Therefore, as of December 31, 2014, our Life at Home service, which provided non-skilled home care such as homemaking, respite and companion care, will be discontinued to focus on our mission to the community. We will continue to provide home care services to patients requiring skilled nursing or rehabilitative care as part of our hospice, home health, and palliative care services.

VNA/Hospice has a history of exceptional skilled care, improving the quality of life for our patients and their families. Our dedication to providing the highest quality of care for the community is unsurpassed. Request VNA/Hospice of the Florida Keys for your home health needs. Your choice of VNA/Hospice of the Florida Keys ensures you receive home health care at its best.

Photo: VNA/Hospice COO, Kathleen Ryzoc (center) and clinical team accepts $6,000 check from the Lisa Taylor COURAGE Fund

Lisa Taylor, daughter of Connie and John Taylor of Ocean Reef, died in 2007 after a four-year cancer battle. She was 47-years-old. An inspiration to all, Taylor believed that life is a celebration to be cherished even in its darkest hours.

The Lisa Taylor COURAGE Fund supports the central principles of hospice that the terminally ill should be able to die with dignity at home and with the support of caring and experienced nurses, social workers, physicians, chaplains and nursing assistants. VNA/Hospice this very kind of support to any Florida Keys’ resident who is at the end of life.

As the oldest and only locally operating non-profit home health and hospice care provider in Monroe County, VNA/Hospice relies on philanthropic support to assist those who are unable to pay all or some of the costs of care as well as to fund gaps for care that is not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance reimbursements.

Contributions such as the one made by the Lisa Taylor COURAGE Fund also help to subsidize new and advanced medical technologies, continuing education for clinicians, and bereavement and cancer support programs within the Florida Keys’ communities.

To find out how you can become involved and/or support the many health care programs offered by VNA/Hospice, please contact Development Director, Kim Sovia-Crandon via phone (305.852.7887) or via email (kims@vnahospicekeys.org).

Photo (L-R): Kathleen Ryzoc, VNA/Hospice COO; Sgt. Eric Mixon; Jody Gross, VNA/Hospice President & CEO; and Judith Cooley, CPA, VNA/Hospice Board Treasure

Also placed under arrest was Judith Cooley, a Tavernier CPA and the Treasurer of the VNA/Hospice Board of Directors, and VNA/Hospice COO Kathleen Ryzoc. They were cited for public solicitation of funds to support their Monroe County home health and hospice programs.

Captain Corey Bryan, Islamorada District 6 Commander, was instrumental in setting up the arrest. However, the ladies were very persuasive in their pursuit of freedom and convinced Sgt. Mixon to release them on their own recognizance. Of course, the arrest will never make it onto the popular Keysso.net arrest site because it was in jest and in support of the Lower Matecumbe Mermaids Photo Scavenger Hunt held in Islamorada to raise funds for VNA/Hospice.

“There are so many remarkable people associated with the Mermaids and we are so thankful for their continuous support and generosity for our organization,” stated VNA/Hospice CEO Jody Gross.

The Photo Scavenger Hunt, created by Lower Matecumbe Mermaid Krissy Gustinger, was part of the group’s Fourth Annual Christmas in July event. Over 30 women participated in the inaugural scavenger hunt which ended at the Lower Matecumbe Serenity Bay estate of Miami residents Paul and Ivette Bravo.

The Lower Matecumbe Mermaids raised over $2,400.00 for the organization’s hospice program.

“We are extremely energized by the leadership and commitment to serve that our new directors have made in support of this agency and its mission of care,” said Grusin.

For more information about our new board members, please click here.

Photo (L-R): Judith Cooley, CPA, VNA/Hospice Board Treasurer, Vice Mayor Deb Gillis, VNA/Hospice COO Kathleen Ryzoc.

VNA/Hospice has grown to be many families’ choice in providing dedicated and compassionate home health and hospice care for their loved ones. 2014 marks a tremendous milestone for the organization as they celebrate three strong decades of providing healthcare to all residents from Ocean Reef to Key West, including those in need. The latest data from the Department of Labor shows the demand for home care services continues to grow as America ages and baby boomers begin entering their golden years. During the past two years VNA/Hospice cared for approximately two thousand patients age 50 and over, and their families.

“While home health and hospice care each provide different services at different points in a patient’s life, they both are designed to give state-of-the-art medical care in the comfort of a patient’s own home,” said VNA/Hospice Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Ryzoc. “Home health services can help a patient recover from surgery or other illnesses and get a person back on the road to recovery. Hospice care can add more life to someone’s remaining days through symptom control. We are thankful for our 30 years of service to Monroe County and look forward to many more years of offering these special services to those in need.”

Topping off the celebration, VNA/Hospice recently received a perfect score from the Agency for Health Care Administration (ACHA) during their recent home health state licensure and Federal Medicare certification reviews. “Our score on these reviews is an incredible demonstration of the hard work and commitment of our clinical staff in the field and our clinical managers and directors,” said VNA/Hospice President and CEO Jody Gross. “I am proud to be allowed to work with them in providing the best of home care in the Keys.”

VNA/Hospice also happens to be the only home health care agency in Monroe County that received Fazzi’s Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers National Award of Distinction (2013) for patient satisfaction placing them in the top 25% in the nation.

The Fourth of July Picnic, which raises funds to aid VNA/Hospice in fulfilling their mission of caring, is a long-held tradition for Keys’ locals and visitors and is held at the Casa Marina – A Waldorf Astoria Resort (1500 Reynolds Street).

