The team has a combined 50(ish) years of experience with Virginia Health Services. And how do they surprise the individuals they talk to daily?
“Many people are surprised that they get to talk to a human voice,” says team leader Kassie Martin.
They field about 100 (or more) phone calls a day between them. They remain professional, courteous and patient as so many of the individuals they speak with feel the stress of finding a safe place for their loved ones.
Our team members have to know how to decipher insurance information, understand medical charts and breakdown financials.
The team reads medical history and charts – and they get referrals from many sources.
It’s a challenging job to keep track of multiple individuals and where each is in the process. Once the admissions process is completed, the individual transitions to a Resident Navigator at the nursing center to onboard in person, which means our admissions team rarely meets in person those they’ve admitted.
It’s worth it. The team agrees the work they do helps contribute to the community they work in.
Thank you to our team! We can’t do it without you!
Learn more about us
Virginia Health Services offers seven nursing and rehabilitation centers in Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester, York County and Kilmarnock. We provide skilled, long-term and respite care. Our Walter Reed location in Gloucester County offers Memory Care, which also will be provided at Lancashire in Kilmarnock by the end of 2024.
Our Coliseum location in Hampton provides on-site dialysis to residents, and the skilled Mitchell unit at James River in Newport News has been recently refurbished.
Visit vahs.com/nursingcenters to learn more and request information of our centralized admissions team.
VHS Senior Vice President David Crosson celebrates his 25th anniversary with the company in July 2024.
David joined the team in 1999 to bring VHS Rehabilitation to life as Executive Director. At that time, he was its only team member.
“I was doing treatments, evals, and recruiting therapists,” he said.
VHS Rehabilitation launches
His connections from previous stops with national rehabilitation contract companies helped VHS Rehabilitation (then Virginia Health Rehab) staff up quickly. At the time, the reimbursement model for nursing homes changed and it became more business savvy to provide an in-house therapy team in nursing homes for skilled care.
“Because of how the industry was changing, those therapists at contract companies and recent grads were looking for work. I was able to provide job opportunities. With me being the only person, I needed the staff, too. We were able to bring staff on pretty quickly,” David says.
About a year later, VHS Rehabilitation opened its outpatient site. Over the course of its 25 years, VHS Rehabilitation has grown to include physical, speech and occupational therapy in outpatient, skilled care and contract settings that have included assisted living centers, jails and schools.
Today, the VHS Rehabilitation team has about 70 regular team members and 250 PRNs to staff its skilled care therapy rooms, outpatient center and contract clients. The team includes physical, speech and occupational therapists, techs, assistants and administrative assistants.
David hugs IT Network Manager Kathy Wickline at her retirement party.David and others celebrate the opening of the Dialysis Den at Coliseum.VHS President and CEO Mark Klyczek with Senior VP David Crosson.
While he has a background in physical therapy — he earned bachelor’s degree in exercise science and master’s degree in physical therapy from Old Dominion University — David says he prefers the operational side of the business, including staffing and dealing with regulatory issues.
During his time with VHS, David has had a hand in the acquisition of Coliseum in 2013 — “that was a big pickup for us,” he says — and spearheaded establishing VHS Home Health Care in 2015 and VHS Hospice in 2017.
“Once we got into skilled care, VHS grew a lot. We changed our operations. VHS grew along with me,” he says.
He was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2016.
Home and Community-Based Services grow
VHS bought a license from a company that was owned by the company former VHS Home Health Care Administrator Cheri Brnich was working for at the time.
“She was very aggressive in our buildings,” he recalls. “She and I clicked. She’s very enthusiastic. She was then the acting administrator at a different company and we had a good working relationship. We brought her on as administrator for Home Health.”
He says they expected a slower ramp up when VHS Home Health Care launched, but “it came out of the door fast and we had 30 residents in the first month, which set expectations really high, even though we were doing it with limited staff. … If we had known we were going to pop that fast, we would have had more staff.”
He says VHS Hospice took about a year to start from scratch and become licensed.
