MEADOWBROOK, Pa., Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Holy Redeemer Health System, with corporate offices in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., has acquired the South Jersey-based Visiting Nurse Service System Inc. (VNSS). The acquisition makes Holy Redeemer Health System the largest nonprofit provider of home health care services now in the state of New Jersey.
In 2002, Holy Redeemer signed a management agreement with VNSS that gave Holy Redeemer oversight for the organization's daily operations and provided VNSS with long-term leadership and financial stability over a period of three years. That agreement included an option for Holy Redeemer to purchase VNSS. After receiving state approval to proceed, Holy Redeemer finalized its acquisition of the 625-employee organization.
"With the integration of VNSS into our home care organization, Holy Redeemer has expanded our commitment to home care patients in the region," says Michael B. Laign, chief executive officer of Holy Redeemer Health System. "Both organizations have vast amounts of expertise in delivering home care and hospice services, and we plan to take the best of both organizations, leverage our respective resources and enhance our service to all communities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania."
VNSS includes the Visiting Nurse Association of Southern New Jersey, serving Camden, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland counties; and Visiting Nurse and Health Services, serving Middlesex, Monmouth, Union and Somerset counties; as well as Trinity Hospice and Visiting Nurse Custom Services. Holy Redeemer provides home care services to Atlantic, Ocean and Cape May counties in South Jersey; as well as to Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania.
VNSS President and Holy Redeemer Executive Vice President Donald F. Friel says the integration is cost-effective and offers high quality home care services to patients. "All VNSS companies remain in place, under the VNSS name, but are now members of Holy Redeemer Health System. The shared culture, mission and expertise of the combined organizations will enhance the quality and delivery of care to home health patients in the region."
"VNSS chose to carry on with Holy Redeemer as a partner because our missions were compatible," explains VNSS Board Chairman K. Kultar Singh. "Holy Redeemer and VNSS are a good fit. Both are nonprofit, have the same vision, and share complementary marketplaces. The acquisition ensures our ability to thrive and continue providing quality home care, and we have solidified our future through Holy Redeemer - a healthcare organization that offers a wealth of expertise and resources."
"Holy Redeemer has always had a strong commitment to home health," Laign adds. "VNSS will gain the strength from an experienced home health nonprofit provider, and Holy Redeemer will broaden its scope and service area. Through our combined service areas, Holy Redeemer and VNSS will become the largest nonprofit home health care provider in the state of New Jersey, allowing Holy Redeemer to have a presence in every county on the Jersey shore, from Middlesex south to Cape May."
Holy Redeemer Home Health and Hospice Services (Pennsylvania), Holy Redeemer Visiting Nurse Agency (New Jersey), and VNSS are all accredited by the Joint Commission for Accredited Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and are Medicare- and Medicaid-certified.
VNSS currently has 625 employees. Holy Redeemer Visiting Nurse Agency (NJ) has 258 employees and Holy Redeemer Home Health and Hospice Services (PA) has 350 employees.
VNSS handles about 350,000 home visits per year. Combined with VNSS, Holy Redeemer will handle about 700,000 home visits a year in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
CONTACT: Jennifer McGowan Smith of Holy Redeemer Health System, +1-215-938-3228 or jmcgowan@holyredeemer.com
Holy Redeemer Health SystemCONTACT: Jennifer McGowan Smith of Holy Redeemer Health System,+1-215-938-3228 or jmcgowan@holyredeemer.com
Web site: http://www.holyredeemer.com/