The party begins when doors open at 5pm on Friday, July 4th. A dinner meal of typical BBQ cookout fare is included in the $25 (adults) and $10 (children ages 4-12) ticket prices. Entry without a meal is $10. Best Seats On The Beach admission ($125 per ticket) features reserved beachfront seats, exclusive dinner buffet with personal wait service, and cash bar. Free watermelon, popcorn and Pepsi products are offered with all admissions.

Bill Hoebee, a popular local radio personality, will emcee the festivities that include live musical performances, games, raffles and the largest silent auction in Key West.

In honor of VNA/Hospice’s 30 years, this year’s picnic features a special guest performer. Earl Bud Lee, an award-winning Nashville singer/songwriter (“Friends in Low Places,” “One Night at a Time”), will be performing with Skipper Kripitz and the house band to close the day’s entertainment, followed by the wonderful fireworks display provided by the Rotary Club of Key West.

Tickets will be available for purchase at the Casa Marina the day of the event from noon until 4:00 pm in the lobby as well as at the door. Earl Bmud Lee will be available for autographs and CD purchases from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm in the Casa Marina lobby. Advance tickets can be purchased at VNA/Hospice offices (1319 William Street), by phone (305-294-8812) or online (www.vnahospicekeys.org).

“Our score on these reviews is an incredible demonstration of the hard work and commitment of our clinical staff in the field and our clinical managers and directors,” said VNA/Hospice President & CEO Jody Gross. “I am so proud to be allowed to work with them in providing the best of home care in the Keys.”

ACHA reviews are performed at random and are un-announced in order to provide the truest and most accurate picture of the care provided by the agency and how it is managed. The surveyors accompany staff on patient visits to observe the quality of care, as well as extensively review the agency’s medical records, personnel files, and policy and procedures.

“Surveys are important as they establish that home health agencies are providing care according to the high standards set by Medicare and the state of Florida,” stated VNA/Hospice COO Kathleen Ryzoc. “It is an honor to work with the staff of VNA/Hospice, both here in our Tavernier office and in our Key West office, who provide such great care to our friends and neighbors.”

Personnel at the VNA/Hospice Regional office in Tavernier send a special thank you to the Ocean Reef Community Foundation for their $30,000 contribution.  Pictured L-R: Joy Ewing, RN; Paige Rice, RN; Kim Sovia-Crandon – Development Director; Debbie Premaza, RN, BSN – Director of Clinical Services; Rebecca Vasilenko, CNA; Nicole Weirback, LPN; and Jen Wolverton-Wade, RN, CWCN

“We are deeply indebted to the Ocean Reef Community Foundation for their philanthropic vision,” commented President and CEO Jody Gross. “Their contribution toward our new information technology network will ensure a transformative change for our organization.”

VNA/Hospice recognized the need to implement a new state-of-the-art technology network system to ensure compliance with new Medicare, Medicaid and HIPPA regulations. Their new Brightree system will also accommodate the increase in patients insured under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This new capital improvement project will help manage patient case notes, monitor patient outcomes and maximize clinical productivity.

“By upgrading our information systems and electronic medical records,” stated Chief Operating Officer Kathleen Ryzoc, “there will be a corresponding improvement in service provision that will continue to support the acceptance and popularity of home health and hospice as a viable delivery of health care.”

This annual fundraiser for the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys and One Human Family is a riotous good time! Duval Street – in front of LaTeDa (1125 Duval Street) – will be taken over as contestants compete in ever-entertaining categories such as “evening gown,” “talent,” and “interview” to decide who will be crowned the new Queen Mother.

“One Night Only” is this year’s theme and the event will be dedicated to Ma’s mother and favorite gal, Eileen Evans.

“The Key West Queen Mother Pageant is not about a crown and a title, it is a job,” stated Queen Mother 30 Gassy Winds a.k.a. J.B. McLendon. “And to steal a quote from the US Navy, ‘It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure’; and what a humbling and rewarding adventure it has been.”

The doors will open at 7pm with the show starting promptly at 8pm. Tables are $500, $300 and $200 (tables seat eight), $30 for individual seats, and $25 at the door for standing room only. For advance tickets, visit www.vnahospicekeys.org or call 305-295-9741. Food can be pre-ordered for the event by contacting LaTeDa directly. No outside food or beverages will be allowed.

Queen Mother 31 is sponsored by Design Group Key West, Goldman’s Deli, Gourmet Nibbles & Flowers (courtesy of Queen Mother 19 Ms. D) and Home Depot.

As always, the Queen Mother’s Royal Tea will be held the Sunday before the pageant (May 11th) from 4pm until 6:30pm at LaTeDa and will be hosted by Queen Mother 30 Gassy Winds.

L-R: Gary Maynard, Lee Ann Naples, Darrel Bost, and Joey Naples.

The event raised over $3,000.00 in celebration of VNA/Hospice’s 30th Anniversary of providing dedicated and compassionate care to all residents of Monroe County and to also honor all the wonderful clinical and administrative support personnel who give tirelessly toward VNA/Hospice’s mission of caring.

“VNA/Hospice touches the lives of so many of our family, friends and people in the community that we know. ,” stated Ann Haber, spokesperson for the Lower Matecumbe Mermaids. “We are honored and pleased to be a part of the VNA/Hospice family which is why we enjoy having the opportunity to raise money for such a worthwhile and needed charity in our community.”

“We cannot thank the genuine and thoughtful individuals who played such a tremendous role in the success of this event,” said VNA/Hospice COO Kathleen Ryzoc. “From all the lovely ladies in the Lower Matecumbe Mermaids, Etta Fend with the Safari Lounge, Joey Naples with Florida Keys Media, and of course the unique and wonderful Mermen starting with the honorary first merman, bartender Tim Swan and of course Gary Maynard and Darrel Bost who so graciously donned Easter Egg costumes for the delight of everyone in attendance.”