“My philosophy is I don’t have to be the smartest guy in the room, but I surround myself with the smartest people. If I have a good team, they make me look better,” he says. “I have the knack to help manage and have vision. That’s where growth during those periods occurred. …
“We have a great opportunity to collaborate with all of our business units. We should be the provider of choice for our residents when they need rehab, home care, hospice. There’s so much value to that.”
Reflection
The Philadelphia native met his wife while attending ODU.
“She had just started her PhD program at ODU,” he says. “Her family was here, father worked for Old Dominion. This just became the place we landed.”
He says he is proud of everything he is involved in developing.
“The Rehab piece is a big piece of VHS. Home Health and Hospice were big additions to VHS and the success of VHS. It wouldn’t be something I would want to do and walk away from,” he says. “It’s nice to see those businesses develop and evolve. And then, it’s also the people. … A lot of what I do is more for the people who work for me, and keep them employed in environments they’re thriving in.”
Mark says value-based care and top-line revenue growth are the top two trends VHS is following, with multiple value-based care opportunities emerging in Virginia.
“Virginia has prioritized value-based care in skilled nursing facilities, which is the best way to reward high performing organizations and incentivize organizations to improve,” he says. “… These types of programs are vital to grow our top-line revenue as expense increases remain sticky and do not show any signs of improving in the short term. Our strategy of top-line revenue growth has significantly mitigated the expense increases and when our expense reduction strategies take hold, our top-line revenue will already be growing and healthy.”
Value-based care, the use of AI, veterans healthcare, staff recruitment and retention, and telehealth were other trends included in the piece.
Ariane Minette, LMSW, was recently named Director of Operations for VHS Home Health Care and VHS Hospice. The move follows the resignation of Administrator Cheri Garner-Brnich, who joined the VHS team about 10 years ago to start operation of VHS Home Health Care.
“Cheri has been instrumental in the establishment and growth of Home Health Care and Hospice; we thank her for all of her years of service and wish her the best in her next chapter,” Donna Marchant-Roof, Vice President of Home and Community-Based Services, said in an email to the organization.
About Ariane
Ariane has been a social worker on the VHS Hospice team and oversees the volunteer program. She also is a field instructor for students in master’s social work programs.
“It’s a great opportunity,” she says. “It’s a learning curve for sure, but so, so phenomenally lucky to have amazing staff on both home health — which is so established and doing a great job — and hospice.”
Ariane oversees the day-to-day operations of both service lines. She says she is big on communication and having standard operating procedures established so the team is “confident and comfortable about what we’re doing and have accountability moving forward so we can build additional relationships like the one we have with Brookdale.”
She has formed a committee to start planning the annual Celebration of Life that VHS Hospice typically hosts in November for loved ones of former patients. The event helps provide closure for those close to the individuals, including members of the hospice team.
New focus
Ariane still visits patients — “they’re my heart, my soul. That’s why we’re all here, that’s my drive,” she says. “I love touching base with my patients and seeing how all this impacts them. It’s always humbling.”
Her main focuses right now are understanding the foundation, evaluating policies and practices to see if they are the best and most efficient ways of doing things, growing census, and focus on how the team works together to be cross-sectional.
“I just want to get to know everyone better, and let them know me — be that person who’s consistent. I just want to make it easier for the team to do their job well,” she says.
While her dog Darby is a little unsure about the longer days in the office, Ariane is excited for all of the opportunities for growth the area has to offer.
“It’s a really exciting time right now, in terms of where healthcare is,” she says. “I truly, truly believe in the home aspect of home health and hospice — being where you are. It doesn’t have to feel so medicalized and pull you away from people you love. I truly believe in bringing healthcare to the home. I see how well we do it, and how well we can continue to do it, so I want to be able to get people to understand how it helps them. … I want to help the people and give them the things they need.”
Volunteer with VHS Hospice
Volunteers are the heart of what we do. VHS Hospice is looking for compassionate and thoughtful volunteers to assist those in our care, their caregivers and our team members. You’ll provide emotional support and companionship. Some responsibilities include assisting our clients with tasks such as gardening, lawn maintenance and pet care. Your duties may include providing relief to caregivers or assisting our team in the office with a variety of tasks. We provide all the necessary training.
