Updated: Thursday, November 6, 2025 5:32 PM

VNA of WNY and Northwest PA recognized for gold standard evidence-based home health heart failure care

Kaleida Health's homecare provider, the Visiting Nursing Association, including all branches of the Western New York division and Northwest PA have earned Home Health Heart Failure certification from the American Heart Association^®, a global force changing the future of health of all. The certification provides an evidence-based framework for evaluating home health agencies against the American Heart Association's rigorous science-based standards for heart failure patients, including program management, patient and caregiver education and support, care coordination, clinical management, and quality improvement.

"This certification affirms the lifesaving mission and goal of the American Heart Association to help every person everywhere have the opportunity for a longer, healthier life," said Kyle G. Lavergne, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, American Heart Association volunteer and founding member of the certification standards writing committee and vice president of clinical programs for CenterWell Home Health, in Atlanta. "We're pleased to have the Visiting Nursing Association join the national network of American Heart Association Home Health Heart Failure certified agencies."

Founded in 1885, the VNA of Western New York was the first visiting nursing organization in America. Since then, the VNA has become one of the oldest charities in the nation and remains the largest home health agency in the Western New York region. Its programs and staff service over 25,000 patients each year with over 500,000 home visits across the area.

"The Visiting Nursing Association is proud to receive this certification from the American Heart Association," said Lisa Greisler, president of the Visiting Nursing Association of WNY and Northwest PA. "The tools and resources provided by the American Heart Association will help us continue to provide education and opportunities for our agency to work toward quality improvement efforts for our patients with heart failure. This accomplishment reflects our goal to provide high quality care."

The certification signifies confidence that:

• An agency's heart failure program is based on standards aligned with the American Heart Association science,
• The agency is recognized by the American Heart Association, based on professional evaluation criteria designed by heart failure and home care experts, and
• Care is coordinated from pre-admission through working with the home health agency to discharge.

Learn more about this certification.