Visiting Nurse Association of Allegheny County.

The Public Health Nursing Association of Pittsburgh was established in July 1919. The Association was a voluntary, non-profit organization that was established to "provide skilled nursing care on a visiting basis for the sick in their homes; to prevent disease by teaching principles of health, hygiene, and sanitation; and to promote health, --individual, family, and community."[1] The organization began with twenty-eight nurses, opened six sub-stations in the Hill District, South Side, East Liberty, Oakland, Lawrenceville, and the North Side, and had 101 patients. In 1927, the Public Health Nursing Association became a member of the Community Chest, an organization of citizens representing the community, which provided financial support through the United Fund. The VNA operated on a fee based service; however, no one was denied care if unable to pay. Other financial and program support came from the Fruit Flower Mission, a service organization formed during the Civil War. "During the height of the influenza and pneumonia epidemics in 1937, as many as 150 new calls a day were answered."[2] Some of the services that the organization provided included general nursing, communicable disease prevention, maternal and child health services, and school nursing. The organization changed its name in 1949 to the Visiting Nurse Association of Allegheny County (VNA). Emphasis on service moved toward home care needs and developed rehabilitation and supportive programs. In the 1970's, VNA added nurse clinicians, and developed specialty programs. The 1980's brought advanced professional skills and multidisciplinary staff to treat patients with complex treatments, such as intravenous chemotherapy and antibiotics, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and so on. In the 1990's services expanded to include psychiatric nursing, Chaplain services, and a Medicare-certified Hospice Program. The VNA Foundation formed to raise funds for the VNA, and there was another change in the name to VNA HealthCare Services to reflect the services offered by the organization. The organization served Pittsburgh and Allegheny County for 81 years before closing in 2000.