It’s National Healthcare Recruiter Recognition Day! We’d like to take some time to introduce you to Virginia Health Services’ Senior Recruiter Colleen Reynolds. We appreciate all she does daily to recruit new team members to the organization and help them through to the offer and onboarding processes.
Over the past two years, Colleen has been in the community to build awareness about Virginia Health Services and our employment opportunities. The community groups and education organizations she’s partnered with have helped elevate VHS’ recruiting efforts and attract top talent in a competitive industry.
Colleen started with Virginia Health Services more than two years ago. She was born and raised in New York and has lived in the South for the past 16 years. Colleen is a stepmom and dog mom to two girls, a 12-year-old and a French bulldog. She also is a true crime fanatic.
Community involvement
Colleen says the community partners she consistently works with stretch across the Peninsula, Gloucester area and Northern Neck. They include workforce development programs and higher education programs.
Colleen also attends career fairs throughout Hampton Roads. She follows up with recent college grads, such as those in the nursing programs at Hampton University, ECPI University and Fortis College, to make sure they are aware of available career paths at VHS.
She has partnered with Rappahannock Community College, Hampton University and Northern Neck Technical Center to conduct mock interviews and better help the students prepare for the “real world” when looking for employment.
Colleen also focuses on connecting with those in the VA and other military outlets to attract retirees and military spouses to careers with Virginia Health Services. One of those partners is Hamilton Ryker’s TalentGro.
Additional community outreach partners include: Hampton Roads Workforce Council, New Horizons, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Peninsula Regional Education Program (Newport News), Tidewater Medical Training, Brooks Crossing-Navigation Wealth Program (Newport News) and Virginia Peninsula Community College and VPCC Workforce Development.
Why healthcare recruiting?
Colleen says she was drawn to recruiting so she could help individuals reach their career goals.
“When I am able to make the initial connection with a candidate and follow them through the interview process, all of the way to the job offer, it is extremely rewarding to be a small part of their professional development and journey,” she says.
The healthcare industry stands out because these positions offer job stability – there’s always a need, regardless of location. She says it’s one industry where starting at entry-level can mean advancement to other specialized roles.
“The possibilities are truly endless within the healthcare industry,” she says.
Recruiting Roadshow
Colleen hosts quarterly Recruiting Roadshows at VHS’ seven nursing and rehabilitation centers. The events allow her to interact with current team members in their work environment and show appreciation for what they do. It is helpful in better targeting quality candidates.
“It also means being flexible in completing the interview/offer/new hire paperwork process on site,” she says. The Roadshow also gives candidates the chance to meet the team and management, and ask questions.
The next Roadshow is June 24-27. Get the schedule here.
Careers at VHS
We having openings for nursing positions, dietary, housekeeping and more. View our job listings and apply to careers with Virginia Health Services at vahs.com/careers.
It’s National Nurses Week (May 6-12) and Virginia Health Services would like to introduce you to our Directors of Nursing. The DONs oversee clinical teams at our nursing and rehabilitation centers and our assisted living communities.
This year’s theme is “Nurses Make the Difference,” and according to the American Nurses Association, it is meant to honor “the incredible nurses who embody the spirit of compassion and care in every health care setting.”
Our DONs make a difference daily – to our residents and to their team members. We are thankful for the dedication of our DONs and their leadership across the clinical teams of VHS. They provide guidance, teach and ensure VHS maintains consistent quality care of its patients and residents.
Meet the team
Most of the DONs at Virginia Health Services have been with the organization for more than a decade. Some started as CNAs or LPNs, developing their careers into roles such as MDS, nurse manager and Resident Assessment Coordinator. Others came on as RNs in leadership roles.
As experienced RNs, VHS relies on their expertise in all clinical areas of our nursing and rehabilitation centers.
VHS has seven DONs: Yolanda Carnegie-Chambers (Coliseum); Melissa Liley (James River); LaTasha Muse (Lancashire); Amanda Martinez (Northampton); Toshua Cutler (The Newport and The Huntington); Lana Ketch (Walter Reed); and Desiree L. Plunkett (York and The Hamilton).
We asked them to share mini bios so you can get to know them.
James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Melissa Liley, BSN, RN
James River Director of Nursing Melissa Liley
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: 15 years.
