QI/HIPPA

Confidentiality Statement

If you send us personal information through email or by submitting a form to our website, we use that information to respond to your message or request. We do not share the information you give us with any other organization. We may create a database of information from visitors to our site for our own use to allow us to communicate with you in the future, and share information with you that may be related to your interests.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia's website has links to other health information sources. If you choose to link to another site through our site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that site.

Privacy Statement

Our Commitment to Privacy

Your privacy is important to us. To better protect your privacy we provide this notice explaining our online information practices. Information gathered by The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia is used to monitor our site's effectiveness and to respond to your questions and requests.

When you contact us, we need to collect some personal information from you. The types of personally identifiable information that we collect include: name and e-mail address. We collect this information only so that we can respond to your message.

We do not share this information with any other organization.

Disclaimer

The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia (VNAGP) works to ensure that the information provided on its web site www.vnaphilly.org is accurate, timely and useful. However, the information contained on the VNAGP web site should not be considered medical guidance or professional advice. The VNAGP, its affiliates or any parties involved in the preparation or publication of the site are not responsible for errors or omissions in information provided on this site or any actions resulting from the use of such information. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained herein with other reliable sources and to direct any questions concerning their personal health to licensed physicians or other appropriate health care professionals. Corrections to this site will be made when necessary or as time permits.

The Web site for the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia, its contents and programs, is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please remember that this information should not be substitute for a visit or consultation with a health care provider. The views or opinions expressed in the resources provided do not necessarily reflect those of the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia or its staff. By using this web site, you accept these terms of use.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY, Section 504

Policy No: 1-010.1

PURPOSE

To prevent agency personnel from discriminating against other personnel or patients/clients on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, creed, sex, handicap or place of national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, martial or familiar status.

POLICY

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulation, Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries will, directly or through contractual or other arrangement, admit and treat all persons without regard to race, color religion, sex, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, martial or familiar status or national origin in its provision of services and benefits, including assignments or transfers within facilities.

In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulations, Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries will not, directly or through contractual or other arrangements, discriminate on the basis of handicap (mental or physical) in admissions, access, treatment or employment. The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer has been designated as the coordinator for implementation of this policy.

In accordance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and its implementing regulation, Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries will not, directly or through contractual or other arrangements, discriminate on the basis of age in the provision of services unless age is a factor necessary to the normal operation or the achievement of any statutory objective.

PROCEDURE

1. Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries will identify an organization or person in their service area who can translate for persons with limited English proficiency and who can disseminate information to sensory impaired persons. These contacts will be listed and kept in the policy manual.

2. The Section 504 Coordinator for Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries will be the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

3. The following statement will be printed on brochures and other public materials: "Patient/client services are provided without regard to race, color, creed, age, sex, religion,

Policy No: 1-010.2

ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation , marital or familiar status, handicap (mental or physical), or place of national origin."

ADDENDUM 1-010.E

(This Addendum 1-010.E includes the Section 504 Grievance Procedure and a listing of the Civil Rights Regional Offices.)

Human Relations Commission (Penna)
(215) 560-2496

Philadelphia

711 State Office Building
Broad and Spring Garden Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19130-4088
(215) 560-2496 (Voice)
(215) 560-3599 (TDD)

Harrisburg

Uptown Shopping Plaza
2971-E N. 7th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-2123
(717) 787-9784 (Voice)
(717) 787-7279 (TDD)

Pittsburgh

11th Floor State Office Building
300 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1210
(412) 565-5395 (Voice)
(412) 565-5711 (TDD)

SECTION 504

Grievance Procedure

It is the policy of Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries not to discriminate on the basis of handicap.

Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaint alleging any action prohibited by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794) or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regulations implementing this act. Section 504 states, in part, that "no otherwise qualified handicapped individual ... shall, solely by reason of his handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance ..." the law and regulations may be examined in the office of Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, who has been designated to coordinate the efforts of Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries to comply with Section 504.

1. Any person who believes she or he has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of handicap, in contradiction of the policy stated above, may file a grievance under this procedure. It is against the law for Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries to retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.
2. Grievances must be submitted to the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer within thirty (30) days of the date the person filing the grievance becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action.
3. A complaint must be in writing, containing the name and address of the person filing it ("the grievant"). The complaint must state the problem or action alleged to be discriminatory and the remedy or relief sought by the grievant.
4. The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, (or her/his patient/client representative) shall conduct an investigation of the complaint to determine its validity. This investigation may be informal, but it must be thorough, affording all interested persons an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint. The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will maintain the files and records of Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries relating to such grievances.
5. The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will issue a written decision on the grievance no later than thirty (30) days after its filing.
6. The grievant may appeal the decision of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer by filing an appeal in writing to Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries within fifteen (15) days of receiving the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer decision.
7. Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries shall issue a written decision in response to the appeal no later than thirty (30) days after its filing.
8. The availability and use of this grievance procedure does not preclude a person from filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of handicap with the regional office for Civil Rights as per attached.
9. Philadelphia Home Care and its subsidiaries will make appropriate arrangements to assure that disabled persons can participate in or make use of this grievance process on the same basis as the non-disabled. Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, the provision of interpreters for the deaf, providing taped cassettes of material for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings. The Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer will be responsible for providing such arrangements.