
• Natural supports
• Specialized training
• PR/Media/Marketing outreach within the disability and veteran communities

From diversity training for staff to diversity initiatives for companies with multiple locations throughout the nation, ViaQuest has the experience, reach and reputation in all types of industries to assist with any and all diversity and inclusion needs…large or small.

View the Disability and Inclusion Infographic.

View the Components of a Successful Diverse Workforce.

For more information contact

Larry Worth, Executive Director

ViaQuest Diversity & Inclusion Services

Larry.Worth@ViaQuestInc.com

 | 614.207.3821

ViaQuest statement in support of Employment First

ViaQuest supports, and is an active leader in, Employment First in Ohio.

ViaQuest believes that all individuals with disabilities are presumed capable of employment and that services for individuals with disabilities be directed and/or developed with securing meaningful employment as the primary financial and social outcomes for each person ViaQuest supports.

It is through meaningful employment that the door to integration of each person’s local and societal acceptance opens. Through the services provided by ViaQuest, each person supported by our agency will walk through that door with confidence, self-worth and the determination to better their life.

ViaQuest also offers education, training and mentoring to adults with disabilities to help them achieve self-employment and exercise social responsibility. Individuals work with our highly-trained self-employment consultants to become self-sufficient through micro-enterprise initiatives. Visit our Self-Employment Services section to learn more about this offering.