What drew you to a nursing career in long-term care? I like creating bonds and relationships with the staff, residents and families.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Industrious but rewarding.
What advice would you give new team members? Maintain a great attitude and be open to change.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Spend time with my family.
Lancashire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
LaTasha Muse, RN
Lancashire Director of Nursing LaTasha Muse
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: 16 years.
What drew you to a nursing career in long-term care? I have always had a love for the elderly and I’m a team player.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Demanding yet rewarding.
What advice would you give new team members? Stay focused and remember why you chose the job — no matter how hard it may seem.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Amanda Martinez, RN
Northampton Director of Nursing Amanda Martinez
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: 16 years.
What drew you to a nursing career in long-term care? I have worked most of my nursing career in long-term care, starting out as a CNA and grew from there.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Extremely challenging, but also rewarding.
What advice would you give new team members? You have to have an open mind, be willing to learn something new every day, and be able to put yourself in the resident’s shoes – they need us to care for them, they depend on us – always keep that as your reasons why.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I LOVE the gym! I enjoy strength training and weight lifting. It has become part of my normal outside of work. I always say it’s my therapy; the way that I decompress from my day-to-day.
Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Lana Ketch, RN
Walter Reed Director of Nursing Lana Ketch
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: Employed since 1995. I started out as an LPN and completed my RN degree in 2018 while maintaining full time status.
What drew you to a nursing career in long-term care? My great grandma received home health services and I was fascinated with the kind and compassionate care she received from the nurses. I also saw the joy and appreciation she had for the nurses and the care they gave. She would always say “not just anybody is cut out to be a nurse.” I truly believe that and it takes a lot of patience, compassion, empathy, and a love for people. I love the geriatric population and feel we have so much to learn from them. To see a resident make progress after an unfortunate event and the smiles on their faces makes my heart happy.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? “Best decision I ever made.” (Although very stressful, very rewarding as well.)
What advice would you give new team members? Come to work with a positive attitude and do your best to make your residents feel safe and loved. Even the smallest gestures can make their day. As I said to the last graduating CNA class, “If you go home after a long shift and know that you put a smile on your resident’s face, shared their joy in an accomplishment, or made them feel special, then you have done your job and it was a great day!”
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Love spending time with family, DIY projects, bowling with my friends on a league, being the cheerleader for my daughter who is currently in nursing school, and following my favorite baseball team (New York Yankees).
DONs at Coliseum, The Newport and York
Coliseum Director of Nursing Yolanda Carnegie-Chambers, RN, joined the Virginia Health Service team in 2015 as the DON. Throughout her 25-year nursing career, she has served in many roles such as a floor nurse, supervisor, educator and Director of Nursing. Long-term care is her passion and she has worked with the elderly population for over 20 years. When she is not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family.
Desiree Plunkett, RN, oversees the clinical team at York Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (since 2015) and The Hamilton Assisted Living (since it opened in 2018).
Toshua Cutler, RN, BSN, is the Director of Nursing at The Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Huntington Assisted Living. She has been with VHS for about 20 years and her roles within the organization include Resident Assessment Coordinator (MDS), supervisor, charge nurse and floor nurse. Prior to joining VHS, Toshua worked as an LPN at another long-term care facility. She graduated with her associate’s (ADN) in nursing from ECPI University and decided to further her education and graduated with her BSN in nursing from ECPI. In her spare time, she loves to travel, shop, and enjoys spending time with her granddaughter, who brings great joy to her life.
Coliseum DON Yolanda Carnegie-ChambersYork and Hamilton DON Desiree L. PlunkettThe Newport and Huntington DON Toshua Cutler
Join our team
Our Directors of Nursing are always on the lookout for quality candidates for our CNA, LPN and RN openings. Career paths with VHS include MDS, Resident Assessment Coordinator, nurse manager, nurse scheduler, assistant director of nursing, certified wound care and infection prevention. If this might be a fit for you, visit vahs.com/careers to learn more and apply.
Thank you to the Virginia Health Services team of nurses!
We are celebrating National Nurses Week (May 6-12) by thanking our entire nursing team and showing our appreciation for all they do.
