Elaine Stephens, Executive Vice President, Overlook Visiting Nurse Association
Stephens
After leading a stand-alone visiting nurse organization in Rhode Island, Elaine Stephens has made the jump to Charlton to head up Overlook VNA, an arm of Masonic Health System. In this Q&A, she talks about the challenges her industry faces, from an aging population to swine flu.
Vital Stats:
Age: 54
Residence: Milford
Family: Husband, Christian L. Stephens, four sons and one grandson
Education: Boston College, bachelor's in nursing; Boston University School of Medicine, master's in public health, concentration in health systems management
Previous job: President and CEO, Visiting Nurse Service of Greater Rhode Island
Start date at new job: September 15, 2009
Q. How are you settling in at your new office?
A. I am excited to be on the Overlook campus and feel so welcomed by everyone. The energy of the team at Overlook is contagious and it is great to be associated with an organization that is so mission driven and focused on offering the complete continuum of senior care. While my "home office" will be here in Charlton, my role will have me on the road often visiting and working at our seven branch locations throughout Massachusetts.
Q. What's the biggest surprise you've had in starting the job?
A. The size of the campus and what is available here for the residents, employees and outside community far exceeded even my expectations. This is an organization that truly lives and breathes its mission every day - it is so exciting to be a part of such a caring and dynamic endeavor.
Q. What challenges do you see in your new position?
A. Our national economy and changes in health care reimbursement will mean that we will be faced with proposed major Medicare cuts this year for home care. We will need to find ways to deal with these cuts while continuing to meet a growing need for home care and hospice. The challenge is especially great for nonprofit providers to find solutions to do more with less.
In addition, we are going to be challenged this fall with the possibility of H1N1, influenza, and "surges" on our hospital systems to meet the needs of those affected by this.
An exciting challenge will be the integration and expansion of new technology to enable Overlook Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice to continue to expand the provision of care to those we serve.
Q. How different is this job from your previous position?
A. This job involves the provision of service and care as part of a system of services and a continuum of care. My previous position was with a "stand alone" visiting nurse organization. That is also what makes this job so exciting because as we age we will need many different kinds of care, services, and support and Masonic Health System (the parent organization of Overlook Visiting Nurse Association) has a vision of providing for those needs in many different ways. I will also have the opportunity to use the resources of a large system to support the highest level of home care and hospice in the community.
Q. How close is this to what you imagined in high school you'd end up doing?
A. I did not imagine that I would have become so passionate and interested in home care and hospice. I pictured that I would be working most of my life in hospitals. I am so grateful that my education at Boston College included nursing training experiences in the community as well as the hospital because they knew that the health care providers and leaders of the future would not just be housed in hospital systems.
Q. Where's the best place to get lunch near your new location?
A. Believe it or not, this is the toughest question because I have not yet had an opportunity to enjoy all the great luncheon locations in the area. However, I will say that I have ventured down to our employee cafeteria a number of times and the meals have been excellent!
Q. What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
A. I am passionate about home care and hospice. My career has included being elected chairman of the National Association for Home Care and Hospice and I know that the need for care and advocacy will continue, especially in 10 years, to be important than ever. I know that Masonic Health System will be here in 10 years, still looking forward to meeting the needs of our seniors.
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