For your Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health & Well-being - July 2003

COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES

Community Nursing Services (CNS) is a community-based, not-for-profit, full service home care corporation established in 1928. CNS is composed of five operating divisions:

• CNS VNA (Medicare certified home care)
• CNS Home Health Plus (private duty & insurance payor)
• CNS Child Care Center (at corporate office in SLC, UT)
• CNS Pharmacy (intravenous and nutrition support)
• CNS Community Hospice (Certified Hospice) which includes the Kaleidoscope Kids program (for children with life altering illnesses) and Journey Home (AIDS/HIV care).

CNS is the only CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program) accredited home health agency in a six-state regional area. CHAP was the first home care accrediting body in the nation to receive deemed status from the federal government. By approving CHAP for deemed status, the government certified that CHAP’s standards for excellence met or exceeded the government’s own standards for Medicare certification.
We are proud to be a partner in the Utah Home Health Coalition (UHHC) whose home health agencies provide services to all counties, cities and towns in Utah. CNS also helped establish the Idaho Coalition of Home Health Agencies (ICHHA). These two coalitions contract with nearly every third party payor in this region to provide home care and related services.

MISSION
We will assist clients to attain health care goals, while maintaining independence and dignity, through appropriate home health care and supportive services. We will promote wellness in the community utilizing our experience, knowledge and resources

VALUES AND PHILOSOPHY
CNS is committed to:

• Upholding our community-based, not for profit status.
• Seeking client’s and family’s active participation with an interdisciplinary home health care team in order to meet a full range of needs.
• Recognizing the vital role of each employee in accomplishing our mission.
• Providing quality home health services to all clients without regard to ability to pay, within the limits of our resources.
• Collaborating with other community agencies to identify and address unmet client needs.
• Influencing the development of national and local home health care policies.
• Utilizing volunteers on advisory committees, in support services, and in care programs.
• Fulfilling our mission through fiscal responsibility and prudent use of resources.
• Responding to the needs of our clients and environment as the change or emerge.

HISTORY OF COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES
In 1928, Salt Lake City Visiting Nurse Service was formed “to provide nursing for the sick in their homes”. The following year it was established as a voluntary, non-profit agency when the existing Visiting Nurse Association of Salt Lake and the Private Duty Registry were combined to form Salt Lake Community Nursing Services.

SOME HISTORICAL LANDMARKS FOR CNS

1928 The Salt Lake City Visiting Nurse Service was founded (later to become Community Nursing Services)
1930 CNS became a participating agency with Community Chest.
The Board of Directors stipulated that all CNS patient care must be physician directed.
1956 Private duty nursing function discontinued and resources allocated to more pressing needs in health care services.
1964 Development of a Community Health Service project to instigate a visiting homemaker service to assist medical clients with their housekeeping needs.
1966 CNS is certified as a home health agency able to provide service under Medicare Medicaid reimbursement plan.
1967 Physical Therapy added to agency services.
1969 Full accreditation by the National League fo4 Nursing/American Public Health Association Accreditation program.
1974 Medical social worker (MSW) and speech pathology (ST) services were added to the program.
1976 Services extended into Tooele County.
1977 Occupational Therapy (OT) services became available to patients.
1982 Merged with Hospice of Salt Lake (the first hospice program in the state of Utah).
1983 Services extended into Davis and Summit counties.
1984 Utah county added to the service area. Volunteer programs were developed and pastoral care services provided.
1987 CNS Home Health Plus (HHP) established as a private duty agency providing a full range of in-home health services, respite care, companion services, sick child care, drug testing and immunization programs.
1988 The first Medicare-certified hospice program in the state established at CNS.
Maternal/Child health and Pediatric (Mch and Peds) programs developed.
1991 Psychiatric/mental health as well as intravenous therapy nursing services were added – the first such services to be provided by a home health agency in Utah.
1992 Flu vaccination program provided throughout the state started in conjunction with several local stores and private businesses.
1994 Journey Home program serving AIDS/HIV clients started. Kaleidoscope Kids service children with life altering circumstances started. CNS Pharmacy was established to provide IV and nutrition services.
1996 Participated in the Medicare Demonstration Project (OASIS). The only home health agency in Utah to be chosen and one of 50 in the US. Intravenous therapy services expanded to include home blood infusion, chemotherapy, and specialized intravenous lines.
1998 Initiate Tele-health program to provide care for clients in faraway areas.
2000 Carbon and Emery counties added to the service area.
2001 Grand county added to the service area.

Community Nursing Services has a great variety of reimbursement programs. Services can be paid for by Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans’ Administration, United Way, insurances, Workers Compensation, and private resources.

No service agency could achieve the excellence found in CNS without fully dedicated leadership and staff. The members of the organization have provided the professionalism, dedication, expertise and vision necessary for progress. This includes growth, quality health care and the maintenance of our excellent reputation.