The VHS nursing team builds relationships with our residents and patients to provide the highest level of quality care possible.
To celebrate, there will be food and other treats, gifts, and additional appreciation opportunities during National Skilled Nursing Care Week (May 12-18). VHS does what it can to recognize our nurses throughout the year.
Director of Nursing Rebecca Boyd
“Nurses often are underappreciated,” says VHS Vice President of Nursing Rebecca Boyd. “And it’s a hard job.”
Nurses are not only caregivers in VHS communities, they often are also caregivers in their own homes and are the first call for family members seeking medical advice or opinions.
“You wind up being a resource to everyone. It’s why we do what we do,” Rebecca says. “We do care about people. Our nurses want to give of their time. When you give and you give, you kind of empty out.
“Our job is to fill our nurses back up and remind them what they do matters every day. They are making a difference. They’re changing a life. Those small acts of kindness that half the time they’re not even cognizant of, but it makes an impact and it has a bearing on someone else’s life.”
National Nurses Week is celebrated the same dates each May, as May 12 marks the late Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The week has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896.
Why choose a nursing career in long-term care?
There are several advantages to choose being a nurse in a long-term care setting, Rebecca says.
“Long-term care in nursing gives you an opportunity to develop relationships with the patients – you can really make an impact,” she says.
It’s meaningful work – and one with many opportunities for career growth and advancement.
“In the hospital, you typically see patients briefly. It’s quick in, quick out. … In long-term care, you have the opportunity to know the resident, to know the family member and make an impact in their life. If they’re a skilled care resident, you help them get back to their home environment. Help them regain their confidence and skills they need to get back to their home environment. That’s very rewarding for our nurses,” Rebecca says.
“For our long-term residents, you can have the opportunity to make an impact and be there at the end of their life. That is very purposeful for staff. Families will remember something very small I did at their bedside 20 years, but it made an impact for them. I think that’s why a lot of our nurses choose long-term care, because of relationships.”
Nursing career paths with VHS
Virginia Health Services employs a team of CNAs, LPNs and RNs, and regularly has openings. VHS also offers an earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship that graduates Care Assistants to Nurse Aides and covers the cost of the state certification exam to be a CNA. Courses are available on the Peninsula and in Gloucester, Virginia. Many students have gone on to nursing school to be LPNs and RNs.
Our CNAs spend a majority of the time with our nursing and rehabilitation centers’ residents. They help get them ready for the day – or in the evening for bed, and going to and from meals and activities. CNAs are the eyes and ears for the nursing team to provide daily assessment of a patient’s well-being.
Rebecca says LPNs and RNs get involved in the residents’ medical needs.
“Oftentimes, they’re the go between for families and providers,” she says. “They can definitely influence the care that’s given.”
For RNs, there are advancement opportunities in long-term care that aren’t available in other healthcare settings.
Career paths in long-term care nursing
There are many different avenues to keep fresh when you’re a nurse in a nursing and rehabilitation center. Those include:
MDS Coordinator, which drives the quality measures and level of care, as well as drives reimbursement to ensure VHS can provide the care and services needed. Coordinators have to dive deep to see what those patient diagnoses are to determine level of care.
Certified wound care nurses are a needed specialty. “We deal with chronic-type wounds, surgical wounds that won’t heal. We have to be specialized in wound care and be on the cutting-edge of wound products,” Rebecca says.
IV management is key. There are many patients on IV antibiotics and other IV treatments that must be managed daily.
Leadership opportunities in management positions such as director and assistant director of nursing and administrator. Several of the DONs in VHS have come from MDS roles; the same is true of our administrators. Many started as CNAs or floor nurses – that foundation where you learn a lot about the resident, Rebecca says.
There are also opportunities to move into nurse education roles. Director of Education Princess Henderson started in the CNA class with VHS in 2008. “It’s all about education, education, education,” Rebecca says. “The need for continuing education of the staff is vital to providing quality care. … A majority of our CNAs are coming from the six-week apprenticeship program. A lot of their education has to be on the job. It relies a lot on the nurses who already are part of the structure to provide that education.”
There are opportunities to provide education within each facility, starting with infection preventionists.
Join our team!
