No changes expected with merger of St. Luke's and Visiting Nurse Association

CEDAR RAPIDS – Patients served by the Visiting Nurse Association of Linn County should expect the same care when the non-profit organization merges with St. Luke's Hospital.

St. Luke's announced Tuesday, Nov. 15, that the VNA will merge with the hospital effective Jan. 1, becoming St. Luke's Visiting Nurse Association.

“The staff is actually very excited,” said Stephanie Anderson, executive director of the VNA.

Anderson said no lay-offs are expected among the 55 nurses, aides and other staff, and in fact, all employees will receive raises after the merger due to greater efficiencies.

Human resources and legal services, for example, will be provided by St. Luke's.

“It's a very passion and mission-driven field, but it helps to be paid the same as the institution down the street,” Anderson said.

The VNA's 270 patients –  who live within a 50-mile radius of Cedar Rapids – will continue to be served in their homes as they have in the past, Anderson said.

Last year, the VNA made 23,788 home health visits.

Anderson, a St. Luke's employee, noted that the hospital has provided management services for the VNA since 1989.

The VNA began serving Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas in 1919, specializing in home nursing care. Physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy and flu shot clinics are among the services the VNA provides.

Anderson said the VNA had considered merging with a number of organizations during the past 18 months.

Medicare reimbursement to the VNA has been cut the past two years, so the group was looking for the best use of health care funds, she said.