Berks Festival of Trees to raise money for Berks VNA

The effort ensures continued community health and population wellness

Since 1909, Berks Visiting Nurses Association (Berks VNA) has provided home and communitybased health care services to residents regardless of their ability to pay and solely based on their need. It is our goal to help patients achieve a level of physical independence and emotional well-being in their home of choice and we are determined to maintain and improve upon the four star ratings from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS.)

In today’s challenging economic climate, oftentimes our patients are unable to afford the quality care every individual deserves and the quality care that our nurses provide. To ensure our services are available to the greatest number of people, we seek ways to support the entire community. It is clear; our mandate is to offer population wellness – entire population wellness. It is clear; our mandate is to enhance community health — entire community health — regardless of a person’s economic status.

However, with many people uninsured and with some insurances falling short of covering the required costs of our wideranging services, we must find ways to make a positive difference in the lives of the thousands of residents-in-need. In the last year, we have given away nearly $4 million in charitable services and we anticipate an uptick in that number in the next year. For those financially unable, how do we continue to cover their cost of at-home recovery, chronic disease management, hospice and palliative care, flu shots and child immunization? While Berks VNA is over a hundred years old, we continue to grow and change to keep pace with today’s trends and to continue to provide excellent care. We recently introduced telemedicine which allows a visiting nurse to use an on-site computer to gather and transmit vital health data to the patients’ participating physician. To afford to continue to be charitable we must raise money through grants and fundraising.

This year, we will begin hosting a series of holiday events in which we hope to generate a quarter million dollars – money that will go directly back to community care. We have collaborated with the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Reading to launch our first-ever “Berks Festival of Trees.” The fundraising commences on July 27 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, Reading with the Festival “KickOff” and starts the clock ticking towards the grand finale’ – “The Auction” -to be held on December 2. While the “Kick-Off” in July and “The Auction” in December will prove to be stellar, the Tree Lighting on November 2 will be spectacular as sponsors will showcase their decorated, litup trees at the DoubleTree. Each tree will be on public display for the month of November. All proceeds from the fundraiser will support the Berks VNA and Pottstown VNA.

Constance Morrison is the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of HomeHealth Care Management, Inc. (HHCM). Morrison leads HHCM’s nonprofit organizations, including Berks Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), VNA of Pottstown and Advantage Homecare.

With over two decades of expertise in the home and healthcare industry, Morrison has a well-established track record of increasing efficiency and profitability. She is a seasoned veteran and an accomplished professional in the home health care field with a proven record of growth and positive change. Throughout her career she has led organizations to increase employee and patient satisfaction, compliance, census and productivity.

Prior to joining HHCM, Morrison headed Home Care Maryland, leading the company from a small, local business to a regional provider. In addition, she grew its census from 75 to more than 600 patients. For nearly 22 years Morrison served in the U. S. Navy Reserve as a physician assistant, retiring in July, 2011.