VNA-TIP HOMECARE’S CAIRO BRANCH CELEBRATES NEW OFFICE WITH RIBBON CUTTING AND OPEN HOUSE AND HONORS LONG-TIME NURSE, PAT DICUS

            VNA-TIP HomeCare’s Cairo Branch has re-located its office to 235 16^th Street in Cairo and celebrated today with a ribbon cutting and open house.  The Cairo Chamber of Commerce sponsored the ribbon cutting ceremony and several Chamber members were in attendance.  Jane Junkerman,RN, Branch Manager said, “The entire VNA-TIP staff appreciates the newer and brighter offices and the increased parking space.  The office is handicapped accessible which is especially important in the fall when we hold our flu vaccination campaign and have people coming into the office for flu and pneumonia shots.”

            VNA-TIP HomeCare also took the opportunity today to honor Pat Dicus, LPN, who has been a nurse with the Cairo home health organization for 30 years.  Dicus has always been admired and respected by both her co-workers and her many patients.  She was presented a gift certificate by Gary Liebscher, VNA-TIP President, in recognition of her tireless efforts in providing quality home health nursing to residents of Cairo and the surrounding area.

            The Cairo Branch of VNA-TIP HomeCare began in 1976 as the Tri-County Home Health Service providing nursing and social services to homebound patients in Alexander, Pulaski, and Union Counties.  By 1979, home health services were being provided in seven counties and the agency separated from the state-run health departments and continued operations as Tip of Illinois Health Services.  In 2001, Tip became part of VNA HomeCare which traces its roots to 1917 and the Visiting Nurse Association.  Recognizing the importance of Tip to the healthcare of the people in southern-most Illinois, the Tip name was joined with VNA to become VNA-TIP HomeCare.

            VNA-TIP HomeCare now serves residents of 46 counties in Illinois and Missouri from 16 offices.  VNA-TIP was named to the Top 500 of the 2006 Home Care Elite, the inaugural compilation of the most successful home care providers in the country.  This review names Medicare-certified agencies whose performance measures in quality, improvement and financial performance are among the best in the nation.  President Gary Liebscher credits responsible leadership, dedicated staff, and use of the latest technology with the company’s ability to rank so well.

            Pat Dicus, LPN, is an example of the dedicated staff of VNA-TIP HomeCare.  Dicus has 39 years of nursing experience and 30 years have been with the Cairo home health branch.  Originally from Billett, Illinois, Dicus moved to Cairo when her husband began a teaching career at Cairo Junior High School.  About a year later she began her home health nursing career.

            Dicus has seen many changes in her years of nursing.  Home health care was much less complex when Pat began her career.  Because patients remained in the hospital for longer stays 30 years ago, wounds were almost healed by the time home health nurses saw the patient.  Now VNA-TIP nurses deal with very complicated wound care.  VNA-TIP nurses also do IV infusions in patients’ homes, a procedure unheard of when Dicus began home health nursing.

            The paperwork has also become more complex.  In the early days of home health nursing Dicus dictated her notes into a mini “talk box” after each visit and a data entry clerk typed the notes up, four visit notes per page.  Now the notes from just one visit take up two pages.

            Currently VNA-TIP nurses are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for their patients.  The agency employs an answering service and the nurses carry cell phones and/or pagers.  When Dicus began nursing the office had an answering machine that was checked only at noon on Saturdays.

            Pat Dicus has adapted to the changing demands of her nursing career and is an important part of the Cairo VNA-TIP staff.  According to Jane Junkerman, Branch Manager, “Pat has a special gift in working with patients.  She uses her gentle, caring manner to bring out the best in them.”  Dicus has cared for multiple generations of families and is often asked for by name.  Junkerman states that Dicus is an excellent nurse, extremely meticulous with infection prevention especially in dealing with wound care patients.  She also is always willing to help provide orientation for new employees.  Her example will guide nurses of today and the future.

            In addition to Dicus, the VNA-TIP Cairo branch has 14 additional staff members who are vital to its success.  They are:

            Jane Junkerman, RN, Branch Manager, 22 years

            Janna Cornelius, RN, 18 years

            Doug Atkins, PTA, 15 years

            Phillip Davis, RN, 10 years

            Amy Remsey, SLP, 8 years

            Velvet Smith, CNA, 8 years

            Wanda Jeffers, LPN, 4 years

            Connie Jones, RN, 4 years

            Patena Atherton, COTA, 2 years

            Lynne Nance, RN, 2 years

            Laura Treece, PT, 2 years

            Mary Lenhart, Data entry, 1 ½ years

            Roziene Dumas, RN, 1 year

            Lottie Hayes, Medical records, 1 year

            For more information on VNA-TIP HomeCare visit the company’s website, www.vnatip.com.

To learn more about VNA-TIP HomeCare, TIP Hospice and Palliative Care, or TIP PremierCare contact Central Intake at 800-642-6099 or visit the website, www.vnatip.com.