Nascentia Health is the first home care agency in New York to be awarded the American Heart Association’s Home Health Heart Failure Certification.

The certification provides a framework to evaluate home health agencies against American Heart Association science and guidelines for heart failure patients.

The certification is focused on the American Heart Association’s science-based standards, including program management, patient and caregiver education and support, care coordination, and clinical management.

“I am so proud of our team and the outstanding job our nurses, aides, and other staff do to help our patients with heart failure,” said Registered Nurse Andrea Lazarek, Nascentia’s chief clinical officer.

“The resources from the American Heart Association are critical to helping us
continue to educate our team and our patients to achieve the best outcomes,” Lazarek added.

Nascentia provides home nursing and therapy for 4,500 patients each year, about 1,100 of which have heart failure as a primary or secondary diagnosis, making it one of the most common conditions patients have.

In 2021, the rehospitalization rate for the agency’s heart failure patients was only 1.25%, which is significantly lower than the industry standard.

“This certification amplifies the mission of the American Heart Association to help every person have the opportunity for a longer, healthier life,” said Kyle G. Lavergne, American Heart Association volunteer and director of clinical programs of the LHC Group and founding member of the certification standards writing committee.

“We’re pleased to have Nascentia Health join the national network of American Heart Association Home Health Heart Failure certified agencies,” Lavergne added.

The certification ensures 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.

• Care is coordinated from pre-admission through working with the home health agency to discharge.

Nascentia Health is one of Central New York’s largest home health care agencies, offering in-home skilled nursing and therapies, home health aides, managed long-term care, and Medicare Advantage Plans. Founded in Syracuse in 1890, the agency has more than 130 years of expertise in home care and more than 500 employees in offices in Syracuse, Rome, Rochester, Buffalo and Albany.

The new Nascentia Neighborhood at The Beeches will have independent and supportive housing options that allow aging adults to remain independent in safe homes that connect them to medical professionals and social services, all right on campus.