VNA welcomes new President and CEO
 Kathleen
Holycross has joined
the Visiting Nurse Association of Porter County (VNA) as President
and CEO, taking the reins from recently retired Executive Director
Laura Harting. “I’m honored to have been chosen to help continue and
grow the 40 year legacy of the VNA’s service to the community,” says
Holycross. “As I learned more about the VNA during the interview
process, I was impressed with the nearly 500 VNA volunteers, the
fact that the community banded together to raise the funds necessary
for the construction of an inpatient hospice facility, the talented
and committed staff, as well as the engagement of the VNA and VNA
Foundation Boards of Directors. It certainly speaks well for the
future of the organization.”
Holycross comes to the VNA with
more than 30 years experience in healthcare administration. “I think
I bring a strong sense of mission, as well as an understanding that
we are stewards of a valuable community asset. I know that we face
some immense challenges in terms of funding our services in the next
18 to 24 months and we need to be sure all our resources are focused
on our mission of taking care of people in their own homes and
continuing our partnership with the communities we serve, our
patients, their families and physicians.”
Holycross began her career as a
charge nurse and quickly learned she wanted to be on the
policy-making end of healthcare. She earned her Bachelor of Science
in Nursing from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and went
on to earn her Masters of Science in Health Administration from the
University of Missouri, Columbia. Most recently, Holycross served
for 16 years as the President and CEO of the VNA of Southeast
Michigan, Michigan’s largest, independent nonprofit home healthcare
and hospice organization.
With looming changes in Medicare
and ongoing uncertainty about the rate of reimbursement for care
provided, Holycross is working with the VNA and VNA Foundation
Boards of Directors as well as staff to ensure the VNA not only
survives, but also thrives. “We’re embarking on developing a
strategic plan that will carry us into the future with a better
grasp of the needs of the community, the challenges ahead and
building upon the strengths of the VNA. It’s no secret we all want
to stay safe and independent, in our own homes, for as long as
possible. And when we reach the end of life, we want to spend our
final days with dignity and in comfort, surrounded by our loved
ones. Our goal is to make sure the VNA is always here to help,” says
Holycross.
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