In 2012, VNANE announced two new VNANE Innovator’s Awards to honor agencies that develop and implement innovations for their agencies to improve cost, quality and access in (1) their agency or for (2) a partner provider(s). The Innovator’s Award replaced the former VNANE Pinnacle Award which honored agencies for their achievements in patient satisfaction.

In the evolving health care delivery system, the goals are to achieve improvements in cost, quality and access, all components of value for patients and purchasers of health care services. The future of the VNANE network depends on innovation and our ability to influence positively the goals of the new marketplace.

The innovation may be in operational or clinical processes, or for new services/products that improve two or more of the three criteria: cost, quality and access. Nominees must, in the judgment of the VNANE Chief Executive Officer, be a member in good standing. Nominations must provide objective data to support improvements and must measure the results of the innovation over, at a minimum, one (1) year period. The 2015 Award Winning Nominees are as follows:

The 2015 Member Innovation Category Award Winning Nomination went to Ridgefield VNA and the 2015 Partner Innovation Category Award Winner was Norwell VNA & Hospice.