We are hiring for all positions, including CNAs, LPNs and RNs.
VHS Home Health Care and VHS Hospice also have openings for nurses. Short-term contracts also are available for nursing positions.
VHS offers competitive wages and benefits, flexible scheduling, bonuses, early wage access, training and development opportunities, and more. Visit vahs.com/careers to apply today.
We also offer an earn-as-you-learn apprenticeship program that graduates Care Assistants to Nurse Aides and covers the cost of the state certification exam to be a CNA. Available dates, details and application links are at vahs.com/apprenticeship.
Classes are offered in Newport News/Hampton and Gloucester, Virginia, throughout the year, and graduates go on to work at VHS nursing and rehabilitation centers. Graduates have moved into roles such as recreational therapy or continued employment while attending nursing school.
Stephanie Johnston has joined the Virginia Health Services team as Executive Director of Senior Living. She is responsible for establishing the strategic direction to achieve operational excellence at The Hamilton & The Huntington Assisted Living and The Arbors Independent Living.
Stephanie has more than 20 years of sales and operations experience in various industries, including mortgage, residential and commercial real estate investing, telecom, and commercial lumber. She grew her passion in senior living for nearly six years in a sales leadership role, providing strategic support and training for 38 communities before joining VHS.
“It’s an honor to serve others. If you lead with a caring heart, and an open mind, you will make a difference,” she says.
Her previous experience in senior living included a lot of travel – sometimes up to 4,500 miles a month by car, plus flights – but she says it also allowed her to help the sales team and be closely connected to the operations side to help offer the best first impression and experience to residents. She also assisted with caregiver education and dementia training for team members.
Stephanie says she is excited to use the depth and breadth of her experience to help build the VHS senior living team to be the best it can be.
“Everyone has a different skill set and so it’s about taking what’s exciting for them and motivating them to grow what they currently experience day-to-day and bring in their personal passion,” she says.
Resident experience
When it comes to senior living, it’s all about providing the best experience that’s personalized to the residents. Whether it’s learning of a resident’s favorite meal that will provide comfort or a family story, Stephanie says engagement and communication for peace of mind are key.
“It’s our honor to be able to care for them and allow them to live their best life,” she says.
Solid wellness and dining and nutrition programs, engaging activities and events, and making sure residents feel independent to “continue to be who they are in their everyday life and allow their life history to flourish” factor into a well-rounded resident experience, she says.
“We want to make sure we’re impacting their health in a positive way,” she says. Having VHS Rehabilitation within the team allows a streamlined and convenient option for care.
“It’s our honor to be able to care for them and allow them to live their best life.”
Stephanie Johnston, VHS Executive Director of Senior Living
All can be achieved, she says, by helping keep familiarity for the residents. “We have to ask questions of families to help orientate a resident when they come in to provide a sense of comfort and peace. Knowing a favorite meal or type of music and offering it can set the tone to make them feel the most comfortable when they move in and call us their home.”
Utilizing monthly resident council meetings to be sure residents have a voice and input into menus, calendars, community projects and more also can help the team improve the resident experience.
Background
Stephanie graduated from ECPI with a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. The Virginia native resides in Gloucester with her husband. She has a daughter who is a Gloucester County Sheriff’s deputy. She says they enjoy “country living,” which includes spending quality time with family, exploring with her Boxer and enjoying nature. Stephanie also is new to gardening – “trying to find my green thumb,” she says.
Senior living with VHS
Virginia Health Services offers senior living options in Newport News and York County.
When the responsibilities of home ownership become too much, The Arbors Independent Living offers a maintenance-free lifestyle with private apartments, inclusive dining, events and activities, and personal transportation. Also included are valet parking, concierge service, housekeeping and linen service — all without a costly entrance fee. Schedule a tour of The Arbors.
VHS assisted living communities, The Huntington and The Hamilton, provide a safe environment when an individual needs extra assistance with their healthcare needs. A nursing team is available 24/7 to residents, and private apartments are designed for safety and ease. Dining, activities, housekeeping and more are included, without an entrance fee.
