Agency - Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. of Central Indiana

Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. (VNS) delivers quality community-based and health-related services that promote independence, wellness, and family integrity. We believe each person is entitled to health care regardless of age, sex, race, creed, ethnic background, geographic location, socio-economic status, ability to pay, physical condition of prognosis. Each person has the right to know the alternative types of care available, and the right to choose an appropriate one.

Description:
Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. (VNS) is a non-profit home health care agency serving 30 counties in central Indiana. VNS provides services that include a general nursing program, hospice programs, AIDS/HIV patient care, respite program, comprehensive mental health program, rehabilitation program, pediatric program, and caregiver support program for patients with memory loss. Benefits include complete, free insurance checks, communication with the patient's physician about the patient's health status and professional staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Family programs include divorce education and a crisis nursery and respite program. VNS also has a volunteer program to assist VNS patients and their families in many different ways. VNS professionals include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, home health aides, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, registered dietitians, and social workers. VNS is Medicare/Medicaid certified and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Services/therapies may be provided on a sliding scale based on the patient's ability to pay.

History:
Founded in 1913 by Abbie Hunt Bryce and a small group of concerned Indianapolis women who believed home nursing care shoud be available to anyone who needed it, Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. (VNS) is one of the few, free standing Visiting Nurse Associations remaining in Indiana. VNS (or Public Health Nursing Association as it was called then) is one of the original 5 agencies to join the War Chest (known today as United Way of Central Indiana) in 1919 and has remained a member in good standing. VNS is the first home health agency in Indiana to receive: Medicare certification (1966), Medicaid certification (1970) and State Board of Health licensure (1974). 1984 was a pivotal year for the organization as it was the year Visiting Nurse Home Care Foundation and Home Care Services, Inc. became two sister corporations. The names of these were changed in 1994 to those the organization is known by today, Visiting Nurse Service Foundation and Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. 1984 was also an important year because that was the year Hospice of Central Indiana (a program of VNS) was formed to provide home hospice service. Hospice of Central Indiana is a team of committed professionals and volunteers trained in the care and support of terminally ill patients and their families. The Hospice team provides a full range of services from skilled medical intervention to volunteer respite care. It is the goal of the Hospice team to assist the patient and family in making homecare a positive option during terminal illness.

Contact person: Jill Dincolo, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

4701 N. Keystone Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46205 (See a map)

Directions:

Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. (VNS) is located at 4701 N. Keystone Avenue. The five story building is located on the east side of Keystone just north of 46th St.   Nearest Bus Stop: 46th St. and Keystone, 1/2 block minute walk