Health care organizations secure future of local home care services
April 29, 2009 in Aspirus News
Local home care agency joins Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, Aspirus VNA Home Health
LAURIUM, Mich. – Health care leaders announced today a partnership that will ensure the viability and success of local home health services for years to come. Representatives from three health organizations held an 11 a.m. press conference at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital to report that, effective June 1, 2009, Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital and Aspirus VNA Home Health will jointly own Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice.
Based in Calumet, Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice and sister company Keweenaw Home Services employ about 100 workers and serve more than 150 clients in Houghton and Keweenaw counties. While these organizations will soon be named Aspirus Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice and Aspirus Keweenaw Home Services, leadership – aside from retiring co-owner Diane Tiberg – and staff will remain in place.
Administrator Wanda Kolb believes the relationship will help her organization continue to succeed in an industry that poses challenging workforce and reimbursement issues.
“Together we will raise to new heights the quality and efficiency of care provided to our community,” Kolb said. “We have a longstanding relationship with Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, and believe this partnership will help us build a collaborative practice that benefits everyone involved.”
Business experts agree that a key to a successful alliance is corporate culture. That is why Chuck Nelson, Chief Executive Officer at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, believes this partnership will thrive. His organization joined Wausau, Wis.-based health system Aspirus in June 2008 after long discussions about the financial, clinical and cultural impact such a partnership could have on both the organization and community. The Aspirus philosophy of care - passion for excellence and compassion for people – resonated with leaders, employees and the community, and the results of the relationship have been nothing but positive.
“There are benefits to aligning with a larger organization,” Nelson said. “In the past nine months Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital has improved efficiency and care by leveraging IT resources and purchasing power, and by sharing clinical best practices. But I think it is equally important that we share the same vision and values. For that reason, I believe the new partnership with Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice and Keweenaw Home Services will also be a success.”
Although Aspirus is still a relatively new name in the Western Upper Peninsula, recognition is growing.
“Aspirus is committed to providing a broad range of health care services in the Western Upper Peninsula, and this partnership is the newest example of that,” said Jean Burgener, Vice President of Aspirus VNA Home Health, a 2008 HomeCare Elite provider ranked among the nation’s top agencies. “We will serve local communities with compassion and excellence, whether it is through primary care, hospital services, or home health care.”
About Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice/Keweenaw Home Services
Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice is a Medicare certified, CHAP accredited provider of skilled nursing, therapy, social work and aide services. It has received the Michigan Award of Excellence multiple times for improving care in the home health setting. Keweenaw Home Services is a private duty agency providing personal care, respite care, companion care and homemaker services. Both companies are owned by Copper Country residents Diane Tiberg and Wanda Kolb.
About Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital is a non-profit, critical access hospital with more than 440 employees. It is guided by a board of directors, which includes 11 community members and three members from Aspirus, Inc. As the area’s third largest employer, Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital is committed to the health of the Keweenaw, and recently expanded services through Aspirus Medical Arts in Houghton and Aspirus FastCare, the area’s first retail health clinic, also in Houghton. Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital has received the Governor’s Award of Excellence for improving patient care in a critical access hospital for the past three years.
About Aspirus
Aspirus is a community-guided health system providing leading heart, cancer, GI, and spine and neurological care. With more than 4,300 employees, Aspirus serves north central Wisconsin and the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan through five hospitals (two in the Upper Peninsula); 40 primary and specialty clinics; an affiliated hospital and physician network; regional home health and hospice services, and long term/nursing care. Aspirus Wausau Hospital recently was named to the HealthGrades’ “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” list for 2009.
Contacts:
Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice, Keweenaw Home Care – Wanda Kolb, 906.337.5700
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital – Matt Vertin, 906.337.6541
Aspirus – Andy Napgezek, 715.847.2194 office, 715.571.2690 cell
LAURIUM, Mich. – Health care leaders announced today a partnership that will ensure the viability and success of local home health services for years to come. Representatives from three health organizations held an 11 a.m. press conference at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital to report that, effective June 1, 2009, Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital and Aspirus VNA Home Health will jointly own Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice.
Based in Calumet, Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice and sister company Keweenaw Home Services employ about 100 workers and serve more than 150 clients in Houghton and Keweenaw counties. While these organizations will soon be named Aspirus Keweenaw Home Health and Hospice and Aspirus Keweenaw Home Services, leadership – aside from retiring co-owner Diane Tiberg – and staff will remain in place.
Administrator Wanda Kolb believes the relationship will help her organization continue to succeed in an industry that poses challenging workforce and reimbursement issues.
“Together we will raise to new heights the quality and efficiency of care provided to our community,” Kolb said. “We have a longstanding relationship with Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, and believe this partnership will help us build a collaborative practice that benefits everyone involved.”
Business experts agree that a key to a successful alliance is corporate culture. That is why Chuck Nelson, Chief Executive Officer at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, believes this partnership will thrive. His organization joined Wausau, Wis.-based health system Aspirus in June 2008 after long discussions about the financial, clinical and cultural impact such a partnership could have on both the organization and community. The Aspirus philosophy of care - passion for excellence and compassion for people – resonated with leaders, employees and the community, and the results of the relationship have been nothing but positive.
“There are benefits to aligning with a larger organization,” Nelson said. “In the past nine months Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital has improved efficiency and care by leveraging IT resources and purchasing power, and by sharing clinical best practices. But I think it is equally important that we share the same vision and values. For that reason, I believe the new partnership with Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice and Keweenaw Home Services will also be a success.”
Although Aspirus is still a relatively new name in the Western Upper Peninsula, recognition is growing.
“Aspirus is committed to providing a broad range of health care services in the Western Upper Peninsula, and this partnership is the newest example of that,” said Jean Burgener, Vice President of Aspirus VNA Home Health, a 2008 HomeCare Elite provider ranked among the nation’s top agencies. “We will serve local communities with compassion and excellence, whether it is through primary care, hospital services, or home health care.”
About Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice/Keweenaw Home Services
Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice is a Medicare certified, CHAP accredited provider of skilled nursing, therapy, social work and aide services. It has received the Michigan Award of Excellence multiple times for improving care in the home health setting. Keweenaw Home Services is a private duty agency providing personal care, respite care, companion care and homemaker services. Both companies are owned by Copper Country residents Diane Tiberg and Wanda Kolb.
About Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital is a non-profit, critical access hospital with more than 440 employees. It is guided by a board of directors, which includes 11 community members and three members from Aspirus, Inc. As the area’s third largest employer, Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital is committed to the health of the Keweenaw, and recently expanded services through Aspirus Medical Arts in Houghton and Aspirus FastCare, the area’s first retail health clinic, also in Houghton. Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital has received the Governor’s Award of Excellence for improving patient care in a critical access hospital for the past three years.
About Aspirus
Aspirus is a community-guided health system providing leading heart, cancer, GI, and spine and neurological care. With more than 4,300 employees, Aspirus serves north central Wisconsin and the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan through five hospitals (two in the Upper Peninsula); 40 primary and specialty clinics; an affiliated hospital and physician network; regional home health and hospice services, and long term/nursing care. Aspirus Wausau Hospital recently was named to the HealthGrades’ “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” list for 2009.
Contacts:
Keweenaw Home Nursing and Hospice, Keweenaw Home Care – Wanda Kolb, 906.337.5700
Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital – Matt Vertin, 906.337.6541
Aspirus – Andy Napgezek, 715.847.2194 office, 715.571.2690 cell
