Visiting Nurse and her car

The local home nursing movement started in Windsor, Vermont in 1907. Many visiting nurses organizations grew and thrived in communities throughout the area over the decades.

Changes in health care reimbursement policies made it necessary to combine resources to create more sustainable organizations, and, over time, a number of smaller visiting nurse and hospice organizations merged to become today’s VNH.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

1907:  VNA services initiated in Windsor, VT.

1953:  VNA offers first New Hampshire services in Hanover.

1978:  Hospice of the Upper Valley founded to support end-of-life care.

1983:  Medicare initiates Hospice benefit as reimbursement for end-of-life care.

1992: VNA/VNH is formed from the merger of VNA of Southeastern VT, Mascoma Home Health Services, Gifford Community Health Services, Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital Home Health Agency, Home and Community Health Care of the Upper Valley, Windsor Regional Home Health Agency, and Woodstock Visiting Nurse Association.

1994:  Lyme Home Health Agency joins VNA/VNH.

1995:  Hospice of the Upper Valley merges with VNA/VNH.

1996:  Randolph Area Hospice aligns with VNA/VNH.

2001:  Southern Vermont Home Health Agency merges with VNA/VNH, bringing the total number of towns served in VT and NH to 86.

2004:  VNA/VNH becomes the Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire.

2007:  100th anniversary of VNA services in Vermont is celebrated.

2014:  VNA/VNH becomes VNH – Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire.

2016:  VNH becomes an affiliate of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health.

VNA Group Shot, Circa 1910s