Keeping our residents healthy in every aspect is a priority for Virginia Health Services. As we celebrate National Nutrition Month and recognize National Registered Dietitian Day, it’s important to understand nutrition is a critical component of health and wellness of all residents in the long-term care setting.
“Nutrition affects every part of the body and all of its functions,” says VHS Director of Dining and Nutrition Christina Lewis. “For residents with chronic health conditions, nutrition plays a vital role in the treatment of those conditions and the prevention of further complications.
“For residents recovering from illnesses, injuries or surgeries, good nutrition can help them regain their strength and stamina more quickly.”
VHS has a team of Registered Dietitian (RDs) who assess our residents and work with the nursing staff and dietary team (who are celebrated during Healthcare Food Service Workers Week in October) to administer medical nutrition therapy for residents, assist food and nutrition service directors with special diets and menus, and conduct regular sanitation audits.
Our team, led by Christina, include three contracted RDs and full-time team member Pamela “Ela” Bowen, who works with residents at The Hamilton Assisted Living, and York and Lancashire Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers.
From VHS intern to Registered Dietician
In her role, Ela works closely with York/Hamilton dining director Nicole Freeman. She is familiar with Nicole, who served as Ela’s preceptor during her internship en route to becoming a RD with VHS.
Ela Bowen started as a dietetic tech with VHS, then an intern before joining the team as a registered dietitian.
“She always made sure whatever we had to accomplish, there was a way to accomplish it. I always felt supported. She guided and worked with me to get done what I needed to get done. It gave me a lot of peace to know someone was in my corner,” Ela says of working with Nicole.
Ela was a dietetic tech with VHS, which led to finding preceptors within the organization to help her complete internship hours to graduate the program at Virginia Tech and prepare her for the certification exam. She graduated in May 2023 and started full-time with our team.
“I’m appreciative of the opportunity Virginia Health Services gave me to be an intern, prior as a tech, and now as an RDN,” Ela says. “It’s nice being able to step back into a familiar position coming right out of passing my exam.”
She was given a good foundation with VHS and feels like she learns something new every day.
Keeping tabs
While assisted living communities need bi-annual reports on special diets and weight loss/gain, nursing home regulations are more frequent.
Ela’s main responsibilities are charting on new resident admissions, marking significant changes for weight losses monthly, preparing quarterly reports, seeing residents about potential special needs or dietitian consults at nurse practioners’ requests. There are regular resident assessments of food intake, diet, weight management, changes in skin integrity, monitoring of supplements, and swallowing or chewing problems.
She has weekly meetings with the York nursing staff to keep proactive monitoring of residents’ nutritional needs.
“We’re really working as a team to try to proactively make sure we’re on top of residents not losing weight, which can add to other issues, such as skin integrity,” Ela says. “I’m excited to be part of the team to make sure residents have the best care they can.”
VHS Director of Dining and Nutrition Christina Lewis hosts a healthy cooking demonstration at The Arbors Independent Living.
Good nutrition key
Not enough protein or lack of certain nutrition can affect skin integrity and lead to wounds, Ela says.
“Our role is to provide preferences, fortified foods and supplements to increase residents’ protein intake.”
That also includes menu planning, which Christina oversees.
“As many residents make their home with us, it is also important to consider their food preferences along with their nutritional needs. Providing meals that are tasty as well as nutritious is what we strive for every day,” Christina says.
A basket of healthy foods for your mind, such as leafy greens, oats, whole grain bread, extra virgin olive oil and fresh berries.
Ela says she was drawn to a profession in nutrition when her granddad had cancer.
“I wondered if having certain nutrition or a specific diet would help prevent certain diseases. It’s what triggered wanting to be a dietitian,” she says.
Ela says meeting residents is her favorite part of the job. She has a good teacher in Nicole.
“One of the reasons I wanted to be here is that she really knows her residents. And that takes time to acquire. That’s been really helpful,” Ela says. “Because she was a really good preceptor, I wanted to work hand-in-hand with her as I was learning to be the best dietitian I could be.”
Join our team
We have career pathways in our dietary department across the organization. Search our listings and apply at vahs.com/careers.
We’re celebrating National Long-Term Care Administrators Week (March 11-15). Our administrators are entrusted with the responsibility of managing the care of our loved ones. They interact daily with the individuals in our care, their friends and loved ones, and lead the care team to provide the highest level of quality care.
“Our members give their all in the face of great adversity to assure their communities are able to provide high quality care and services to the elders in their care. Their professionalism as they deal with the many issues before them, and putting the needs of their patients, residents, families, and co-workers ahead of their own deserves our highest recognition,” said Bob Lane, CNHA, FACHCA, President & CEO of ACHCA.
Virginia Health Services thanks our team of administrators across our seven nursing and rehabilitation centers and two assisted living communities. Meet our VHS administrators and assistant administrator:
COLISEUM NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Dudley Haas, Administrator
Coliseum Administrator Dudley Haas.
Years of service with VHS: 11 years.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? When I moved here as a single mom I needed a job that was conducive to day care – and I started as a Quality Assurance (QA) nurse.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Controlled chaos, different daily.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? I do not sit at a desk all day; I am on the floor and in all the departments.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Travel.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? Since childhood, I have had a passion to help others and always knew I would have a career related to helping others within a community. I have been in the healthcare field for more than 10 years, expanding my abilities in dental, hospital, and most recently, within long-term care settings.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? How staff, residents and families work together to deliver a high quality of care.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I love to spend time with family and friends. The beach is my happy place. I have a passion to travel, love to decorate and event plan, and enjoy attending festivals.
LANCASHIRE NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Amy Payne, Administrator
Lancashire Administrator Amy Payne.
Years of service with VHS: Two years in June.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? I was raised to care for others and always be kind, caring and compassionate. I began a career in long-term care over 25 years ago. My background includes nursing, in-patient rehabilitation, family practice/urgent care, and now administration. I am excited to continue working in the environment I am familiar with and passionate about. I enjoy sharing learning experiences, guidance, resources, and knowledge with team members to help us all deliver the best quality care to residents.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Fast-paced, rewarding, enjoyable, humbling!
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? The volume and diversity of duties completed daily. No two days are the same!
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Anything outside, on the water, beach and boating, bonfires/campfires. I love spending time with my family and friends.
THE NEWPORT NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Stephen G. Berczek, Administrator
Stephen is the administrator at The Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and The Huntington Assisted Living.
Years of service with VHS: About five years.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? Started out in physical therapy as a tech for VHS and then branched off into administrative roles. I have always enjoyed helping others, especially the elderly.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Rewarding, challenging, fast-paced.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? The extensive workload.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Snowboarding, traveling, working on motorcycles/cars, hiking, boating, fishing.
NORTHAMPTON NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER
DeShae Morse, Administrator
Northampton Administrator DeShae Morse.
Years/Months of service with VHS: 11 months with VHS (20 years overall as a long-term care administrator).
What drew you to a career in long-term care? My grandmother worked in healthcare at CHKD for 28 years. She possesses a strong passion for helping and serving others. Also, my desire to have personal involvement in serving my employees and producing positive outcomes for those who cannot care for themselves.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Divine assignment to serve others.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? With my team, we actually have loads of fun in the midst of the whirlwind that’s healthcare as we know it today. In this arena of healthcare, we often laugh, cry and have to pray for sanity in the same day!
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Fun day/overnight trips and relaxing on the water.
WALTER REED NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER
Bryant Hudgins, Administrator
Bryant Hudgins has been with VHS for 29 years. He built a career from CNA at Walter Reed to administrator.
Years of service with VHS: 29 years.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? I’ve always enjoyed helping others and as I turned older I unfortunately witnessed my grandparents and other older members of my family endure long, drawn-out illnesses. The more I become engaged in healthcare, I realized how long-term care would give me the opportunity to help others in need as they aged. Also, the security and stability a career in healthcare would guarantee.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? A continuous evolution in healthcare.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? How different every single day is. The duties of my job not only encompass the resident care and services but also physical plant and quality control of environment. It makes no single day ever the same.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I enjoy spending time with my family an am always out supporting youth sports. I recently completed my 10th year of coaching travel AAU basketball in 2022.
Join our team
We are looking for administrators for our James River and York Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers. Visit vahs.com/careers to view the job listing and apply online.
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